The countdown
It’s less than 90 days ‘til the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11 in 16 cities spread across the USA, Canada and Mexico. It features 48 teams divided into 12 groups, taking part in 104 matches.
Each host city will be spending hundreds of millions of dollars effectively altering environment and infrastructure projects, causing conflict, controversy and financial losses for most of these cities. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the cartel violence in Mexico, the ICE controversy in the US and ridiculous ticket prices, we’ll wait and see until the official kick-off starts.
The Iranian Football Federation said that the team will not be travelling to the US because Pres. Donald Trump has said several days ago that he does not believe it appropriate for Iran to participate in the World Cup, adding that the team’s safety and security cannot be guaranteed.
Iran is to play group stage matches in Los Angeles against Belgium and New Zealand and will travel to Seattle for their match against Egypt.
They are reported to be negotiating with FIFA to have their WC matches in Mexico, and Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said that the team playing all their group matches in the country is not an issue, but these are all dependent on FIFA’s decision. Mexico will host South Africa in the opener on June 11 as well as12 other scheduled matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
The City of Guadalajara is to host four matches and there are legitimate concerns on security as last month, a Mexican drug lord was killed by federal security forces there and retaliatory violence happened resulting in civil unrest and fatalities on both sides. Order has since been restored.
Monterrey will host Iraq, Suriname and Bolivia, but the Iraqi participation is also doubtful due to the ongoing war in the Mid-East which makes travel difficult.
Six qualifying spots are still up for grabs which will be contested by 22 teams, including 4-time World Cup champion Italy. It will be decided thru inter-confederation and EUFA playoffs, to take place on March 26 and 31. Upon conclusion of the playoffs, all 48 qualified teams for the 2026 WC will be complete.
The US expects an influx of fans from other countries, but they could be hindered by travel costs, the country’s hostility to immigrants and foreigners and visa requirements. The US Department of State introduced the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System (FIFA PASS) which allows those who got their tickets directly from FIFA have their applications expedited for B1/B2 visitor visa interviews, but this does not guarantee automatic issuance as like in all applications, visa applicants must go thru requirement and background checks.
Starring 19-year-old Lamine Yamal, Spain is one of the early favorites to figure in the finals. Leo Messi hopes to have a back-to-back WC title for Argentina. Cristiano Ronaldo again will lead Portugal. At 38- and 41-years-old respectively, both football legends will be in their last WC. Brazil’s Neymar has recovered from a knee injury and is getting back to form, and his performance will be crucial to his inclusion on the national team.
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