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The world of football is on countdown: there are exactly 60 days left until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the largest tournament in the history of the sport, which will kick off on June 11 with the opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which will become the first venue to host three World Cups.
For the first time in history, the tournament will bring together 48 national teams divided into 12 groups of four teams, increasing the total number of matches to 104 games.
It is also the first time that three countries are co-hosting the event: United States will provide 11 venues, Mexico three, and Canada two, for a total of 16 stadiums across the continent.
The grand final is scheduled for July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking the end of 39 days of competition that promise to rewrite the records of world football.
The group draw took place on December 5, 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., with the attendance of President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Among the most exciting groups is Group J, where Argentina led by Lionel Messi will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, and Group K, featuring Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo against the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Spain is in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, while Brazil will compete in Group C with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. The hosts have also outlined their path: Mexico in Group A, the United States in Group D, and Canada in Group B.
An element of uncertainty shook the tournament in March 2026, when Iran announced its withdrawal citing military conflicts, marking the first instance of a qualified team leaving the World Cup in over seventy years. Trump had previously advised Iran not to attend for security reasons.
The figure of the U.S. president is central in this World Cup. Trump has claimed credit for securing the hosting rights for the United States during his first term, signed an executive order to create a White House task force dedicated to the tournament, and actively participated in the draw. It is expected that the revenues for FIFA will exceed 10.9 billion dollars, making this tournament the most profitable in history.
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