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The world of football enters a countdown: exactly 60 days remain until the FIFA World Cup begins in 2026, the largest tournament in the history of the beautiful game, which will kick off on June 11 with the opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, making it 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, raising the total number of matches to 104 matches.
It is also the first time that three countries are coorganizing the event: United States will contribute 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 presence of President Donald Trump and the head of FIFA, 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 up against the DRC, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.
Spain has been placed in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, while Brazil will compete in Group C against Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. The hosts also have their paths defined: 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 war conflicts, marking the first instance of a qualified team abandoning 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 to this World Cup. Trump has claimed credit for securing the hosting of the tournament for the United States during his first term, signed an executive order to create a White House task force dedicated to the event, and participated actively in the draw. Revenue for FIFA is expected to exceed $10.9 billion, making this tournament the most lucrative in history.
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