The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins today, with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa in the opening match. This edition marks a historic expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches, played across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament, which runs until 19 July, is expected to draw billions of viewers worldwide, building on the 2.9 billion who watched the 2022 final in Qatar.
Key Facts and First-Time Participants
Host cities include Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey in Mexico; and Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle in the US. Iconic venues such as Mexico City's Estadio Azteca and New Jersey's MetLife Stadium—which will host the final—are set to feature prominently.
Several nations are making their World Cup debuts, including Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan, coached by former Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, will rely on rising Manchester City star Abdukodir Khusanov. The tournament's youngest players include Mexico's 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora, Czech Republic's Hugo Sochurek (18), and Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye (18). At the other end, Scotland's goalkeeper Craig Gordon is 43, while Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, at 41, continues his international career.
Favorites and Key Contenders
Spain, the reigning European champions, are bookmakers' favorites. Luis de la Fuente's squad, which defeated England in the Euro 2024 final, boasts depth but faces injury concerns over wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, both recovering from hamstring problems. Spain will face Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H.
France, two-time champions, are strong contenders after their 2022 final loss to Argentina. With Paris Saint-Germain's back-to-back Champions League titles boosting national morale, Didier Deschamps' side includes Kylian Mbappé, 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, and Bayern Munich's Michael Olise. France's group includes Norway (with Erling Haaland), Senegal (led by Sadio Mané), and Iraq.
Other contenders include Argentina, led by Lionel Messi; England, coached by Thomas Tuchel; five-time winners Brazil; and four-time champions Germany. A recent study suggests the World Cup could boost Portugal's economy by nearly €1 billion, highlighting the tournament's economic ripple effects across Europe.
Controversies: Visa Issues and Security Checks
The buildup has been marred by border control problems. Iran's national team was forced to relocate its training base to Mexico after some staff were denied US visas; all of Iran's group matches are in the US. The team later received visas and clearance to play. Swiss striker Breel Embolo also faced initial travel authorization issues but has since joined his squad.
Somali referee Omar Artan, one of the world's top-ranked officials, was denied entry to the US at Miami International Airport, deemed 'inadmissible due to vetting concerns.' He has returned home, sparking criticism from the football community. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's team was subjected to additional security frisking before a warm-up match against the Netherlands. Coach Cannavaro told reporters, 'They said to me it's the rules. But in the end, the check was only for us.'
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the host nations' discretion, stating, 'Unfortunately, our world is a very aggressive world, and security goes above everything. You need to respect the decisions which are taken.' These incidents have fueled broader debates about travel restrictions and fairness, as discussed in a recent MEP debate on political tensions and fan boycotts.
As the tournament unfolds, European teams and fans will be watching closely—not just for the football, but for how these off-pitch issues evolve. The expanded format promises more drama, but the controversies remind us that global events often reflect deeper geopolitical currents.
