FIFA, ready for the biggest World Cup in history

With less than a month to go before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has sent an optimistic and mobilizing message, assuring that the organizers are ready for the debut of the largest tournament in football history. The competition will be held between June 11 and July 19 in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada and will bring together, for the first time, 48 national teams.

"Preparations are going very well, the excitement is growing. We have been waiting for this moment for several years and it is time to start. We are ready to open our doors and welcome the world,” said Gianni Infantino in a video recording published by FIFA.

• Over six million spectators in stadiums and six billion in front of TVs

According to FIFA estimates, over six million fans will attend matches in stadiums, another tens of millions will attend events organized in the 16 host cities, and approximately six billion people will watch the tournament at home. "Be prepared, we are here,” said the FIFA president, in a message that reflects the ambition to transform the tournament into an unprecedented global event. If these estimates are confirmed, in the summer of 2026 it will be easier to find a free seat in a library than a person who does not know the score of a major World Cup match.

• Three opening ceremonies

Another first for the 2026 edition will be the organization of three opening ceremonies, one for each of the host countries. The tournament will kick off at Mexico City's famous Estadio Azteca, a stadium with a strong historical charge, which also hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals. Infantino stressed that the opening ceremony will highlight not only football but also music, with the participation of renowned artists from Mexico, Canada and the United States. "We want to unite the world; our world needs it," the official said.

The 2026 edition will mark a fundamental change in the format of the competition. The number of participating teams increases from 32 to 48, and the total number of matches reaches 104. This expansion promises more spectacle, more surprises and, for dedicated microbists, a schedule so packed that the remote control will become, for a month, the most requested object in the house.

• Enthusiasm and controversy before the start

Despite FIFA's optimism, the tournament is already facing several controversies. Sensitive topics include the diplomatic situation surrounding Iran's participation amid regional tensions, Donald Trump's strict immigration policies, high ticket prices and concerns about extreme temperatures that could affect some matches. However, FIFA is banking on the universal power of football and the unprecedented scale of the competition to make the 2026 World Cup an event capable of attracting and uniting billions of people around the world.