Tuesday marks the countdown of one hundred days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, which is the largest in the history of the competition, featuring 48 teams for the first time, and co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The opening match is scheduled to kick off on June 11, 2026, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the tournament will conclude on July 19 at MetLife Stadium near New York, after 104 matches are played across 16 venues, including 78 matches in the United States.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expects the upcoming edition to generate record revenues that could reach $11 billion, surpassing the figures of the 2022 edition in Qatar. He confirmed that the demand for tickets is high, despite criticism of the pricing policy, which has led some fan associations in Europe to accuse FIFA of overpricing.

Political tensions cast a shadow

Despite organizational preparations, the tournament is surrounded by a complex political atmosphere, amid escalating military tensions between the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other. Questions are increasing regarding the participation of the Iranian team, especially since its group stage matches are scheduled on American soil.

In this context, the newspaper 'Marca' quoted statements from the President of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, indicating the difficulty of his country's team's participation under the current circumstances, confirming that the final decision will be made after the end of the war, due to political dimensions related to approving the delegation's travel.

The draw placed Iran in a group that includes New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt, with its matches to be held in the United States.

Security and organizational challenges

In Mexico, the city of Guadalajara, one of the host cities, recently witnessed security disturbances, but President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that the situation is under control, which was also emphasized by Infantino.

On the technical side, fans are anticipating Lionel Messi's participation with the Argentine team, in what could be his last World Cup appearance, while major teams like France, Spain, and England aim to compete for the title.

Despite the magnitude of the event and ongoing preparations, the tense international scene remains a factor that could pose unforeseen challenges before the largest edition in World Cup history kicks off.