The countdown to 100 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the largest in the tournament's history, begins on Tuesday. For the first time, 48 teams will participate, and it will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The opening match is scheduled to take place 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 held across 16 stadiums, 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 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 their shadows.

Despite the 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 to take place in American stadiums.

In this context, the newspaper "Marca" reported statements from the President of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, in which he pointed out the difficulty of his country's team participating under the current circumstances. He confirmed that the final decision would be made after the end of the war, due to the political dimensions related to approving the delegation's travel.

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

Security and organizational challenges

In Mexico, the city of Guadalajara, one of the host cities, recently experienced security disturbances. However, President Claudia Sheinbaum assured that the situation is under control, a point also emphasized by Infantino.

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

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