The countdown to the 2026 World Cup officially begins on Tuesday, with just 100 days to go, amid a backdrop of global turbulence—from US-Israeli strikes on Iran to escalating violence in Mexico and concerns over former President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda.

A record 48 teams, up from 32 in 2022, will descend on the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first-ever World Cup hosted across three nations. Millions of fans are expected to flock to stadiums across the continent. The tournament kicks off on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and concludes nearly six weeks later on July 19 at the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium.

A total of 104 matches will be staged across 16 venues in four time zones, with the United States hosting 78 of the fixtures. Gianni Infantino has hailed the event as a commercial juggernaut, predicting record revenues of $11 billion—far surpassing the $7 billion generated during the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He has compared the tournament’s scale to “104 Super Bowls,” noting billions of viewers and more than 508 million ticket requests for roughly seven million available seats.

“The demand is there. Every match is sold out,” Infantino said earlier this month.

However, FIFA’s ticketing policies have sparked criticism, with fan organizations such as Football Supporters Europe describing the pricing as a “monumental betrayal.” In response, FIFA has made a limited number of tickets available at $60 for official supporters’ groups.

Political Concerns

Off the pitch, political challenges may overshadow the tournament. Trump-era domestic and international policies, including trade disputes with co-hosts Canada and Mexico, threats against European allies, and an immigration crackdown affecting countries like Iran, Haiti, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, have created uncertainty for fans traveling to the United States.

Although calls for a boycott have not gained traction, geopolitical tensions remain a concern. Iran’s national team, for example, will play group-stage matches in Los Angeles and Seattle amid heightened US-Iran tensions following recent strikes.

“We had a meeting… it is premature to comment in detail, but we will monitor developments around all issues around the world,” said Mattias Grafstrom on Saturday.

Mexico has also faced challenges after the killing of a notorious drug lord sparked unrest in Guadalajara, which is hosting four World Cup matches. Both Infantino and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have reassured fans that the violence will not disrupt games.

“Very reassured, everything’s good,” Infantino told AFP last week.

On-Field Storylines

The expanded 48-team format may dilute early-round drama, with the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-placed sides advancing to the knockout stage. First-round upsets for traditional powerhouses are therefore unlikely.

All eyes will be on defending champions Argentina national football team by Lionel Messi8 champions France national football team and reigning European champions Spain national football team.

England national football team Thomas Tuchel, will aim to end the country’s 60-year wait for a major tournament win.

Meanwhile, a handful of nations will make their World Cup debuts, including Cape Verde national football team, Curacao national football team, Jordan national football team, and Uzbekistan national football team, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament.