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Fifa World Cup 2026

Fifa World Cup 2026
The 2026 Fifa World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States across 16 cities, making it the first to be hosted by three nations and the first North American World Cup since 1994. A total of 32 teams will compete to take the trophy, with the games planned for as-yet-unscheduled dates in the summer months.
Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Chelsea's Cole Palmer have paid the price for poor seasons with their clubs. Photo: AFP
Fifa

Palmer, Foden left out of England World Cup squad, with Toney the surprise pick

Exclusion of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire among coach Thomas Tuchel’s other surprises but most of his regular stars are selected.

Diplomacy

Letters | Canada’s World Cup role offers model of cooperation in a fraught world

Fifa

Iran players apply for US, Canada visas in signal they will play at World Cup

Pep Guardiola

Rising star to global icon: who could be the 2026 World Cup’s breakout player?

Five contenders from Argentina, France, England, Brazil and Spain have the opportunity to become football’s next superstar.

Pedri (right) has proven to be a fitting heir to Xavi Hernandez for both club and country and could be one of the breakout stars at this year’s World Cup. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

Iran confirms squad heading to Turkey for Fifa World Cup preparation

Iran and the US cut diplomatic ties in 1980, and the players are expected to use their time to complete the procedures for obtaining visas.

Lionel Messi

The last dance: Messi and Ronaldo get ready for sixth and final Fifa World Cup

Two best players of their generation prepare to make history this summer, 20 years after their first appearances at football’s biggest tournament.

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Fifa

Injured winger Mitoma fails to make Japan’s World Cup squad as Tomiyasu returns

Liverpool’s Endo and Crystal Palace’s Kamada also make cut as coach Hajime Moriyasu picks best 26 ‘for Japan to win on the world stage’.

Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma (right) shoots at goal against Wolves on Saturday before later going off with a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of the World Cup next month. Photo: Reuters
China Mobile

CCTV, Fifa agree World Cup TV deal covering 4 tournaments until 2031

State broadcaster says agreement with governing body was reached on Friday and will cover men’s and women’s events.

Chris Martin

Scientists warn Fifa that World Cup games at risk of searing heat

One in four games could take place in very hot conditions; meanwhile, Madonna, Shakira, BTS to headline first-ever half-time show in final.

Chinese Football Association (CFA)

China youth teams make World Cups amid Fifa hopes of seeing nation back at the top

Both under-17 men’s and women’s teams reach final stages of Asian Cup to book World Cup spots as Mattias Grafstrom praises Chinese system.

China lost 2-1 defeat to Japan in Jeddah last Saturday, with Zhao Songyuan (right) scoring his team’s goal, but China qualified for the quarter-finals after beating Qatar 2-0 on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua
Donald Trump

Don’t mention the war: Tucson prepares to welcome Iran football team for World Cup

Even though Democrats and Republicans in the multicultural city are happy to host the players, some Persians refuse to support them.

Tucson, an oasis of civilisation in the Arizona desert, is set to be the base camp for Iran when the World Cup starts in the US, Mexico and Canada next month. Photo: AFP
Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi tipped for Hong Kong return, Argentine gearing up for World Cup

Sports marketing entrepreneur Michael Rocha-Keys hopes former Barcelona star comes back to city in ‘more organised manner’ in the near future.

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Fifa

Fifa officials head to China to discuss bargain broadcasting deal for World Cup

Football’s global governing body is reportedly offering to slash the price and talks will also cover a package for 2026 and 2030 editions.

Mexico

Mexico to end school year 40 days early for World Cup amid heatwave

Authorities may bring forward the next academic year to compensate for lost time, as stunned families scramble to arrange childcare.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum hands out footballs as gifts to children during celebrations marking Children’s Day in Mexico City last month. Photo: AFP
Fifa

World Cup ticket prices dropping on resale market as Fifa triples ‘best’ price for final

News comes ⁠not long after its president, Gianni Infantino, defends the high costs ⁠and attributes them to the demand in the US market.

Of the 11 American stadiums hosting games, Houston’s NRG Stadium has had the greatest 14-day decline in resale ticket prices. Photo: AFP
Fifa

Iran FA chief wants Fifa guarantee country’s special forces will not be insulted

Mehdi Taj, who turned back from Canadian border over ‘disrespectful treatment’, says the assurance is needed for the team to take part.

Fifa

China fans: why pay to watch a World Cup we’re not in, can get for free online?

Chinese fans back state broadcaster in battle with Fifa over TV rights, with poor kick-off times and bad national team hurting interest.

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Fifa

Fifa faces World Cup broadcast crisis after India’s low offer, no China decision

Lack of deal from the two nations, which accounted for almost 25 per cent of TV, digital streaming reach for 2022 tournament, is unusual.

The Fifa World Cup Trophy on display during the Fifa Congress in Vancouver, Canada, last week. Photo: EPA
Formula One (F1)

Mercedes F1 boss hopes Italian public are fair to ‘superstars’ Antonelli, Sinner

Toto Wolff wary of Italy’s World Cup failure adding to hype around driver, who has become first Italian to win three straight races since 1952.

Fifa

Dutch league avoids chaos as court dismisses lawsuit over Indonesia passport

NAC Breda had contested 6-0 defeat to Go Ahead Eagles, whose defender Dean James was part of Indonesia’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

Donald Trump

Fifa President Gianni Infantino confirms Iran will play World Cup games in USA

Head of world football also confirmed that he will seek re-election, with the Asian and African confederations supporting his bid.

Fifa President Gianni Infantino reiterated that Iran will play their World Cup games in the United States as scheduled at the 76th Fifa Congress. Photo: AFP
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

World Cup in USA backed by Germany legend despite mixed memories of 1994 finals

Stefan Effenberg trusts US and co-hosts, Canada and Mexico, to host fine tournament, challenges Thomas Tuchel to solve England riddle.

Stefan Effenberg hoists the Champions League trophy following Bayern Munich’s victory over Valencia in the 2001 final. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

4 tickets to World Cup final listed on Fifa’s resale site for US$2 million each

The $2,299,998.85 seats for the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are located behind a goal in the lower deck.

Hong Kong Football Festival

Italy are too big a football nation to keep missing World Cups, says Vieri

It’s time for action instead of empty talk towards fixing the problems, says Inter Milan legend, who scored nine goals in two World Cups.

Fifa

US says Iran welcome at World Cup, distances itself from envoy’s Italy proposal

Secretary of State denies that Washington had asked Iranian team not to come, but warns that some members of delegation may not be welcome.

A replica of the Fifa World Cup trophy displayed in a shop in Tehran, Iran on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

Italy underwhelmed by Trump envoy’s idea they should replace Iran at World Cup

Italian minister says such a move is ‘shameful’ while media says envoy Paolo Zampolli made same suggestion four years ago ahead ⁠of Qatar.

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From left, Italy’s Gianluca Mancini, Pio Esposito, Marco Palestra, Leonardo Spinazzola and Federico Gatti after losing out to Bosnia Herzegovina in the final World Cup qualifier last month. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in World Cup, report says

The plan is an attempt to mend ties with Italian PM Meloni, after she and Trump fell out over his attacks against Pope Leo.

Mexico

World Cup co-host Mexico ramps up security at tourist sites after shooting

Rare attack that killed a tourist at the Teotihuacan pyramids threatens Mexico’s image of safety weeks before the Fifa tournament.

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