2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday under global spotlight
Sports fans from all over the world are going to turn their attention on Thursday, tomorrow, to the beginning of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The championship is the largest historic event since its beginning, and it will last until July 19, with the participation of 48 national teams for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Mexico City will host the opener between Mexico and South Africa teams at Azteca stadium on Thursday. Under the new rule of the event, the 48 teams are divided into 12 groups; each one includes four teams.
The first and second teams of each group, along with the best eight teams of the third position, will qualify for the 32nd round.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three countries for the first time in 16 cities distributed — 11 cities in the US (including the final), three in Mexico City and two in Canada.
Mexico City will be hosting this great event for the third time — the first one was held in 1970 followed by the second in 1986, while Canada will host the tournament for the first time.
The number of matches in this event is 104 compared with 64 in the previous editions, which contained 32 teams.
FIFA has allocated record financial awards for this edition worth US $871 million, the highest prize fund in the championship’s history.
Earlier, FIFA revealed that the World Cup champions will receive US $50 million, while the runners-up and the third-placed team will earn US $33 million and US $29 million respectively.
Brazil has won World Cup title five times, followed Germany and Italy with four each, Argentina three, while France and Uruguay have won two each.
Argentina is the defending champion, having won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by defeating France on penalties.
— KUNA
