MIAMI BEACH, FL – FIFA World Cup 2026 organizers are feeling the pressure to delivering on one of the world’s biggest sporting events. The World Cup – co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico – begins June 11 in Mexico City, while MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will host the final on July 19, 2026.

Six teams will play in the inter-confederation playoffs: one from CONMEBOL, one from Oceania, one from Asia, one from Africa, and two from CONCACAF.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is rapidly approaching with Lionel Messi and Argentina’s trophy defense a main talking point of the tournament.

Cristiano Ronaldo likely faces a three-week wait to discover the length of his FIFA ban ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup.

2026 marks the first World Cup since FIFA expanded the tournament to 48 teams, adding 16 additional slots from the 2022 edition. As a result, there is even more space for teams from across the six confederations to secure their spot as the international tournament heads to North America.

Georgia and Spain have been regular adversaries in recent times, with La Roja firing 20 goals past FIFA’s 70th-ranked national team across the past five meetings. In that time, Georgia have scored just three times, highlighting the scale of the upcoming assignment for Sagnol’s men.

The three mascots representing the three North American host nations for the 2026 World Cup made their debuts in Philly.

A modern homage to the 1970 Telstar, it featured pixelated black graphics referencing Russia’s digital era. Equipped with a chip inside, it was the first smart World Cup ball. It was composed of six panels that provided for a smoother surface, with a differently designed "Mechta" version of the ball utilized during the knockout rounds.