Overview
- The tournament officially began on June 11, 2026 with opening ceremonies at Estadio Azteca and the Mexico v South Africa match, launching the first World Cup staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
- FIFA’s new 48‑team format of 12 groups increases the schedule to about 104 matches and adds an extra knockout round, a change critics say risks many one‑sided games and stretches player and venue logistics.
- Visa and entry rules have already affected delegations and officials, with Iranian team members restricted to Mexico for much of the event and referee Omar Artan denied entry after arriving in Miami, forcing last‑minute operational adjustments.
- Health agencies warned of a measles resurgence in the Americas and hosts set up vaccination and surveillance measures to reduce the risk of outbreaks among travelling fans and staff.
- Commercial and broadcast stakes are high as FIFA projects near‑€10 billion in revenues, DAZN carries primary rights with selected free‑to‑air windows on Rai in Italy, and organisers face immediate pressure to manage ticketing, travel and fan experience across three countries.