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*Kicks off 8pm Thursday 11 June, 2026
The 23rd FIFA Senior World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 11th of June, 2026, in three co-host countries, the USA, Canada and Mexico amidst several controversies.
The competition began 96 years ago (in 1930), with only 13 teams and has grown steadily with 16 teams taking part as from 1934 until 1982 when 24 teams made it to the finals.
By 1998, the number of teams in the finals was increased to 32 and this year 2026, 48 teams are taking part for the first time.
The 48 teams for this year’s edition were divided into 12 groups, with 4 teams in each group.
A—–Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czech Rep.
B—– Canada, Qatar, Switzerland, Bosnia.
C—–Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
D—– USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey.
E—– Germany, Cote D’Ivoire, Ecuador, Curacao.
F—–Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden.
G—– Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New-Zealand.
H—–Spain, Cape-Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
I—–France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq.
J—–Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
K—–Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, DR Congo.
L—–England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.
After the group stage, 32 out of the 48 teams will qualify for the next stage after which the competition will reach the Round of 16.
The q-finals, s-finals, third-place and final matches will then follow.
Record winner, Brazil is gunning for its 6th title, Germany is looking for a 5th title while defending champion Argentina will not mind a 4th title.
Debutantes.
Four countries are playing in the World Cup for the first time, they are Cape Verde from Africa, Curacao from North/Central America, Jordan and Uzbekistan from Asia.
Major Absentees.
Perhaps the biggest team to miss out of this World Cup is 4-time winner, Italy, who has now failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
From Africa, the biggest World Cup absentees will have to be 7-time attendee, Cameroon and Nigeria, who have been to the mundial 6 times.
However, Africa will be represented by Morocco, who came 4th last time in Qatar; Senegal, an emerging football powerhouse, as well as the likes of CIV, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, South Africa, DR Congo and debutante, Cape Verde.
Uniqueness.
There are some uniqueness to this year’s edition as FIFA is organizing 3 different opening ceremonies, one in each of the co-host countries, United States, Canada and Mexico.
Also, FIFA is introducing a rash of new rules in this year’s edition, which may make or mar the trend of officiating at the global level.
It is also interesting to note that when South Africa hosted the World Cup in 2010, their first match was against Mexico and this year that Mexico is co-hosting the World Cup, their first match is against South Africa.
CONTROVERSIES
Several controversies have shot up even before the first ball was kicked……14 members of Iranian delegation were denied US visa and would now stay in Mexico; FIFA World Cup Referee from Somalia was denied entry into the United States while Senegalese and some other teams were subjected to embarrassing searches before being allowed into the USA.
World football governing body FIFA is helpless as the Americans seem to have reneged on all agreements.
By the time the dust settles on July 19, any of Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, Spain or England could emerge champions again after winning the title previously.
However, there may be upsets from the likes of Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Morocco or Croatia as they had come close several times in the past.
