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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.
An Iranian flag hangs over a backrest in the stands after the Fifa World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Photo: dpa
Fifa

Iran football federation chief says World Cup participation in US is in doubt

‘The US regime has attacked our homeland … we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope,’ said Mehdi Taj.

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VAR expanded, new rules to curb time wasting approved in time for World Cup

Claudia Sheinbaum

Fifa boss ‘very reassured’ about World Cup in Mexico despite violence

Fifa

Fifa boss sorry for offending British football fans, defends Trump peace prize

Gianni Infantino, who awarded Trump the inaugural Fifa peace prize, had said the Qatar World Cup was special because ‘no Brit was arrested’.

US President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Fifa’s Gianni Infantino as he is presented with the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize, at the Kennedy Centre in Washington on December 5. Photo: AP
China manufacturing

As World Cup boosts merch demand, China’s small-goods capital Yiwu stays wary

China sees a spike in orders from across the globe for footy-themed flags, scarves and wristbands but overall economic outlook is still weak.

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Fifa

Fifa president jokes about British football fans, defends ticket prices

Gianni Infantino also addressed concerns around the staging of this summer’s finals in the United States at the World Economic Forum.

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Fifa

Fifa boss Infantino hails World Cup demand after 150 million tickets requested

Gianni Infantino says there would be ‘no football in 150 countries in the world’ without Fifa, defends cost of attending matches.

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Fifa president Gianni Infantino awards US President Donald Trump with the Fifa Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 World Cup. Photo: AP
Fifa

Editorial | Pricing out most fans harmful to World Cup’s football festival

Elite sporting events must not become the preserve of the privileged, and Fifa must explore ways of creating affordable ticketing options.

Fifa

Year in football: growth, mismatches point to direction ‘beautiful game’ will take

‘Success’ of Club World Cup, bigger World Cup go hand in hand with more money, technology coming in, but player welfare is an issue.

Fifa

Fifa unveils limited number of US$60 World Cup tickets after global backlash

Supporter group says ‘revisions do not go far enough’ and exposes flaws in how prices for the tournament had been set.

Football’s global governing body said in a statement that it had created a limited number of “Supporter Entry Tier” tickets fixed at US$60 for all 104 matches. Photo: dpa
Donald Trump

Fifa’s neutrality ‘broken’ after Trump role at World Cup draw: German politician

Vice-president of German parliament slams ‘disgusting’ ceremony in which Donald Trump received peace prize, and calls ticket prices ‘insane’.

Donald Trump was honoured with a new Fifa peace prize at this month’s World Cup draw in Washington. Photo: Kyodo
Lionel Messi

Another Lionel Messi farce as angry Indian fans riot, vandalise stadium

Video shows fans, who had paid ‘a month’s salary’ to see touring Argentine superstar, throwing ripped-up seats, other objects onto field.

Carlo Ancelotti

Silva defends Fifa World Cup expansion, fears Brazil aren’t good enough to win

Gilberto Silva, who has worked as a technical adviser for game’s governing body, ‘wants to be positive’ about 48-team tournament.

Donald Trump

Trump talks trade with Canada, Mexico leaders at World Cup draw

The three nations are preparing for a review of their trade pact amid rising US tariffs and threats by Washington to withdraw from the USMCA.

US President Donald Trump speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum after the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup in Washington on Friday. Photo: AP
Fifa

Fifa World Cup draw repeats past as France face Senegal, England play Croatia

Argentina drawn to start against Algeria after a show that lasts almost as long as a football match.

Shaquille O’Neal acts as a draw assistant during the Fifa World Cup 2026 draw in Washington on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Fifa gives Trump its new peace prize at World Cup draw

The US president, who has campaigned for but not received a Nobel Peace Prize, says he doesn’t need awards, just wants to ‘save lives’.

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Donald Trump

Trump and Sheinbaum to meet for first time at Fifa World Cup draw in Washington

The Mexican president, along with Canada’s PM Mark Carney, is expected to discuss trade tariffs with Trump at the football tournament draw.

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Hong Kong society

Opinion | National Games underscored ties that bind Hongkongers with rest of China

Through tears and celebrations, the Games highlighted the importance of connectivity and the shared spirit among China’s peoples and regions.

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From the left, Hong Kong’s Ceci Lee Sze-wing, Guangdong’s Wang Xinyu and Macau’s Kuok Kin Hang celebrate at the closing ceremony of China’s 15th National Games, in Shenzhen on November 21. Photo: Xinhua
Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min set to make South Korean history in glamour Brazil friendly

Ex-Tottenham skipper is tied with manager Hong Myung-bo and ex-striker Cha Bum-kun on 136 international appearances.

Fifa

World Cup Asian qualifiers: players back Queiroz to lead Oman to first finals

Omanis to tackle latest round under former Real Madrid manager; ex-China coach Fabio Cannavaro will take Uzbekistan to next year’s event.

Fifa

3 years after stadium disaster, Indonesia 2 wins away from return to World Cup

Southeast Asian nation among six vying next week for two Asian spots remaining in 2026 global event co-hosted by US, Canada and Mexico.

Indonesia ended China’s World Cup hopes after beating them 1-0 in an Asian Qualifiers Group C match in Jakarta in June. Photo: Xinhua
Malaysia

Fifa’s ban on Malaysian players fuels rival interference claims

Fans are questioning Fifa’s reversal of eligibility approval for seven naturalised players, suspecting complaints from Indonesia or Vietnam.

Malaysia’s players pose before the start of an AFC Asian Cup qualifier match against Vietnam on June 10 in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP
Uefa

Uefa moves towards vote to suspend Israel from European football over Gaza war

Majority of 20-member executive committee are expected to support banning Israeli teams from international play.

Fifa

Fans face World Cup rip-off as Fifa says ticket sales subject to ‘dynamic pricing’

Game’s governing body implements controversial pricing scheme, raises cost of final ticket to US$6,730 compared to US$1,607 at 2022 edition.

Son Heung-min

South Korea select first mixed-heritage men’s player for pre-World Cup friendlies

Jens Castrop, who played for birthplace Germany at youth level, joins Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in in a 22-man squad for games against Mexico, US.

Midfielder Jens Castrop made his Bundesliga debut for Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday as a substitute. Photo: Getty Images
Chinese Football Association (CFA)

Chinese football bosses finally confirm Ivankovic sacked after World Cup failure

China’s defeat to Indonesia this month ended any hope the national team had of reaching the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US.

Branko Ivankovic leaves a press conference after the World Cup qualifier against Bahrain on June 10, his last game in charge. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese Football Association (CFA)

China football boss says men’s national team is ‘fourth rate and we never learn’

Chinese Football Association president Song Kai delivers withering attack on state of game during interview with state media.

Uefa

Ronaldo set to stay at Saudi club Al-Nassr as another World Cup looms closer

The 40-year-old reportedly ends talk about his club future after playing ‘decisive role’ in his Portugal team winning another title.

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