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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.
Iran are marked absent as Fifa secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom (fourth from front left) conducts the roll call during the Fifa Congress in Vancouver last week. Photo: AP
Fifa

Iran FA chief wants Fifa guarantee country’s special forces will not be insulted

Mehdi Taj, who turned back from Canadian border over ‘disrespectful treatment’, says the assurance is needed for the team to take part.

Fifa

China fans: why pay to watch a World Cup we’re not in, can get for free online?

Fifa

Fifa faces World Cup broadcast crisis after India’s low offer, no China decision

Formula One (F1)

Mercedes F1 boss hopes Italian public are fair to ‘superstars’ Antonelli, Sinner

Toto Wolff wary of Italy’s World Cup failure adding to hype around driver, who has become first Italian to win three straight races since 1952.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff (left) with driver Kimi Antonelli after the Italian won the Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome on Sunday. Photo: AFP
Fifa

Dutch league avoids chaos as court dismisses lawsuit over Indonesia passport

NAC Breda had contested 6-0 defeat to Go Ahead Eagles, whose defender Dean James was part of Indonesia’s World Cup qualifying campaign.

Donald Trump

Fifa President Gianni Infantino confirms Iran will play World Cup games in USA

Head of world football also confirmed that he will seek re-election, with the Asian and African confederations supporting his bid.

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The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

World Cup in USA backed by Germany legend despite mixed memories of 1994 finals

Stefan Effenberg trusts US and co-hosts, Canada and Mexico, to host fine tournament, challenges Thomas Tuchel to solve England riddle.

Stefan Effenberg hoists the Champions League trophy following Bayern Munich’s victory over Valencia in the 2001 final. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

4 tickets to World Cup final listed on Fifa’s resale site for US$2 million each

The $2,299,998.85 seats for the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are located behind a goal in the lower deck.

Hong Kong Football Festival

Italy are too big a football nation to keep missing World Cups, says Vieri

It’s time for action instead of empty talk towards fixing the problems, says Inter Milan legend, who scored nine goals in two World Cups.

Fifa

US says Iran welcome at World Cup, distances itself from envoy’s Italy proposal

Secretary of State denies that Washington had asked Iranian team not to come, but warns that some members of delegation may not be welcome.

A replica of the Fifa World Cup trophy displayed in a shop in Tehran, Iran on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Fifa

Italy underwhelmed by Trump envoy’s idea they should replace Iran at World Cup

Italian minister says such a move is ‘shameful’ while media says envoy Paolo Zampolli made same suggestion four years ago ahead ⁠of Qatar.

4
From left, Italy’s Gianluca Mancini, Pio Esposito, Marco Palestra, Leonardo Spinazzola and Federico Gatti after losing out to Bosnia Herzegovina in the final World Cup qualifier last month. Photo: Reuters
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in World Cup, report says

The plan is an attempt to mend ties with Italian PM Meloni, after she and Trump fell out over his attacks against Pope Leo.

Mexico

World Cup co-host Mexico ramps up security at tourist sites after shooting

Rare attack that killed a tourist at the Teotihuacan pyramids threatens Mexico’s image of safety weeks before the Fifa tournament.

Kathy Hochul

American train bosses planning to fleece World Cup fans going to New York matches

Reports suggest New Jersey Transit could charge supporters US$100 to get to MetLife Stadium, up from usual cost of US$12.90.

The cost of getting to MetLife Stadium could become eye-wateringly high for World Cup fans this summer. Photo: AP
The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Bayern, Villa clash one of 3 matches set for feast of football in Hong Kong

Star strikers Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martinez could all be heading to city in August, but only if their countries flop at World Cup.

England captain Harry Kane (left) celebrates a goal with Bayern Munich teammates Serge Gnabry (centre) and Michael Olise. Photo: dpa
Fifa

Iran awaiting Fifa response on venue switch before making decision on World Cup

Country’s football body has been pushing to move team’s group-stage matches from the United States to Mexico, citing ongoing war in region.

Fifa

Japan remain Asia’s best World Cup hope as fellow qualifiers get mixed results

Hajime Moriyasu’s men look most likely to make impact among continent’s nine teams heading to North America after noteworthy wins in Europe.

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Fifa

Top ticket price for World Cup final up from US$8,680 to US$10,990 as sales reopen

The global tournament uses dynamic pricing for ticket sales, and its ticketing site often took hours to enter as latest sales phase opened.

US President Donald Trump and Fifa boss Gianni Infantino holding a ticket to the World Cup final at the White House last August. Photo: EPA
Fifa

World Cup’s last qualifier Iraq plot ‘shock’, Japan out to make more history

Iraqis to make first finals appearance in 40 years, while Japanese have set ultimate goal after becoming first Asian team to beat England.

Viktor Gyokeres

Italy fail to qualify for third straight time, while Sweden, Turkey secure places

Bosnia and Czech Republic also make it through, along with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq in the intercontinental play-offs.

Fifa

World Cup trophies to take pride of place when Fifa Museum opens in Hong Kong

More than 500,000 visitors expected once the museum, brought in by company that staged Cristiano Ronaldo’s version, starts its run on May 28.

The Fifa World Cup trophy will take its place at the museum in Hong Kong after the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico in June-July. Photo: TNS
Chinese Football Association (CFA)

China football team sucker-punched by early goals in wake-up call against Cameroon

Defeat to higher-ranked ‘Indomitable Lions’ in Fifa Series in Melbourne comes four days after win over World Cup-bound Curacao.

China’s Liu Haofan (left) wins an aerial battle against Cameroon in his team’s loss in a Fifa Series match at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
Fifa

Fifa World Cup 2026: after travel ordeal, Iraq hope to secure Asia its 9th spot

Iraq coach Graham Arnold shielding players from Mideast war ahead of intercontinental play-off against Bolivia in Mexico on Tuesday.

Fifa

World Cup: Italy hoping to scale Bosnian ‘Everest’, Kosovo on verge of history

Italian coach and fans feel weight of fears about missing out on a third straight World Cup while Kosovars are feeling the excitement.

Fifa

Fifa World Cup risks being ‘stage for repression’, Amnesty International says

Human rights organisation urges football governing body and host nations US, Canada and Mexico to players, fans and communities.

The Fifa World Cup trophy on display at BBVA Stadium during a promotional stop in Monterrey, Mexico earlier this month. Photo: EPA
Fifa

Lower-ranked China give World Cup-bound Curacao wake-up call in Fifa Series match

The smallest nation to ever qualify for the finals were playing first match under a new head coach, while fellow debutants Cabo Verde also lose.

Curacao’s Tahiti Chong (centre) is tackled by Wang Yudong of China in their Fifa Series match at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, on Friday. Photo: EPA
Viktor Gyokeres

World Cup play-offs: Italy stay on track as Wales, Ireland suffer heartbreak

Kosovo on the brink of first appearance at any major tournament, while Bolivia beat Suriname to set up match against Iraq on Tuesday.

Fifa

World Cup play-offs: Italy set for ‘biggest match’, Iraq bid for second finals

Gennaro Gattuso’s side is one of 16 European teams vying for four spots, while a six-team intercontinental event will fill two more places.

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