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Join on Telegram Rabat—With 100 days left until the kickoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered an interview where he paints the tournament as a grand unifier, yet the heavy security and logistical hurdles across the three hosting nations reveal the friction between a borderless sporting dream and a deeply worrisome geopolitical reality.
Speaking about the tournament, which will be the largest in FIFA history with 48 teams, 104 matches and 16 host cities, Infantino described the upcoming World Cup as “historic” on multiple fronts. “[It’s the] biggest FIFA World Cup ever organized,“ he said, recalling that three countries, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will share hosting duties and that “billions” around the world will tune in to watch.
“We have received more than 500 million ticket requests, even though we could only sell six to seven million tickets,“ Infantino said. “But I want to tell all fans not to worry. We have always and will keep tickets for the last phase of sales that will start in April as a last‑minute phase,“ he added.
“This is the occasion for the world to come together,“ Infantino continued. “We have teams playing for the first time and traditional champions. But above all, it’s a moment of unity and passion.“ He reiterated that the tournament will bring fans from across the globe together in stadiums and in front of screens, with matches set in four time zones and venues ranging from Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium to MetLife Stadium outside New York.
Kicking off the @FIFAWorldCup 100 days from now…📆🤩 pic.twitter.com/TIL4ov0uHs
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) March 3, 2026
Concerns and global build-up
Beyond the excitement, significant preparation continues in host cities. In Canada, organizers in Toronto and Vancouver have marked the milestone with public countdown events, announcing fan festivals, infrastructure upgrades at stadiums and cultural programming tied to participating nations.
But the buildup has not been without challenges. Recent cartel‑related unrest in parts of Mexico, particularly around Guadalajara, one of the tournament’s key venues, prompted dialogue between FIFA and Mexican authorities about security and mobility. According to FIFA and President Claudia Sheinbaum, officials plan assessments and coordinated action to reassure fans and teams that preparations remain on course.
The broader global context, including political tensions, visa concerns and logistical pressures, has added a layer of complexity to planning, though Infantino remains optimistic that the tournament will proceed smoothly.
“This is the occasion for the world to come together. It’s more than football, it’s a moment of passion, unity, and celebration for everyone, “ Infantino said.
From infrastructure and security to rising fan excitement and historic ticket demand, FIFA is preparing for what they expect to be a great and safe global celebration of football.
Read also: Arsene Wenger Reveals Why He Joined FIFA and Infantino’s Support in Football’s Global Development
