LOGISTICS NIGHTMARE: 48-TEAM WORLD CUP DRAW KICKS OFF COMPLEXITY
The draw begins planning for the 48-team, 104-match World Cup 2026, setting the stage for the most complex logistical challenge in football history.
The World Cup, with 16 more teams than in 2022, is coming to North America from June 11 to July 19. It's going to be the most complex one ever from a logistics point of view.
This Friday, there will be a huge ceremony at the Kennedy Centre by the Potomac River. Big names will be there, but Trump is expected to be the main attraction.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Trump are known to be close, and Infantino has visited the White House a few times.
Now, it's expected that Trump will get the first FIFA Peace Prize at the draw ceremony. Infantino said it's to recognise the great work of people who bring others together and give hope to future generations.
The choice of venue is also a nod to Trump, who made himself chairman of the Kennedy Centre earlier this year. The location also gives the U.S. capital a part in the World Cup after it was skipped as a match site.
Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart will host the ceremony. Village People, Andrea Bocelli, and Robbie Williams will perform.
Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Shaquille O'Neal will be some of the stars helping with the draw.
Trump is making the World Cup a key part of his second term and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence next year.
He's also brought domestic politics into the prep, even saying he'd move World Cup matches from cities run by Democrats if he thinks they're unsafe.
Trump said recently, "I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who's great, and I would say, 'Let's move it.'" And he would do it.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will be at the ceremony, too.
Of the World Cup sites, 11 are in the U.S., three are in Mexico, and two are in Canada.
Iran had said it wouldn't attend because the U.S. didn't give visas to some of its people.
Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj called the U.S. decision political. But then Iran said on Wednesday they would send reps, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
Lionel Messi's Argentina is the current champion, having won the World Cup for the third time in Qatar in 2022.
They'll be among the top seeds. Other top seeds include European champions Spain, five-time winners Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The three host countries also get a top seed.
Expanding the tournament has also opened the door for some first-time teams, like Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curacao.
But not everyone is happy. Former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter told CBS, "The monster has been turned loose," about the 48-team plan.
The teams will be in 12 groups of four. The top two from each group will go on, along with the eight best third-place teams, to the last 32.
For the first time, the draw will make sure the four highest-ranked nations are kept apart. Spain, Argentina, France, and England can't meet until the semi-finals if they all win their groups.
Six spots at the finals still need to be decided in the playoffs. The winners will be among the bottom seeds, so the top teams will want to stay away from Italy, which won the World Cup in 2006 but hasn't made the last two tournaments.
The first match will be at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The tournament will last nearly six weeks, with the final at MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.
Because it's so complex, teams won't know the full details of their match locations and times until Saturday, the day after the draw.
CARLO ANCELOTTI ISSUES TWO-MONTH WORLD CUP ULTIMATUM TO SANTOS STAR NEYMAR
Carlo Ancelotti confirms Neymar has two months to prove his fitness for the 2026 World Cup. Read the full Selecao update.
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Everyone’s talking about Neymar again as the 2026 World Cup edges closer. It’s the same old debate: does he still have a spot with Brazil? But this time there’s real hope on the table. Carlo Ancelotti’s left the door open for Neymar to make the cut. Even though Neymar hasn’t made the latest squads, he’s obviously still on the minds of the Selecao coaches.
Here’s the situation: Neymar's been battling injuries since he tore his ACL. He missed the season’s first 10 games after knee surgery last December. He got back on the field, but fitness issues and a suspension meant he still watched from the sidelines quite a bit. Still, Ancelotti isn’t ruling him out. In an interview with L’Equipe, Ancelotti emphasised Neymar’s reputation but also made something very clear: if Neymar wants the World Cup, he needs to earn it.
Talent isn't a question; nobody doubts Neymar’s skill. What matters for Ancelotti is being fit. No exceptions, no matter how big the star. “Neymar can come back. I’ve said it before, and it’s simple: only physically ready players get called up,” Ancelotti said flat-out. “His recovery from the knee injury is going well; he’s scoring again. He just needs to keep pushing and get fitter. He’s headed in the right direction.”
With 79 goals in 128 matches, Neymar has shaped Brazil’s football history. Ancelotti gets that fans want to see Neymar try one more time for the one trophy he’s never won. “Neymar belongs to Brazil’s football story. He’s hugely talented, so obviously people hope he’ll help us win the next World Cup. Right now, he’s under assessment not just by the CBF but by me, too. He’s got two months left to show he has what it takes for the World Cup,” Ancelotti said.
Neymar’s chance to prove himself is coming fast, with big matches for Santos ahead. He’s expected to start this Saturday when they face Atlético-MG at Vila Belmiro. If Neymar stays healthy and sharp, that final World Cup dream is still alive.
BRAD FRIEDEL LABELS WESTON MCKENNIE THE "MOST TALENTED" USMNT PLAYER OVER PULISIC
Brad Friedel sparks debate by naming Weston McKennie as more talented than Christian Pulisic for the USMNT in 2026.
Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel doesn’t think Christian Pulisic is the top American player right now. In his eyes, Weston McKennie is the most talented option Mauricio Pochettino's got, even though Pulisic usually gets all the attention as “Captain America.”
Pulisic does have his fans, but he hasn’t scored for the national team since 2024 and was pretty quiet during the last international break. The US had a rough time, losing 5-2 to Belgium and 2-0 to Portugal. Those friendlies were supposed to get the team ready for big opponents at the 2026 World Cup, but honestly, they just brought up even more doubts. McKennie was one of the few players who actually looked up for it, and Friedel is absolutely convinced he’s the best talent the US has right now.
The team was missing some key names, too. Miles Robinson, Chris Richards, and Tyler Adams were all out. Richards made it back for the Portugal game, but Adams’ absence in midfield was impossible to ignore. Friedel says people are making too much of these recent defeats. He thinks you have to judge the team on how they do in big tournaments, especially this summer. Still, he admits Adams is the one who keeps everyone connected, and when he’s out there, it makes McKennie better, which ends up making life easier for Pulisic.
Pochettino has a headache picking his squad for the World Cup. He’s still not set on his goalkeeper, his defence, his midfield, or even the attack. According to Friedel, no matter who fills those spots, the USMNT’s hopes really come down to what McKennie and Adams bring to the table.
Talking to Express Sport via Oddspedia, Friedel said, “The U.S. has always needed all our best guys. We’ve never been the kind of team that can go 30 deep and not lose quality except in 2002. That was the only year when anyone could’ve started, and we wouldn’t have missed a beat. Tyler is the glue for the team. He doesn’t care if you’re seven feet tall; if you’re not pulling your weight, he’ll call you out. He’s just that type of player.”
Friedel went on, “I coached a lot of these guys when I ran the under-19s. Weston McKennie is, for me, the most talented footballer we have. He can do so many things, but he needs to be fit and focused. With Juventus this season, he’s looked sharp, and he’s carrying that form into the World Cup. If he’s got Tyler alongside him, no matter where Weston ends up playing, Tyler keeps him disciplined. You always get the best version of McKennie when Adams is on the field. If those two are fit and playing well, they open up the space that lets Christian do what he does best.”
Pochettino is staring down a huge challenge to get this team ready for the World Cup. He knows they’re nowhere near their peak, but he keeps insisting they’re not far off either. If Adams can stay healthy, something that’s been tough for him lately, that would take a lot of pressure off the coach. Without him, it shows. With him, everything just seems to fall into place.
