There is another person in the White House, Gianni Infantino who is still there. The photo was taken more than four years ago FIFA President Smiling in a blue shirt next to Donald Trump also seems possible with Joe Biden. At least the current US president has been tweeting so passionately about soccer in recent weeks – despite the early departure of his pick from Qatar. “For a bright future in 2026 here at home,” Biden wrote. World Cup after three and a half years in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Which Gianni Infantino promoted again on Fridaypromises a lot – But not necessarily a bright future for football.
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Speaking about the questionable plans once again to reinvigorate the game would be an “incredible” effect, Infantino said shortly after. After the long-specified increase from 32 to 48 World Cup entrants, the world federation is said to be discussing the situation intensely. “We have to discuss it again or at least discuss it again, whether we do 16 sets of three or twelve sets of four, and that is definitely something that will be on the agenda in the next meetings,” Infantino said on Friday during the final. Press Conference. There will be more games.
Instead of the previous 64 matches: Up to 104 matches can be played in the World Cup
So far, instead of 64 matches in Qatar, there are 80 matches spread across three countries in the 2026 World Cup schedule. If the format is changed to 12 groups of four, up to 104 matches will be possible. The problem with the three-group situation is the high risk of unimportant games or possible collusion, because the nation is forced out of the games. Infantino hailed the “success of the four groups” at the tournament in Qatar. “Here the four-man sets were absolutely amazing in that they were open until the last minute of the last match you’d play.”
FIFA is always watching for marketing opportunities. With the 80 games alone, the income will increase exponentially, and the World League expects sales in the region of eleven billion US dollars by the end of 2026. Infantino said that the number of fans is expected to reach 5.5 million fans in the host countries. Compared to the World Cup in Qatar, spectators have to adapt a lot.
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From Al Shalifa Stadium in west Doha, where the match for third place was on its schedule on Saturday, to the final Lusail Circuit in the North, it takes 20 minutes by car (without traffic), and you can also take the subway. 2026 will take place in 16 stadiums, 11 in the USA, 3 in Mexico and 2 in Canada – there are sometimes hundreds of kilometers between them. A flight from Miami to Vancouver, for example, takes more than six hours, and from Philadelphia to Mexico City with a layover, sometimes more than eight hours. The venue for the games is open. The stadiums are also located in different time zones.
World Cup 2026: Human rights and diversity in focus?
German soccer player Lutz Pfannenstil positively predicts a “major event”. The 49-year-old, who has been building an MLS club in St. Louis for more than two years, said the tournament could be “almost like Germany.” German news agency. “By the motto: Welcome to the Friends. There is something for everyone.” The 1994 World Cup in the United States was already well organized, “but since then football has taken on a lot of importance here”.
The importance of the social and political dimension in sport has grown exponentially, not least because of the World Cup in Qatar. The massive criticism, especially from Germany over the human rights situation in the emirate, should at least set a different tone before the 2026 finals.”I wouldn’t be surprised if FIFA would then take an interest in human rights and diversity. “This is to be expected in the United States in particular,” said former DFB president Reinhard Grindel. dpa.
The 61-year-old was present at the World Cup award in the summer of 2018, which was decided by the FIFA congress for the first time. Previously, the finals – including the scandalous double award of Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022) – were awarded in a closed circle of the then FIFA Executive Committee. The host country for the 2030 World Cup will be selected in 2024. To date, this final round is also planned with the participation of 48 countries. But you never know.
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