FIFA men's World Cup 2026

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⚽️ World Cup countdown begins

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios World Cup organizers are hitting the final stretch, with games starting next week, Axios' Shafaq Patel and Abbey Higginbotham report. 11 U.S. cities will host 78 matches — making the tournament a global showcase and a massive stress test for transit, security, tourism and infrastructure. 📣 Each city is transforming public spaces into fan zones. Philadelphia is running a fan festival throughout the tournament's 39-day run. Other cities are opting for shorter stretches, citing steep costs. 🍻 Some towns are extending alcohol sales for the expected late-night crowds. Select Philly bars can apply for permits to stay open until 4 a.m. Kansas City is letting some businesses serve until 5 a.m. Aerial view of Seattle Stadium, temporarily renamed from Lumen Field, ahead of the World Cup. Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images 🤬 Transit pricing has sparked outrage in some host cities. MetLife Stadium, awkwardly rebranded to New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup, eliminated public parking to enforce a transit-only layout. The stadium — in East Rutherford, N.J. — will host the World Cup Final on July 19. Transit prices initially spiked to over $150. Severe blowback forced local officials to subsidize the routes. 🇲🇽🇿🇦 What's next: The tournament opens June 11 in Mexico City, with the host nation taking on South Africa. The first U.S. match follows June 12, against Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif. Go deeper.

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World Cup turf

When the tournament starts next week, the players will have their eyes on the ball. John Trey Rogers will be focused on the grass beneath their feet, which took him six years to get just right.

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⚽ War clashes with World Cup

The USA and Iran teams stand for national anthems at Stade de Gerland in Lyon, France, during the 1998 World Cup. Photo: Eric Feferberg/AFP via Getty Images The U.S.–Iran war is forcing FIFA to navigate a diplomatic and logistical mess even before the World Cup kicks off Thursday, Axios' Brittany Gibson reports. Iran has three guaranteed matches on U.S. soil in the group stage after FIFA declined the nation's request to move its games to stadiums in Canada or Mexico once the war started. Without overnight stays, the Iranian team will fly in from Mexico, clear customs, play a match and then fly back to Mexico the same day for each U.S.-based match. While Iranian players, coaches, staff and immediate family are supposed to be exempt, members of the support staff and the head of the country's football federation were denied visas, the N.Y. Times reports. Iran's fans won't be allowed to travel to the U.S. at all. Read on.