With 100 days remaining until the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized unity, scale, and the tournament’s historical significance.
Speaking in Zurich, Infantino highlighted the transformative impact the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, will have on global football.
“Only 100 days remain until the start of the best FIFA World Cup ever. In just over a month, specifically 39 days, 104 matches featuring 48 national teams will take place in 16 cities across three host countries. This is a significant historical moment.”
Infantino emphasized the tournament’s significant global impact.
“We’ll have seven million people in the stadiums, and we’ll have many more millions coming. Billions – six billion people watching from home.”
He noted that the tournament’s emotional significance surpasses its impressive statistics.
“We’ll have debutants, we’ll have the usual world champions who will play. But most importantly, we will have the world coming together. And this is probably the most important fact in this particular period of time.”
Unprecedented Global Demand
Infantino also highlighted the exceptional demand for tickets and broadcast rights.
“The global interest in this World Cup is absolutely unique. We’ve never experienced anything even remotely close to that.”
According to Infantino, ticket requests have surpassed 500 million, while only six to seven million tickets are available.
“We had ticket demands for over 500 million tickets. But to all the fans, don’t worry – we still have and will still keep some tickets for the last sales phase, which will start in April, a kind of last-minute sales phase.”
Broadcasting interest has also reached record levels.
“The demand on the broadcasting side is extraordinary. We’ll have the whole world literally standing still and watching it.”
Unity remained a central theme, as Infantino underscored football’s ability to connect people worldwide.
“We need events, we need occasions to unite the world. And this FIFA World Cup will truly unite the entire world around an emotion, around a passion – around football.”
He noted that fans worldwide will participate in the festivities, even in countries not represented in the tournament.
“In every country in the world – the participating 48 countries and all the others – where people will choose one of the participating teams to cheer for, they will celebrate this magic moment of football and of the world coming together.”
Playoffs to Complete Historic 48-Team lineup
The final qualification spots will be determined by European and intercontinental playoffs later this month.
“Six more teams to qualify, six more countries that will celebrate being part of the World Cup. It’s a very, very important moment in the history of this World Cup.”
Infantino stated that anticipation will increase once the full list of participants is confirmed, with intercontinental playoffs in Mexican cities and European playoffs across the continent.
“As of next month, we will know all 48 teams – and we can really start getting seriously excited about the World Cup.”
The final countdown has begun for the 39-day event featuring 104 matches and billions of viewers. As Infantino stated, football is preparing for a historic global celebration.
