Tag: FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA will kick off a multi-phase ticket sale process for the World Cup 2026 this month with initial single-seat prices as low as $60 for group-stage matches and as high as $6,710 for the final.

Those prices will fluctuate based on demand, and fans will be able to buy single-game tickets, venue-specific tickets, and team-specific packages, the world football governing body said Wednesday as it announced a schedule for the first phase of sales.

Forty-eight teams, the biggest field in World Cup history, will play in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 next year.

Fans who have a Visa card can register for a FIFA ID on the body’s website to enter a presale draw to be held September 10-19.

Those selected through the randomized presale draw can then apply to purchase tickets starting October 1.

Sales will be capped at four tickets per person per match, and no person can purchase more than 40 for the entire tournament.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Further ticket sales will be launched in the coming months, with registration for Phase Two expected to take place from October 27 to 31, followed by sales from mid-November to early December.

Phase three will begin shortly after the tournament draw is held in Washington on December 5, and fans can submit applications for specific matches.

Closer to the tournament, fans will be able to buy remaining inventory on a first-come, first-served basis.

FIFA said in a statement it planned to offer additional products such as supporter tickets for fans who want to sit with others backing the same team, and conditional supporter tickets for fans who want to reserve a place in potential knockout rounds.

FIFA will also launch an official resale platform.

READ: Pakistan’s Haider Ali found not guilty in UK case

The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington on December 5, US President Donald Trump announced on Friday.

The 48-team marquee event will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The potential venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw is Las Vegas, a location where the US-hosted event concluded in 1994.

Meanwhile, this time the draw will be held at the Kennedy Center, a performing arts venue.

Following the announcement, Donald Trump lauded the football World Cup as the biggest event in sports.

“It’s the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports,” Trump said.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“It’s a tremendous honor to bring the global event and this incredible group of people and these unbelievable athletes – the best athletes in the world – to the cultural center of our nation’s capital,” Trump said.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who brought with him the World Cup trophy, also took part in the draw announcement from the Oval Office at the White House.

“This is this will be absolutely fantastic, the biggest event ever. And everything will start here in Washington, DC, at the Kennedy Center – or the Trump Kennedy Center,” Infantino said in a light-hearted manner.

“The draw will be broadcast live all over the world and will be watched by one billion viewers,” Infantino said.

For the unversed, the FIFA 2027 World Cup has been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.

The highly anticipated draw will organize the 48 teams into 12 groups of four.

The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the knockout rounds.

READ: Hong Kong announce squad for Asia Cup 2025

The fourth round draw of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has determined the path forward for the final six Asian teams competing for a spot in next summer’s 48-team expanded edition.

Patrick Kuivert’s Indonesia were on Thursday handed a tough draw for the final round of Asian qualifying as they try to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938.

Coached by former Barcelona star and Dutch great Kluivert, Indonesia will play hosts Saudi Arabia, and Iraq in Group B of the fourth round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 finals.

Qatar will host Group A and face the United Arab Emirates and Oman after the six-team draw took place at the Asian Football Confederation’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Matches in both groups will be played in a single round-robin format in October in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The two group winners will join the six Asian nations already qualified for next year’s global showpiece in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The two second-placed teams will meet in November, with the winner over two legs entering an intercontinental playoff for the final spot at the 48-team World Cup.

Indonesia have embarked on a recruitment drive of Dutch-born players and backroom staff to bolster their bid for a first World Cup finals berth since becoming an independent nation.

Jordi Cruyff, son of Dutch football legend Johan, was in February appointed technical adviser to the Football Association of Indonesia to work alongside Kluivert.

Indonesia last qualified for the World Cup while still under Dutch colonial rule and lost 6-0 to Hungary in their only match of that tournament, hosted by France.

They will face a difficult task against Middle East giants Saudi Arabia, who have home advantage and will be heavily favoured to top Group B.

The Saudis have qualified for the World Cup on seven previous occasions, including the last two editions. Meanwhile, Iraq has only qualified once in its history, in 1986.

Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, marking their only appearance in the finals, and will be favourites to top Group A at home.

The United Arab Emirates reached the World Cup once, in 1990, while Oman has never qualified.

Australia, Japan, Jordan, Iran, South Korea, and Uzbekistan have already secured their World Cup berths from the Asian confederation.

READ: Dominant Hasnain books spot in IBSF World U-17 Snooker Championship final

FIFA has established an office inside Trump Tower in New York City as it intensifies preparations for the 2026 World Cup in North America, the governing body of world football announced.

“FIFA is a global organisation and to be global, you have to be local, you have to be everywhere, so we have to be in New York,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said at an event in Manhattan.

“So today, we are opening an office of FIFA here in Trump Tower.”

FIFA already has offices in Miami, and the move deepens ties between Infantino and US President Donald Trump.

Infantino attended Trump’s inauguration earlier this year, has appeared alongside the US President at the Oval Office, and joined him on a recent visit to Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Thanks, of course, to President Trump as well, who is a big fan of soccer, (together with) the whole family,” added Infantino, who was speaking ahead of the semi-finals of the Club World Cup taking place at the MetLife Stadium just across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

The first 32-team Club World Cup concludes this weekend, while the World Cup 2026, scheduled for June and July, will be the first to feature 48 teams.

Eleven of the 16 venues in 2026 will be in the United States, with three in Mexico and two in Canada. The final will take place in the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“We have received such big support from the government and from the President with the White House Task Force for the FIFA Club World Cup and for the FIFA World Cup next year,” Infantino said before declaring the ongoing tournament “an incredible success”.

READ: Joao Pedro’s brace sends Chelsea into Club World Cup final

Neymar on Tuesday extended his contract with Brazilian club Santos until the end of 2025, as he attempts to recapture his form in time for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“I made a decision and I followed my heart. Santos is not just my team, it’s my home, my roots, my history, and my life,” the 33-year-old forward said in a statement from the club.

Neymar started his career at Santos before moving to Barcelona and then Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

After an injury-hit spell in Saudi Arabia, he returned to Santos in January on a contract that was due to expire on June 30.

The injury problems that restricted him to just seven matches in 17 months at Al-Hilal persisted.

He has played 12 matches in five months across all competitions for Santos, scoring three goals. In his last appearance in the domestic league, he was sent off for a second yellow card after scoring with his hand against Botafogo.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

After 12 matches in this season’s Brazilian championship, Santos are only clear of the relegation places on goal difference.

Since his return to Brazil, Neymar has drawn criticism for partying at the Rio Carnival and for appearing in the gimmicky seven-a-side Kings League while nursing injuries.

Neymar is the Brazil national team’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, two more than another Santos product, Pele, but his quest for a World Cup winner’s medal has repeatedly ended in disappointment.

Neymar was recalled to the Brazil squad in March for two World Cup qualifiers, but withdrew with a thigh injury.

In May, new coach Carlo Ancelotti left Neymar out of his first squad.

“I selected players who are in good shape. Neymar has just returned from injury, everyone knows he’s a very important player and we’re obviously counting on him,” said Ancelotti.

READ: ‘My academy does a roaring trade’: Former England captain takes a dig at India’s poor fielding

Gennaro Gattuso said Thursday he is convinced Italy can qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as he begins his reign as Azzurri coach following the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti.

Italy are at risk of missing out on a third consecutive FIFA World Cup after a troubled start to their qualifying campaign, which has left them nine points behind Group I leaders Norway and cost Spalletti his job.

Asked whether he had more hope or conviction that Italy could reach next year’s finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Gattuso said: “conviction”.

“I believe that we have good players available to us. We have four or five who are among the top 10 in the world in their position,” added Gattuso.

“We have a good team, but I do mean team, I’m not thinking about individuals. I’m convinced that the team has quality, and I’m convinced that we can achieve our goal.”

Gattuso has a tough job on his hands with only the top spot in the group giving automatic qualification to the World Cup, even with Italy having played two fewer games than Norway.

As well as the significant points gap, Italy have a goal difference which is 12 goals worse than Norway, who hammered Italy 3-0 earlier in June.

That leaves Italy with the play-offs, from which they failed to reach the last two tournaments, as their only realistic shot at qualification.

“We need to bring back the enthusiasm and not think negatively. My goal is to make sure that the players that come to (Italy’s training centre) Coverciano do so with great enthusiasm, and to create a family,” said Gattuso.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“After formations, technique and tactics, the priority is to recreate that mentality that in the past has made us stand out.”

Gennaro Gattuso, a World Cup winner in 2006, was not the Italian Football Federation’s first choice to replace Spalletti.

Claudio Ranieri eventually turned down an appeal to come out of retirement, for a second time, to save his country’s footballing fortunes.

But Italy icon Gianluigi Buffon, now head of the national team delegation, said he believes Gattuso is capable of defying those who doubt his capabilities after an up-and-down coaching career.

Gattuso, 47, was recently sacked by Hadjuk Split but has also managed AC Milan and Napoli, winning the Italian Cup with the latter club five years ago.

“I had a long playing career and every time I faced one of Rino’s teams with Juventus, they gave us a hard time, you had the idea that his teams had a precise identity, and that there was a lot of work and thought behind them,” said Buffon.

“It’s very simple, when you’re on the pitch, you can tell straight away if behind the other team, there is a good coach or not. And every time I faced his Milan or Napoli team, I could tell that was the case.”

Gattuso will be in the dugout for the first time in September when Italy host Estonia in Bergamo before travelling to Hungary to take on Israel.

READ: Pakistan hockey captain voices frustration amid allowance delay during Nations Cup

Australia qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, while Oman ended the hopes of Palestine for their first appearance at the finals with a last-gasp draw on Tuesday.

Tony Popovic’s Socceroos, who went into the third round’s final match day heavy favourites to progress, defeated direct rivals Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Jeddah to seal the second automatic qualification spot in Group C.

Saudi Arabia must instead make do with a place in the fourth round, alongside Indonesia. Japan had already secured top place in the group.

“We’ve built a good foundation now and we want to really get better, kick on and try and do something special at the World Cup,” said Popovic.

Herve Renard’s Saudi side went into the decider at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium knowing only a win by a five-goal margin would be enough to usurp Australia in second.

The hosts were given the perfect start when Abdulrahman Al-Aboud opened the scoring 19 minutes in.

The visitors pulled level just before half-time through Connor Metcalfe’s left-footed strike.

Australia were soon ahead, when three minutes into the second half Mitch Duke met Martin Boyle’s cross to head home from close range.

Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan then saved Salem Al-Dawsari’s late penalty to earn Australia a memorable victory and secure the country’s sixth successive appearance at a World Cup in style.

“To show that character, resilience and then quality to come back and actually take the lead and win the game, I’m delighted,” said Popovic.

In Group B, Palestinian hearts were broken when they conceded a penalty deep into injury time to draw 1-1 with Oman in Amman.

Palestine, playing their home fixtures at a neutral venue, took the lead on 49 minutes when Oday Kharoub headed Adam Kaied’s corner into the top corner.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Oman were reduced to 10 men in the 73rd minute after Harib Al-Saadi was shown a second yellow card.

Yet the visitors rallied to snatch a precious point in the 97th minute, Issam Al-Sabhi converting a spot-kick following a foul on Muhsen Al-Ghassani.

The result means Oman finish fourth in the group at Palestine’s expense and therefore advance to the next phase of qualification.

The top two teams in each of the three groups go straight to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, while those in third and fourth move on to the fourth round.

Taking place in October, and comprising two groups of three, there are two places at next summer’s tournament up for grabs with Oman, UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia all in the running.

Crystal Palace forward Daichi Kamada scored twice for Japan and Paris Saint Germain’s Lee Kang-in netted for South Korea as the Asian giants rounded off successful World Cup qualifying campaigns in style.

Japan romped to a 6-0 thrashing of Patrick Kluivert’s Indonesia in Osaka while South Korea cruised to a 4-0 win over Kuwait in Seoul where fans were treated to a late appearance by Son Heung-min.

FA Cup winner Kamada struck twice in the first half for Japan, with Takefusa Kubo, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino and substitute Mao Hosoya also on target against Indonesia, who finished fourth in Group C.

Iran and Uzbekistan are already through to next year’s finals from Group A, as are Jordan and South Korea from Group B, who both secured qualification last week with a game to spare.

Jeon Jin-woo and goals from European-based trio Lee Kang-in, Oh Hyeon-gyu of Belgium’s Genk and Lee Jae-sung of Germany’s Mainz sealed the win.

Tottenham’s Son, who has been struggling with injury, came on as a 75th-minute substitute.

Iraq confirmed third place in the group with a 1-0 victory against Jordan in Amman, the hosts having already clinched a first appearance at the World Cup.

READ: Brazil, Ecuador book FIFA World Cup 2026 berths

Brazil booked their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America on Tuesday with a lacklustre 1-0 home victory over Paraguay, the first win of Carlo Ancelotti’s reign.

The five-time world champions, the only team to appear in every edition of the World Cup, punched their ticket to the finals in Canada, the United States of America (USA) and Mexico thanks to Vinicius Jr.

The Real Madrid star bundled home from close range in the 44th minute in Sao Paulo after a cross from new Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha.

Uruguay’s 2-0 win over Venezuela in Montevideo had raised the prospect of qualification for both Brazil and Paraguay at Corinthians Arena.

Paraguay were left needing only a point to qualify, while Brazil knew they could advance with a win in Ancelotti’s second game in charge.

In the event, it was Brazil who seized the opportunity presented by Venezuela’s loss, with Vinicius scoring the only goal just before half-time.

Brazil had struggled to create many chances up until that point, with Cunha squandering a golden chance in the 35th minute after heading wide from point-blank range.

Cunha made up for it with a key part in the goal, capitalising on good work from Raphinha to dart into the box and whip in a low cross for Vinicius, who stabbed home the finish.

The win lifted Brazil into third place in the South American standings with 25 points from 16 games, guaranteeing them a top-six finish and an automatic qualifying berth.

The defeat leaves Paraguay with 24 points, meaning they need one point to secure their first World Cup appearance since 2010.

Surprise package Ecuador joined Brazil by sealing qualification with a point following a 0-0 draw with Peru in Lima.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

In other games, Uruguay edged closer to qualification with their win over Venezuela, while Chile were eliminated with a defeat to Bolivia.

Goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta secured all three points for Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay to leave the two-time world champions firmly on course for a place in next year’s finals.

Like Paraguay, Uruguay need only a point from their final two games to qualify.

Venezuela, who are bidding to reach the World Cup for the first time in the nation’s history, are seventh with 18 points from 16 games.

Argentina, who have already qualified, meanwhile, came from behind to frustrate Colombia with a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires.

Liverpool star Luis Diaz fired Colombia into the lead with a superb 24th-minute goal, and the Colombians were given a further boost midway through the second half when the world champions were reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez’s dismissal.

But Colombia’s hopes of a vital win were dashed nine minutes from time when Thiago Almada weaved into the box and found the target to level.

The top six finishers in South America qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the seventh-placed team advancing to an intercontinental playoff.

Bolivia defeated Chile 2-0 to end the former South American champions’ hopes of qualification.

It is the third straight World Cup that Chile have missed out on.

The loss continues a dramatic fall from grace for ‘La Roja’, who won back-to-back Copa Americas in 2015 and 2016.

READ: Babar, Rizwan receive PCB NOCs for Big Bash League 2025

Uzbekistan and Jordan made history on Thursday by qualifying for their first FIFA World Cup, while the pair will be joined in the 2026 edition by perennial participants South Korea.

Uzbekistan, one of the fastest-rising national teams in Asia, drew 0-0 with the UAE in Abu Dhabi to take the second automatic spot in Group A, although top place is still in play after already qualified Iran lost 1-0 to Qatar in Doha.

Heading into the third round’s final set of fixtures on Tuesday, Iran sit at the summit, two points ahead of Uzbekistan.

The top two teams in each of the three Asian groups advance directly to the FIFA World Cup 2026, while those finishing third and fourth, the UAE and Qatar, secure those slots in Group A and enter a fourth round of qualifiers.

In Group B, South Korea confirmed their place in an 11th straight World Cup by defeating Iraq 2-0 in Basra.

The victory, sealed by second-half goals from Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu, means South Korea reclaim top spot from Jordan, whose 3-0 victory against Oman earlier on Thursday ultimately proved enough to secure their participation at the expanded 48-team showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II congratulated the team on social media.

“This historic qualification is well-deserved by our team, which includes stars and cadres of whom we are proud,” he wrote on X. “Special thanks go to our loyal fans who have been our support and encouragement.”

Ali Olwin netted a hat-trick as the 2023 Asian Cup runners-up etched their name in the record books.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Iraq were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Ali Al Hamadi’s foul on Cho Yu-min was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review.

Iraq sit third in Group B, with Oman and Palestine still able to progress to the fourth round of qualifying. Palestine, who defeated Kuwait 2-0 in Ardhiya, host Oman on Tuesday, while Iraq face Jordan in Amman.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Australia will go head-to-head on Tuesday for the second automatic spot in Group C.

Australia remain in pole position following their last-gasp win against group leaders Japan in Perth.

Defender Aziz Behich was the home hero in front of more than 57,000 fans, rifling into the corner in the 90th minute to give Tony Popovic’s side a crucial 1-0 victory.

“We know there’s room to grow and room to improve, but we’ve done something special tonight,” said Popovic, who saw his team outplayed for long periods by an experimental Japan side.

Saudi Arabia ensured the race for second place will go down to the wire courtesy of a 2-0 win against Bahrain in Riffa.

Goals in either half from Musab Al Juwayr and Abdulrahman Al Obud saw Herve Renard’s men stay three points behind second-placed Australia.

However, the Saudis will have to win in Jeddah by five goals to leapfrog the Socceroos.

Also in Group C, Patrick Kluivert’s Indonesia kept alive their hopes of reaching a first World Cup since the country’s independence in 1945 with a 1-0 win over China. That leaves Indonesia fourth in the group, one point behind Saudi Arabia.

Ole Romeny scored the only goal, his controversial penalty just before half time following a VAR check leaving China rooted to the bottom of the group and thus ending their hopes of making a second World Cup.

READ: Lamine Yamal stars as Spain beat France in nine-goal thriller

Saudi Arabia battled to a 0-0 away draw with already-qualified Japan on Tuesday to keep their fading hopes of an automatic place at the FIFA World Cup 2026 alive.

The Saudis went into the game in Saitama in third place in Asian qualifying third round Group C, one point behind Australia.

The top two teams qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the United States of America (USA), Canada and Mexico, with those placing third and fourth going into another qualifying round.

Runaway group leaders Japan locked up their place last week, and the Saudis made sure they stayed in contention with two games remaining after a dogged defensive effort.

The Saudis travel to face Bahrain in June before they host what could be a decisive clash against Australia.

Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard was missing several players through injury but his team were coming into the game fresh from beating China 1-0 for their first win in five qualifiers.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu made six changes from the side that beat Bahrain 2-0 to clinch qualification, with winger Kaoru Mitoma, striker Ayase Ueda and midfielder Hidemasa Morita all ruled out with injury.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Daizen Maeda started up front, and the Celtic man hit the post in the ninth minute as Japan took control from the kick-off.

Maeda had another chance 10 minutes later but could only shoot weakly after stumbling over the ball when clean through.

Muhannad Al Shanqiti headed over the bar soon after with the Saudis’ first attack of the game.

Takefusa Kubo, Japan’s man of the match against Bahrain, went close twice before half-time, before Maeda fluffed another effort shortly after the interval.

Moriyasu’s substitutions changed the game against Bahrain and he rolled the dice again, bringing on Junya Ito and Ritsu Doan shortly after the hour mark.

But Ito curled a shot over the bar with Japan’s best chance of the second half as the Saudis escaped with a point.

READ: The Gabba set to be demolished after 2032 Brisbane Olympics