The United States, Mexico and Canada are preparing to host the next World Cup in 2026, and this will be the first time that the event will be held in three countries.
For the second time, the United States will host the tournament, while Mexico will set a record by hosting the tournament event for the third time.
These are facts and figures regarding the upcoming international tournament, according to the network CNN :
$5 billion
The tournament is expected to bring five billion dollars worth of economic activity with the event
48 teams
48 teams will play in this tournament instead of 32 teams as usual, and for the first time in the history of the World Cup, divided into 16 groups in each group 3 teams.
80 matches
The tournament will witness the holding of 80 matches, an increase of 16 matches compared to the World Cup that was held this year in Qatar, where 64 matches were held, and those matches will take place in 16 stadiums.
Sixty matches will be played in the United States, while Mexico and Canada will share the remainder.
11 American cities
The matches will be held in 11 American cities, including Boston, Atlanta, Kansas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami, while 3 Mexican cities and two Canadian cities will host the remaining matches.
104 years old
The Rose Bowl in Los Angeles will turn 104 in 2026, and is the oldest stadium ever selected for the tournament.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup, on which Doha spent regarding $200 billion to build stadiums and new infrastructure, was concluded before hosting the first World Cup organized by an Arab country.
Swiss FIFA President Gianni Infantino described Qatar’s organization of the tournament as “the best” among all previous editions.
But the Gulf emirate has faced harsh criticism since it was granted hosting over its human rights record and treatment of foreign workers.
Qatar considered that these attacks were nothing but an attempt to cast doubt on the right of the Arab world to organize such large events.
At the end of the final match, in which Argentina beat France on penalties, the Emir of Qatar, in a remarkable gesture, dressed Lionel Messi, who led his country to its third title, in the traditional Arab “bisht” robe, before the latter lifted the Gold Cup.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said on Sunday that his country had “fulfilled its pledge” to organize an “extraordinary” football World Cup, expressing his “thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this tournament.”
In a statement on Twitter, the Emir of Qatar blessed the Argentine national team for winning the 2022 World Cup and the French national team for the championship title. He also thanked the participating teams and the fans who enthusiastically encouraged them, and the International Federation of Football Associations.
“With the conclusion, we have fulfilled our promise to organize an exceptional championship from the Arab countries, which provided an opportunity for the peoples of the world to learn regarding the richness of our culture and the originality of our values,” the prince said.
