2026 World Cup: "I'm counting the days, 2 years seems far away, but it's close" (G Infantino, FIFA)

"I am counting down the days, definitely. Like everyone else. Two years seems far away, but we know it is very, very close," said Gianni Infantino (ITA/SUI), president of FIFA, on 11/06/2024, two years to the day before the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, which will be held at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (MEX) on Thursday 11/06/2026.

"In two years from now, the world will stand still and watch what is happening in North America. The trophy is already here, ready - we take care of it - and we are all getting ready, gearing up for the competition, preparing everything. It will be the greatest event, the greatest show, the greatest tournament," added the FIFA president.

FIFA awarded the hosting of the 23^rd World Cup (the first with 48 teams, compared with 32 from 1998 to 2022) to three Federations from the Concacaf zone (United States, Mexico and Canada), during the Congress held in Moscow (RUS) on 13/06/2018.

• In total, the United States will host 78 matches (including 100% of the matches from the quarter-finals onwards) in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston…