00:04Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we'll be breaking down 10 important things to know
00:09ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the 23rd edition of this legendary and historic sporting event.
00:2210. New Arrivals and Missing Nations
00:25The World Cup is the biggest stage in football, and for some nations, just getting there is history.
00:37In 2026, four nations are set to make their World Cup debut – Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao.
00:50On the flip side, two African giants – Cameroon and Nigeria – will
00:55miss out after being eliminated in qualifying – a surprising outcome given their history
01:00as two of Africa's strongest sides. But the biggest shock of all will be Italy,
01:06eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoffs. It marks their third straight absence from the
01:12tournament. 9. Travel and Immigration Concerns
01:20In 2022, over 1 million fans traveled to the World Cup. In 2026, that number could reach 5 million
01:27across North America. But there are growing concerns about how that travel will be handled,
01:35particularly in the United States. The number of visitors dropped more than 5% last year.
01:41That's in contrast to the global tourism sector, which grew 4%. Some fans, especially from Latin America,
01:49Africa and the Middle East, have raised questions about visas, border entry and immigration enforcement.
01:56With agencies like ICE expected to be part of overall security, some worry this could impact fan
02:03turnouts and the tournament atmosphere. Others have raised concerns about the possibility of
02:26immigration sweeps near stadiums during matches. 8. Logistics and Heat Issues
02:41The 2026 World Cup could be one of the most physically demanding tournaments players have ever faced.
02:52With matches spread across North America, teams will travel vastly different distances, and factors like
02:59sleep, recovery and nutrition can quietly affect performance over time. Climate adds another challenge.
03:0610 of the 16 host cities are at risk of extreme heat, and some locations may face air quality issues
03:13from wildfires.
03:14These challenges could influence both games and the fan experience. Public transport is also a concern,
03:21as many host cities are extremely car dependent. No matter what, the show will go on. But these hidden
03:40challenges could subtly shape how the tournament unfolds. 7. Security Concerns Around the Tournament
03:51As with any global event of this scale, security will be a major focus in 2026.
03:58We don't want the story to be about a security incident that either happens in the stadium or
04:02somewhere else. In Mexico, officials say nearly 100,000 security personnel will be deployed to help ensure
04:09safety across host cities. However, recent cartel-related violence has raised concerns about areas like
04:21Guadalajara. Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly requested that its matches be moved amid ongoing tensions with
04:33the United States. But FIFA has refused to relocate any games. Players face a difficult choice, participate in
04:40one of the world's biggest tournaments, or prioritize safety. For many, the World Cup remains a lifelong dream.
04:46Number 6. Rising Stars and Storylines The 2026 World Cup will feature the first appearance of a player
04:54who has dominated English football for years, Erling Haaland, who was instrumental in getting his home
05:00nation of Norway into the competition. Established stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham continue
05:11to lead their teams. While rising talents like Cole Palmer for England, Luis Diaz for Colombia,
05:17and Jamal Musiala for Germany bring fresh energy, promising fans a glimpse into potential football
05:23greats. Most exciting of all is Spain's Lamina Mal, a generational talent paired with a team that's a
05:34strong favorite to go deep into the knockout rounds. Number 5. The first ever World Cup
05:42halftime show With an event of this scale,
05:45controversy is inevitable, and the introduction of a Super Bowl-style halftime show to the World Cup
05:51final is one of the most debated changes yet. Gianni Infantino called it a historic moment,
06:02but many fans see it as another step toward the growing Americanization of football. Critics say
06:08it risks turning the biggest match in the sports into a spectacle, disrupting the rhythm of the game.
06:14The NFL, the game itself, is created to have commercials throughout the entire thing. So instinctively,
06:23the NFL fan is already programmed to understand that commercials and stopping the game is part of
06:30the ritual. That's not the case in soccer. Others welcome it. Either way,
06:34FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed a multi-artist show, curated by Coldplay's Chris Martin.
06:494. Favorites and predictions Predicting the World Cup could be a video of its own,
06:55but here's the big picture. Oddsmakers currently favour Spain, followed by France, Argentina,
07:01England, and Brazil. Spain is the most recent international winner, claiming the 2024 Euros,
07:11and boasts a midfield considered the strongest in the world, featuring stars like Rodri,
07:17Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, and Lamine Yamal. France, meanwhile, has a squad whose overall talent is
07:32second to none, packed with stars across every position. Defending champions Argentina remain in
07:38contention, with Lionel Messi, two consecutive Copa America titles, and their 2022 World Cup win,
07:44keeping them in serious threats despite an aging roster.
07:533. The Last Appearances of Legends The 2026 World Cup could mark the final
07:59appearance of two of the greatest players in football history, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
08:05After dominating the sport for nearly two decades, both are nearing the end of their international
08:10careers. Messi, already a World Cup winner, and Ronaldo, still chasing that elusive title,
08:26could be stepping onto football's biggest stage one last time. Messi will also be defending Argentina's
08:322022 victory, adding another layer of drama. Stars like Luka Modric, Kevin De Bruyne, and Neymar,
08:44among others, are all nearing retirement, making this must-watch football.
08:482. A Tale of Three Nations The 2026 World Cup will be historic as the
08:54first tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans will get to experience
09:08matches across 16 cities, including US hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston,
09:17Houston, Kansas City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. Canada contributes
09:30Toronto and Vancouver, while Mexico brings Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterey to the mix.
09:38The expanded geography gives more fans a chance to get closer to the action, but it also creates
09:43unique travel challenges for teams and spectators. When it's all said and done,
09:48the final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19th.
09:53I'm so looking forward to it because I think together,
09:56the three nations can show how united we can be.
10:01If you love games, be sure to check out WatchMojo's new game Terrible Influence,
10:06just launched for purchase at TerribleInfluence.com. Terrible Influence is a satirical board game about
10:11the dark side of fame from the writer of The Most Popular Girls in School and Us. Watch Mojo.
10:20Click on the link in the description to check out the game and be the first to play Terrible Influence.
10:271. The Biggest World Cup Ever
10:29The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams and featuring a
10:38staggering 104 matches from June 11th to July 19th.
10:42Starting tomorrow, tickets for all 104 matches will go on sale.
10:46While it's exciting to see more countries included, some critics worry the expansion could
10:51dilute competition in the group stage. For die-hard fans though, more games means more action. The final
10:58four matchdays of the group stage will feature six games per day. Organizers face a massive logistical
11:13challenge, but the results will be a tournament bigger, bolder and unlike anything fans have ever
11:19seen before. Are you excited for the World Cup? Which teams will you be rooting for? Let us know in
11:29those
11:29comments below!
Comments