Chaos in Iran, Mexico, Swansong for Messi: Will the FIFA World Cup still go ahead with 100 days to go?

The 100-day countdown to the biggest FIFA World Cup in history begins Tuesday against a chaotic backdrop of global unrest, from U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran to rising violence in Mexico and concerns about Donald Trump’s domestic agenda.

A record 48 teams (up from 32 in 2022) and millions of fans will travel to the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first-ever World Cup shared by three countries.

The world’s biggest football show kicks off on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and will end almost six weeks later on July 19 at the 82,500-seat MetLife Stadium just outside New York.

A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 locations and four time zones, with the majority of the action taking place in the United States, where 78 matches will take place.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is confidently predicting a commercial boom from the tournament, which is expected to generate a record revenue of $11 billion, far surpassing the $7 billion earned during the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Infantino has repeatedly described the size of the 2026 tournament as equivalent to “104 Super Bowls,” citing a global television audience of billions and more than 508 million requests for some seven million tickets.

«The demand is there. Every game is sold out,» Infantino said earlier this month.

READ ALSO | Iran doubts participation in FIFA World Cup 2026: President of the Iranian FA

Yet FIFA’s revenues will also be boosted by a ticket sales policy that is likely to benefit many fans. Fan groups around the world, such as Football Supporters Europe, have accused FIFA of a ‘monumental betrayal’ over the awards.

FIFA responded to this criticism by introducing a small ticket price of $60 for official supporter groups.

Political football?

Beyond the eye-popping numbers, the biggest challenges facing the tournament could prove to be political.

The Trump administration’s domestic and international policies have raised concerns about the smooth running of the tournament.

Trade wars also involving Canada and Mexico, tensions with European allies over threats to annex Greenland, and an immigration crackdown that could make travel to the United States difficult for fans of some participating countries have all cast a shadow over preparations.

While calls for a boycott have failed to gain serious momentum, the run-up to the tournament continues to be plagued by swirling geopolitical uncertainty.

READ ALSO | Amid war at home, resilient Iran continues its Women’s Asian Cup campaign with hope

The US-Israeli attacks on Iran have provided the latest flashpoint as the Iranian team will play its three group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.

The Trump administration’s immigration policies, meanwhile, have led to stricter visa restrictions for dozens of countries, including four World Cup-qualifying countries: Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast.

The White House insists that this will not affect tourist visas and that fans who have tickets can therefore take advantage of expedited visa arrangements.

Another logistical problem has arisen in Mexico, where the recent killing of one of the country’s most notorious drug lords during a military operation sparked a wave of unrest. Growing violence gripped Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, which is hosting four World Cup matches.

Both Infantino and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have both given assurances that the recent unrest will not disrupt the World Cup matches taking place in the country.

“Very reassured, everything is fine,” Infantino said AFP at a meeting in Colombia last week, when asked how the violence could affect Mexico’s World Cup planning.

Messi swan song

On the field, the tournament itself faces its own challenges.

The expanded 48-team format means the first group stage is unlikely to be in jeopardy.

The top two teams from each of the twelve first round groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will qualify for the first round of the knockout stages, making it highly unlikely that the tournament’s traditional big players will be knocked out at the first hurdle.

READ ALSO | Lionel Messi equals Pele’s record with 70th goal from free kicks

Once the action gets underway, all eyes will be on defending champions Argentina, who will once again be led by Lionel Messi, who celebrates his 39th birthday on June 24, in what is the sixth – and almost certainly final – World Cup of his career.

Argentina’s hopes of winning back-to-back World Cup titles will face a tough challenge from 2018 champions France and reigning European champions Spain.

Meanwhile, England, coached by German Thomas Tuchel, will once again try to end the country’s 60-year wait for a major tournament victory.

At the other end of the spectrum of contenders are a handful of teams participating in the World Cup for the first time, including Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

Published on March 3, 2026