During the FA Cup press conference, Guardiola was asked about the topic and was very critical of the prices. “A long, long time ago the World Cup was a celebration of the joy of soccer. Everyone would travel to watch their country. But now we are in modern times, it has become so expensive,” Guardiola said.

Guardiola closed his reflection with a strong statement about the spirit that, according to him, should not be lost in soccer. “Soccer is for the fans.” The message once again puts on the table a discussion that is becoming more frequent: the commercial growth of soccer and the difficulty many supporters have in accessing major international events.

Prices reported by FIFA

FIFA set prices such as $400 for a general ticket in Austria vs Algeria at Arrowhead in Kansas City, $1600 for Brazil vs Morocco at MetLife in New Jersey, and more than $2700 for the United States debut. VIP passes range from $15000 to $25000. Finals in resale surpass 2 million.

Very high prices that, in some cases, do not provide enough motivation to attend, especially when having to pay inflated costs, and even more so in resale markets handled by third parties, which are understood to be much more expensive than official platforms.

The balance between profitability and popular access

Despite his firm criticism of the current pricing system, Guardiola acknowledged the financial reality surrounding events of this magnitude. The coach admitted that corporate involvement is necessary for the logistical viability of tournaments, but insisted that economic interests should not outweigh the people.

“Obviously, you have to think about sponsors and all those things because otherwise it would not be sustainable. But the fans are the key reason why this business can continue to function,” the coach concluded.

The March FIFA window was a massive success for Les Bleus. France faced two high-caliber opponents and emerged victorious in both, defeating Brazil and Colombia. These wins provided a significant points boost, allowing them to leapfrog both Spain and Argentina in the standings.

Conversely, Luis de la Fuente’s men saw their ranking suffer. While they gained 1.94 points from a dominant 3–0 win over Serbia, the subsequent stalemate against Egypt proved costly, resulting in a loss of 2.73 points and the loss of their throne.

Argentina also enjoyed a perfect record this window, but the caliber of their opposition limited their progress. Lionel Scaloni’s men gained only 0.63 points from a 2–1 victory over Mauritania and 0.86 points from a 5–0 thrashing of Zambia. The Albiceleste, who held the top spot for much of the post-World Cup era, now sit firmly in third.

How each star performed

Mbappe proved to be the catalyst for France’s climb to the top of the FIFA rankings. The Real Madrid forward was in world-class form during the 2–1 victory over Brazil at the Gillette Stadium, where he scored the opening goal and was named Man of the Match, leading Les Bleus through their toughest test of the window.

In Argentina, Messi continued to be the heartbeat of his team during their 5–0 rout of Zambia. The captain provided the assist for Julian Alvarez’s opener before finding the net himself for the second.

In a moment that captured the headlines, Messi waived his chance to score a second from the penalty spot, instead handing the ball to Nicolas Otamendi, allowing the veteran to score in his emotional final appearance for the national team on Argentine soil.

It was a more frustrated window for Yamal and Spain. The Barcelona starlet struggled to make an impact, failing to record a goal or an assist in the 3–0 win over Serbia or the disappointing draw against Egypt.

Beyond the pitch, Yamal made waves by calling out a section of the crowd following controversial chants during the game vs Egypt, marking a difficult end to a window that saw Spain lose their world No. 1 status.

FIFA policy strictly prohibits any form of corporate branding, marketing, or commercial naming rights within the stadium footprint during the competition. However, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium features a complex retractable roof with the automotive brand’s logo integrated directly into the center of the aperture.

Following 18 months of negotiations to find a way to remove or cover the logo on the stadium’s dome, engineers determined there was no feasible way to do so without risking structural damage. Consequently, FIFA has been forced to allow the logo to remain, making it the only stadium that will feature corporate branding visible during the tournament.

Matches at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The venue is scheduled to host eight matches, including five group stage games and three knockout rounds, headlined by a high-stakes semifinal. Below there is a list of every game to be played at Georgia:

• June 15: Spain vs. Cape Verde (Group H)
• June 18: UEFA Playoff Winner vs. South Africa (Group A)
• June 21: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H)
• June 24: Morocco vs. Haiti (Group C)
• June 27: FIFA Playoff Winner vs. Uzbekistan (Group K)
• July 1: Round of 32 (Winner Group L vs. 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K)
• July 7: Round of 16
• July 15: Semifinal

Stadiums must change their names for the 2026 World Cup

In accordance with FIFA’s strict clean stadium policy, all 16 host venues have been required to change their names for the duration of the 2026 World Cup. Below is a list of all the stadiums and the names they will use during the competition:

The gap between the two sides in the FIFA World Rankings is significant. Italy currently sit at No. 13, while Northern Ireland are ranked 69th with 1366.02 points. Despite this, Gattuso has warned his squad against complacency, describing the visitors as a physical team that never gives up.

Northern Ireland’s preparation has been unique. Manager Michael O’Neill is currently juggling two high-pressure roles; in February 2026, he was appointed head coach of Blackburn Rovers on a short-term basis to help them fight for Championship survival, while simultaneously leading the national team’s World Cup charge.

Northern Ireland’s path to World Cup playoffs

Northern Ireland’s path to the 2026 World Cup playoffs has been unconventional. They finished third in Group A of the UEFA World Cup Qualifiers, trailing behind Germany and Slovakia.

However, they secured their second chance at qualification through the UEFA Nations League. By finishing first in Group K—where they competed against Bulgaria, Belarus, and Luxembourg—they earned a playoff spot as one of the best-performing group winners who had not already qualified directly.

Northern Ireland dealing with key absences

Northern Ireland enter today’s high-stakes World Cup Playoff semifinal with some crucial absences. O’Neill must reconfigure his backline without two of his most important Premier League-level defenders.

Liverpool’s Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season, as he suffered a severe ACL tear in his left knee during a club match against Arsenal in January. Sunderland’s Dan Ballard has also been ruled out after sustaining a hamstring injury during a recent club’s game against Brighton.

Despite the key absences, O’Neill is putting his faith in a youthful core that has gained significant experience during the Nations League cycle. Jamie Donley (Oxford United on loan from Tottenham), Shea Charles (Southampton), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Trai Hume (Sunderland) and Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) are all available to play today.

According to FIFA, national team managers have until May 11 to submit a preliminary provisional list of up to 55 players. This expanded pool is designed to give teams more flexibility to account for late-season injuries or tactical adjustments before the final selection.

From that initial group, only 26 players will make the final cut to travel to the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Each nation’s definitive roster must be submitted by the May 30 deadline, giving coaches nearly three weeks to trim their squads from the provisional 55-man list.

When does the 2026 World Cup kickoff?

The tournament officially kicks off on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. In a historic rematch of the 2010 opening game, host nation Mexico will face South Africa to raise the curtain on Group A.

FIFA shuts down rumors of a 30-player roster

With the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, FIFA was forced to restructure the tournament format, adding a Round of 32 to the knockout stage. This new round increases the total number of matches and extends the path to the trophy, requiring the eventual champion to play eight games instead of the traditional seven.

Because of this intensified schedule and the increased risk of player fatigue or injury, several national federations had lobbied for rosters to be expanded further to 30 players. Rumors had circulated for months that FIFA was seriously considering the move to provide coaches with more tactical diversity and depth.

However, FIFA has officially moved to silence those rumors, confirming that the final roster limit will remain strictly capped at 26 players. While this is an increase from the 23-player squads used prior to 2022, the governing body has made it clear that no further expansion will occur, ending any speculation about 30-man squads for the 2026 tournament.

This final sales window offers fans the opportunity to purchase tickets for any match across all 48 teams and will notably remain open until the conclusion of the tournament. This flexibility allows supporters to secure seats even on the day of a match, including last-minute bookings.

The phase will operate on a first-come, first-served basis according to real-time availability for each fixture. Additionally, in a move toward greater transparency, fans will have the ability to select their specific seats within the stadium during the purchasing process.

How to buy tickets

To purchase tickets for the final phase of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the process remains consistent with previous sales windows. Fans must visit the official FIFA ticketing website, which serves as the primary and only authorized platform for general public sales.

Once on the site, users are required to log in using an existing FIFA ID or create a new account if they do not already have one. After logging in, fans can browse available matches and categories to select their desired tickets.

FIFA to reopen official Resale and Exchange Marketplace

In the same announcement, FIFA confirmed it will reopen the Official Resale/Exchange Marketplace for eligible ticket holders on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The platform will be accessible through the official website starting at 11:00 a.m. ET.

FIFA emphasized that this platform provides a secure and authorized way for fans who can no longer attend matches to sell or exchange their tickets. By centralizing these transactions, the organization aims to protect supporters from fraudulent activity and unauthorized markups.

“FIFA remains in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss logistical planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” FIFA stated via social media. “We look forward to all 48 teams competing according to the match schedule finalized on December 6, 2025.”

The request has ignited speculation regarding potential replacements for Iran in Group G, where Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand await a definitive ruling.

Analysts suggest that while a venue change is unprecedented this late in the cycle, the governing body remains under pressure to ensure the safety of all delegations.

Iran’s path in the opening round

As it stands, Iran are slated for a challenging three-match slate in Group G, opening their campaign against New Zealand. Their schedule continues with a high-profile clash against Belgium before concluding the round-robin stage against Egypt.

The current confirmed fixture list for Team Melli is as follows:

• Iran vs. New Zealand: June 15 (6:00 p.m. PT / SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
• Belgium vs. Iran: June 21 (12:00 p.m. PT / SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
• Egypt vs. Iran: June 26 (8:00 p.m. PT / Lumen Field, Seattle)

Is Canada a possibility?

The Iranian Federation already stated that they have the intention to play their group stage games for the World Cup in Mexico, but they haven’t released a statement regarding Canada as a possibility, so it appears to be not in the discussion.

The logistical panorama remains complex for Iran, which have cited security concerns following public warnings from the U.S. administration. FIFA continues to monitor the situation, weighing the integrity of the original tri-nation hosting agreement against the escalating demands for a neutral-site solution.

“Since President Trump explicitly stated he cannot guarantee the safety of our national team on U.S. soil, we will not travel to the United States,” Taj announced via the Iranian Embassy in Mexico. “We are currently in active discussions with FIFA to move our slate of matches to Mexican venues.”

The request has placed FIFA in an unprecedented bind, marking the first time in World Cup history that a qualified nation has formally petitioned to swap host countries due to the specific safety warnings of a sitting head of state.

While rumors of potential replacement teams have begun to circulate following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the FFIRI maintains that it is not looking to withdraw, but rather to ensure a secure environment for its players and staff.

FIFA reportedly holding firm on existing 2026 schedule

Despite the pressure from Tehran, a report from The Athletic indicates that FIFA officials are desperate to preserve the original 48-team schedule established during the December draw.

“FIFA remains in regular contact with all participating member associations, including the FFIRI, to discuss tournament logistics,” a FIFA spokesperson told The Athletic. “Our current focus is on executing the competition as per the established match schedule.”

The logistical reality of the Mexico pivot

With just 86 days until the opening whistle, millions of tickets sold, and fan accommodations already finalized, Iran’s request faces steep uphill odds.

Iran are currently slated to play high-profile Group G matches against New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21 in Los Angeles, followed by a clash with Egypt on June 26 in Seattle. Moving these games would require not only new stadiums but also a total relocation of Iran’s planned base camp in Tucson, Arizona, to a Mexican site.

Potential sanctions for Iran

Under Article 6.7 of the FIFA World Cup Regulations, if Iran refuse to fulfill their fixtures in the U.S., the governing body has “sole discretion” to take punitive action. This leads to three distinct possibilities for the tournament’s final field:

• Iran could be formally withdrawn, leaving a vacancy in Group G.
• FIFA could promote a replacement team from the Asian Football Confederation, with Iraq and the United Arab Emirates the top candidates.
• The FFIRI could face a multi-year ban from FIFA competitions, including the 2030 World Cup, alongside heavy financial penalties.

While a move to Canadian venues has been floated as a potential compromise by some analysts, the Iranian federation has yet to publicly acknowledge Canada as a viable alternative to the Mexican swap.

In a recent interview with Diario AS, Infantino pointed to Spain as the team to beat, citing their status as the No. 1 team in the world. The squad led by Luis de la Fuente currently sits atop the FIFA World Rankings with 1,877.18 points, followed closely by Argentina with 1,873.33 units.

“Spain are one of the favorites, along with others, of course. We already know Spain’s strength. The number-one team in the ranking has to be the favorite for the World Cup,” the FIFA president revealed.

Both nations are in peak form, validating their high rankings. Spain captured UEFA Euro 2024 after defeating England 2-1 in the final, while Argentina secured the 2024 Copa America with a 1-0 win over Colombia.

Ahead of the World Cup, the two sides are scheduled to face off in the 2026 Finalissima on March 27 in Qatar. However, the location has yet to be officially confirmed due to ongoing tensions in the Middle East; the venue could be decided this week following a meeting between UEFA, Conmebol and Qatari government.

Spain and Argentina facing injury crisis ahead of 2026 Finalissima

As both nations prepare for the highly anticipated 2026 Finalissima and the upcoming World Cup, Spain and Argentina are grappling with a significant number of injuries to key personnel. The fitness of these squads has become a primary concern for managers Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni just weeks before their clash in Qatar.

Spain received a major blow on March 3 when Alejandro Balde sustained a distal hamstring injury during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey semifinal against Atletico Madrid. Official medical reports from the club indicate that the left-back will be sidelined for approximately four weeks, effectively ruling him out of the March 27 final.

The injury list doesn’t end there. Mikel Merino (foot fracture) and Samu Omorodion (ACL tear) have already been ruled out for the tournament. Meanwhile, Nico Williams remains a major doubt; the winger has not featured for Athletic Club since February 11 due to a persistent groin issue.

Argentina are facing a similar crisis. Paulo Dybala has been officially ruled out of the Finalissima after undergoing knee surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear. He joins Valentin Carboni, who suffered a devastating season-ending injury involving a complete rupture of the ACL and a partial rupture of the LCL and Juan Foyth, who is sidelined after rupturing his Achilles tendon.

Furthermore, Lisandro Martinez is currently being monitored for soleus muscle discomfort, Giovani Lo Celso is battling a moderate myotendinous injury in his right thigh and Lautaro Martinez is undergoing intensive rehabilitation for a left calf strain in hopes of being fit for the Finalissima.

The episode initially led to UEFA action, suspending Prestianni for one match and preventing him from participating in the second leg at Santiago Bernabeu. Meanwhile, an institutional investigation was launched and remains ongoing. Infantino has now weighed in and delivered his verdict in recent hours, calling for automatic red cards for any player who covers their mouth while speaking on the field in a similar context.

“If a player covers their mouth and says something, and that has a racist consequence, then they have to be sent off, obviously,” the Swiss executive said in remarks to Sky News.

Infantino also added that action should follow a presumption of wrongdoing: “It must exist, because a player has said something they should not have said. Otherwise, you wouldn’t cover your mouth, you have nothing to hide. I just don’t understand it.”

Why implement this measure?

The Prestianni case originated after the Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid. Vinicius reported that Prestianni called him “m*nk**” following his goal celebration, triggering UEFA’s immediate anti-racism protocol.

However, the exchange could not be verified because the young Argentine had covered his mouth during the interaction. This factor made the incident subject to further review.

Although Prestianni repeatedly denied the accusation, UEFA suspended him provisionally and barred him from playing in the second leg. The investigation remains open.

In parallel, the International Football Association Board addressed the matter at its most recent meeting. If the proposal advances, the aim is for the new rule to take effect starting with the 2026 World Cup.

The updates primary focus is on increasing “ball-in-play” time and curbing deliberate time-wasting. Building on the success of the goalkeeper six-second countdown, IFAB are introducing strict five-second limits on both throw-ins and goal kicks. If a player exceeds the limit on a goal kick, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick; for throw-ins, possession will simply be turned over to the opponent.

Substitutions will also face the clock. Once the board is raised, players have 10 seconds to exit the pitch. Failure to comply will result in a one-minute penalty for the incoming substitute, who must wait on the sideline before entering play. Similarly, any player receiving medical treatment on the field must remain off the pitch for a full minute of active play following the restart.

Expanded role for VAR

VAR protocols have also been bolstered. Video officials can now intervene in cases of a clearly incorrect second yellow card leading to a red card, or to correct “mistaken identity” across opposing teams. Furthermore, VAR may now alert the head official to incorrectly awarded corner kicks, provided the review is immediate.

IFAB also confirmed they are studying measures to prevent players from covering their mouths while speaking to opponents—a practice that complicates the detection of verbal abuse. This follows the high-profile incident between Vinicius Jr. and Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Benfica.

The 13 rule changes approved by the IFAB

Measures to improve match tempo

• Throw-in limits: A five-second countdown will be implemented; if exceeded, possession is awarded to the opposing team.
• Goal kick limits: A five-second countdown will apply; if delayed, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick.
• Timed substitutions: Players being subbed off have 10 seconds to leave the pitch. If they fail to do so, the incoming player must wait one minute of active play before entering.
• Medical treatment: Any player evaluated or treated on the field must exit and remain off the pitch for one minute of active play following the restart.

VAR protocol adjustments

• Second yellow cards: VAR may now intervene in red card decisions resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card.
• Mistaken identity: VAR can correct an official if a card (yellow or red) is shown to the wrong player.
• Correcting corner kicks: VAR may alert officials if a corner kick was clearly awarded in error, provided the review is immediate and does not delay the game.

Modifications to the Laws of the Game (2026/27)

• Law 3 (the players): Substitutions allowed in senior “A” international friendlies have increased to eight (with an option for up to 11 if both teams agree).
• Law 4 (the equipment): The use of non-dangerous equipment is permitted, provided it is properly covered.
• Law 5 (the referee): Competition organizers may now authorize officials to wear body cameras.
• Law 8 (the start and restart of play): For dropped balls, it is clarified that the ball is considered lost for the team that would have maintained possession had play not been stopped.
• Laws 10 & 14 (penalty kicks): Official clarification is provided on how to proceed in the event of an accidental “double touch” by the penalty taker.
• Law 12 (fouls and misconduct): If “advantage” is played during a Denial of an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity (DOGSO) and a goal is scored, the offender will no longer receive a yellow card, as the foul did not prevent the final goal.