“We will definitely participate in the 2026 World Cup, but the hosts must take our concerns into account,” the Iranian Federation stated on its official website. “We will compete without any retreat from our beliefs, culture, and convictions”.

The federation’s hesitation stemmed from two specific incidents: recent comments from Donald Trump regarding the safety of the Iranian delegation on U.S. soil, and a recent episode at the Toronto airport where Canadian authorities denied entry to Iranian officials traveling for the FIFA Congress in Vancouver.

Iran’s three demands for the 2026 World Cup

To guarantee their presence at the tournament, Iran have demanded that FIFA oversee the fulfillment of three specific requirements:

• Guaranteed visas: Following the incident in Canada, Iran demand that their entire delegation be granted entry visas to the United States without opposition.
• Comprehensive security: In light of political tensions, the federation requires a total security guarantee for the delegation, covering airports, hotels, transit, and training facilities.
• Sovereign respect: Iran have requested absolute respect for their national anthem and flag throughout their stay, particularly during match protocols.

Group stage schedule and logistics

Iran have been drawn into Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt. Their group stage matches are currently scheduled to take place in Los Angeles and Seattle.

Amid the diplomatic tension, Mexico emerged as a primary ally, even offering to host Iran’s three group-stage matches on Mexican soil to avoid potential conflict. However, FIFA has denied this request, maintaining that the matches will proceed as originally scheduled in the United States.

Following formal appeals by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), FIFA accepted the request for amnesty and implemented a regulatory amendment. This change ensures Otamendi is at the disposal of manager Lionel Scaloni for the clash against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City.

Otamendi is not the only player benefiting from this ruling. FIFA also granted amnesty to Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo for their opener against Ivory Coast on June 14, as well as Qatar’s Tarek Salman for their debut against Switzerland on June 13.

The regulatory amendment clearing Otamendi

To facilitate the eligibility of players entering the World Cup with pending suspensions, the FIFA Council Bureau approved an amendment to Article 10.2 of the competition regulations regarding disciplinary carry-overs.

The updated regulation now states: “Yellow cards and pending suspensions of one or two matches resulting from cautions in different matches of the preliminary phase, red cards for a second caution, or direct red cards for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity or serious foul play shall not be carried over to the final competition”.

Otamendi prepares for final international chapter

The 38-year-old defender confirmed in mid-2025 that the 2026 World Cup would be his final appearance for the national team. He recently received a standing ovation during Argentina‘s final domestic friendly in Buenos Aires, a 5-0 victory over Zambia, where Lionel Messi stepped aside to let Otamendi score a penalty as a farewell gesture.

This tournament marks the fourth World Cup for Otamendi, who debuted under Diego Maradona at South Africa 2010. After missing the 2014 squad, he returned for Russia 2018 and played a pivotal role in the Qatar 2022 championship run.

This Tuesday, during his appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Infantino said that this type of astronomical demand reflects the expectation generated by the World Cup. “If some people put some tickets for the final on the resale market at two million dollars, first of all, that does not mean that the tickets cost two million,” Infantino said. “And secondly, it does not mean that someone is going to buy those tickets.”

“And if someone does, I will personally bring them a hot dog and a Coca-Cola to make sure they have a great experience,” Infantino said, but he also made it clear that the market must be analyzed. “We have to look at the market. We are in the market with the most developed entertainment in the world. So we have to apply market rates,” Infantino said.

The comparison with other sports by Infantino

Connecting with the statement about looking at the market, he referenced groups of fans who have also protested the cost differences compared to the previous World Cup in Qatar 2022, where final tickets were priced at $1,600 in official sales, compared to around $11,000 in 2026.

Infantino also recalled that FIFA received more than 500 million ticket requests for 2026, compared to fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

The executive estimated that 25% of group stage tickets were priced below 300 dollars. “You cannot go to watch a college game in the United States, let alone a big professional game of a certain level, for less than 300 dollars,” Infantino said. “And this is the World Cup.”

A very controversial situation that will continue to generate discussion, with prices so high for certain matches that, for the spectator, it will probably not be a good idea to attend, and we could see empty stadiums with low attendance for what the World Cup represents.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the six-match ban imposed by UEFA on SL Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni to have worldwide effect,” a FIFA spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday, according to The Athletic.

Of the six games mandated by the ban, Prestianni has already served one provisionally during Benfica’s Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. Furthermore, three of the remaining five games are “subject to a two-year probationary period” starting from the date of the official ruling.

This leaves two matches of immediate suspension that Prestianni would likely have to serve during the 2026 World Cup group stage, in case of being called up by Scaloni.

Which games could Prestianni miss?

If Scaloni includes Prestianni in the final squad, the forward would be ineligible for Argentina‘s first two matches against Algeria and Austria. The Benfica star would only become available for selection in the final group stage fixture against Jordan, and would remain eligible for the knockout rounds should the defending champions advance.

FIFA’s decision could significantly impact Scaloni’s squad selection, as he now knows he will be without the forward for the opening two matches. Consequently, the manager may be forced to choose between calling up a replacement who is available from the start or sticking with Prestianni and accepting his absence during the early stages of the tournament.

Prestianni reportedly files appeal with FIFA

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) initially explored whether Prestianni could serve a game of the suspension during the upcoming friendly against Honduras on June 6 in the United States. However, FIFA’s ruling dictates that the ban applies only to official competitive matches.

Reports indicate that Prestianni and his legal team have already filed an appeal with the FIFA Committee, seeking an injunction that would put the suspension on hold and allow him to be fully available for the World Cup.

According to The Athletic, the decision has been made to reduce the danger of players missing the World Cup’s knockout matches. “The new rules around suspensions for accumulated bookings at this year’s tournament in United States, Canada, Mexico are expected to be approved later this week”, ” said The Athletic.

A fairly understandable measure, as the teams will have their stars available in the later rounds of the competition, and it will allow a game without fear of losing valuable players, but it also takes away that edge that adds to the competition, as in that sense, nobody cares about managing yellow cards.

The other measure to be implemented

And that is not the only measure regarding cards; now, red cards can be given for other actions that go beyond aggressive play, according to The Times. FIFA is set to impose a red card for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent at the World Cup 2026. It is worth noting that this is something very common among soccer players.

And not only that, but FIFA also plans for an instant dismissal for players who leave the pitch in protest at a referee’s decision. This measure comes from a very memorable event, and it is the controversial situation between Prestianni and Vinicius Jr during their Champions League match.

Where Prestianni suggested something very serious to Vinicius, but it had to go through advanced investigations, and became a very controversial topic because it was not clear what exactly was said, precisely because he was covering his mouth while speaking.

How the previous yellow card system worked

In the World Cup, players must serve a one match suspension if they receive a yellow card in two different matches, but in previous tournaments they were cleared after the quarterfinal stage.

That ensured that no player would miss the final due to suspension simply for receiving a yellow card in the semifinal. The expanded World Cup format, now with 48 teams and an additional round of sixteen, led FIFA to make a change in order to keep players on the pitch.

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.