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.

Recent events in the country have sparked questions about security and organization ahead of the global event. As preparations continue, FIFA has remained in close contact with Mexican authorities while monitoring the situation.

In an interview conducted in Spanish with the Colombian Football Federation, Gianni Infantino addressed the matter directly and made FIFA’s position clear. “First of all, of course we are analyzing and monitoring the situation in Mexico at this time,” he said. “But from the beginning, we have full confidence in Mexico, in its President Sheinbaum, and in the authorities. We are convinced that everything will go in the best possible way.”

Infantino added that Mexico is a great soccer nation and that challenges happen everywhere in the world. “We don’t live on the moon or on another planet — things happen,” he said. “That’s why we have states, police forces, and authorities who guarantee order and security. From my side and from FIFA, there is absolute confidence in President Sheinbaum in Mexico. We are in regular contact with the presidency and the authorities, and we continue to follow the situation closely.”

Confidence in Mexican leadership

The FIFA president emphasized that the organization remains in constant communication with President Claudia Sheinbaum and national officials. He reiterated that upcoming World Cup playoff matches in Mexico will proceed as planned, at a time when Mexico’s president has also recently clarified Guadalajara’s status as a 2026 World Cup venue.

Mexico’s central role in 2026

Mexico will host key fixtures during the 2026 World Cup cycle, and the reopening of Estadio Azteca stands as a symbolic milestone in the country’s preparations. With FIFA publicly backing Mexican authorities, organizational efforts continue as the tournament draws closer.

The incident occurred seconds after Real Madrid’s goal celebration, when the forward had a heated exchange of words with Prestianni. The Brazilian immediately approached referee François Letexier, who activated the anti-racism protocol. Vinicius Jr. left the field visibly upset by what the Benfica midfielder had reportedly said to him.

After play was halted for several minutes to review the situation, no immediate sanctions were taken. During the exchange, Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey, making it nearly impossible to perform a lip-reading of his alleged remarks.

However, after the match, Aurelien Tchouameni revealed that Prestianni allegedly called Vinicius a “m*nkey” while concealing his face. Despite the claims from the Real Madrid midfielder, Prestianni responded decisively to racism allegations, stating that Vinicius Jr. misinterpreted his words and insisting he never said anything racist.

While no formal measures have been taken yet, UEFA broke its silence on the situation, stating that “the official reports from the matches played last night are currently being reviewed“. Now, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has officially entered the conversation.

Gianni Infantino’s official statement

“I was shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism towards Vinícius Júnior in the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF. There is absolutely no room for racism in our sport and in society – we need all the relevant stakeholders to take action and hold those responsible to account,” Infantino began in an official FIFA statement released via his social media channels.

“At FIFA, through the Global Stand Against Racism and the Players’ Voice Panel, we are committed to ensuring that players, officials and fans are respected and protected, and that appropriate action is taken when incidents occur. I commend referee François Letexier for activating the anti-racism protocol by using the arm gesture to stop the game and address the situation,” he continued.

“FIFA and football show full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. I will always continue to reiterate: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!” the message concluded.

The FIFA president’s intervention puts further pressure on UEFA as they review the match reports. With the return leg scheduled for Wednesday, February 25, at the Santiago Bernabeu, the focus remains on whether disciplinary measures will be enacted before the two sides meet again.

The Portuguese forward has always been vocal in his defense of the Saudi Pro League, even claiming the level of competition in Saudi Arabia is superior to that of leagues like France or his native Portugal. While those remarks drew considerable criticism, Infantino appears to side with Ronaldo when discussing the league’s massive trajectory.

In an interview with Arab News’ Asharq Al-Awsat, the FIFA president stated that “the Kingdom has become a major hub on the global soccer stage” and expressed his belief that it is “on track to become one of the top three leagues in the world”.

Along those same lines, the Italian official continued to praise the rapid growth the Saudi Pro League is experiencing, describing it as “a domestic league with a global flavor”. Nearly all of this growth is linked back to Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr, as his signing paved the way for other stars like Neymar to begin their own adventures in the Middle East.

Infantino on the 2034 World Cup

In an official statement, FIFA revealed that Saudi Arabia was the only nation to officially submit a bid to host the 2034 World Cup. As a result, it was confirmed that the country will serve as the host for that edition of the tournament.

Speaking with Asharq Al-Awsat regarding the selection of the Middle Eastern nation as the 2034 host, Infantino described Saudi Arabia as “a welcoming country with a rich culture, delicious cuisine, and remarkable people”.

He also made reference about Saudi Arabia’s participation in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, featuring a unique format with 48 teams in the competition.

During the interview, Infantino touched on their chances in the tournament, where the team will share Group H with Spain, Uruguay, and Cape Verde. The FIFA president did not rule out the possibility of the Asian side surprising the stronger favorites, much like they did against Argentina in Qatar 2022.

Specifically, the Wenger’s proposal stipulates that an attacking player is considered onside as long as any part of their body capable of legally scoring a goal is in line with the penultimate defender. This would apply even if the rest of the attacker’s body has already moved past the defensive line.

Under this new interpretation, an offside offense would only be flagged if there is total separation between the attacker and the defender. By requiring “clear daylight” between the two players, FIFA aims to eliminate the ongoing controversies surrounding goals disallowed by the width of a shoulder or a knee.

If implemented, this shift would provide a significant advantage to offensive play, theoretically increasing scoring and reducing the frequent VAR stoppages that currently plague the game.

Infantino discusses the ‘Wenger Law’

During his presentation Infantino framed the potential adoption of the “Wenger Law” as the next logical step in soccer technological evolution. Reflecting on the introduction of Video Assistant Referees, Infantino noted that the goal has always been to ensure fairness.

“Years ago, we introduced VAR to make soccer fairer, to give the referee the opportunity to correct an error that millions of people, at home or even in the stadium, might have seen,” Infantino explained. He emphasized that the system is not static but rather an ongoing project. “We continue to improve VAR with increasingly advanced technology to help referees make the right decision“.

“We continue to examine the rules, asking ourselves how we can make the game more offensive, more attractive,” Infantino added. “Consider the offside rule, which has evolved over the years and requires the attacker to be behind the defender or in line with him: perhaps in the future, he will have to be completely ahead to be offside“.

Infantino also addressed one of the most common criticisms of modern officiating: the length of time it takes to reach a decision. Beyond changing the rules of the game, FIFA is looking for ways to keep the clock moving.

“We are also evaluating measures to avoid time-wasting,” he cautioned. “It is important for the game to flow smoothly, so interruptions must be minimized”. This aligns with recent trials of the “eight-second rule” for goalkeepers and more efficient VAR communication aimed at protecting the pace of the game.

Will the new offside rule be implemented for the 2026 World Cup?

As of now, Infantino has only confirmed that the new offside law is being discussed internally at FIFA. Like any major change to the rules of the game, the proposal must be formally approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB)—the body composed of FIFA and the four historic British associations (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).

If the rule receives a “green light” from the board, FIFA will then have to decide the timing of the rollout. While the goal is to revolutionize the sport, the governing body must weigh whether to implement such a massive change just months before the 2026 World Cup or wait until the start of the 2026-27 domestic season.

What’s this whole story about? Yesterday, during the draw ceremony, Scaloni walked onto the stage carrying the World Cup trophy his team won in Qatar 2022 — but he was only allowed to hold it while wearing gloves. “I apologize on behalf of FIFA. Of course, the world champions are allowed to touch the Cup,” FIFA’s top chief apologized.

The ceremony took place in Washington, D.C., where several prominent figures were in attendance, including Donald Trump, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Mark Carney, and Infantino himself. In addition, sports icons such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, and Aaron Judge were tasked with opening the draw balls for each national team.

Although there are still a few months to go before the kickoff of one of the world’s most popular sporting events, fans everywhere are already gearing up for a new edition of the World Cup, which will take place across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.

Argentina’s fate is set

Argentina enters this new edition of the World Cup as the reigning champion, looking to claim back-to-back titles. With its opponents now confirmed, the big question fans are asking is: when and where will Lionel Messi and his teammates take the field?

The defending champion Argentina national team will kick off their Group J schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. Their opening match is on June 16 at 9:00 PM ET against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

The Albiceleste will then play their next two fixtures in Dallas, Texas, facing Austria on June 22 at 1:00 PM ET, and concluding the group stage against Jordan on June 27 at 10:00 PM ET.

According to Diario Ole, CONMEBOL is pushing for a major shift in the 2030 FIFA World Cup by proposing an expansion from 48 to 64 teams. While this might seem excessive, it is not unprecedented; the tournament expanded from 24 to 32 teams in 1998, paving the way to the recent expansion to 48 national teams in 2026. Now, the potential expansion is now being studied towards the 2030 edition.

After the latest FIFA Council meeting, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez made a statement that could hint at a possible agreement for a major change in the World Cup format. “We came here to work and had an extremely important meeting. Stay tuned because we will soon be announcing news that will impact the world,” he said, as reported by Diario Ole.

Though FIFA has not officially announced it, sources like Diario Ole report that President Gianni Infantino is lobbying for support across various regions ahead of a Council meeting next week. The meeting is expected to unveil plans to expand the tournament to 64 teams. However, this change would only take effect starting with the 2030 edition, establishing a new precedent for future World Cups, while the 2026 event remains unaffected.

How would the FIFA World Cup 2030 be played under the potential change?

If FIFA approves and announces expanding to 64 national teams, the traditional World Cup format will change significantly. The tournament will feature 16 groups instead of the usual 12, with the top two teams from each group moving on. Consequently, 32 teams will progress to the second round, matching the number that qualified for the tournament’s first round in the 2022 edition.

This change presents a golden opportunity for national teams like Venezuela, which have yet to experience a World Cup. However, it also challenges future tournaments, as a single nation might struggle to accommodate the increased number of matches in a compressed timeframe. Consequently, this shift encourages more collaborative bids for hosting rights, shaping the tournament’s future landscape.

Through social media, Infantino released a statement in response to the events in Argentina, which left a significant scar on the sport and served as a reminder of what must never happen again.

Infantino stressed that such scenes have no place in soccer, emphasizing that the game must remain a space of respect, integrity, and passion for competition — not violence. He acknowledged the gravity of the situation and called for unity within the global soccer community to ensure these actions are not repeated.

“I strongly condemn the shocking violence which led to the cancellation of the Copa Sudamericana last-16 second-leg match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile in Buenos Aires,” Infantino said. “Violence has no place in soccer — players, fans, staff, officials and everyone who enjoys our beautiful game should be able to do so without fear.”

He went on to underline that proper measures will be taken regarding this situation. “From everyone at FIFA, our thoughts are with all the innocent victims impacted and we expect the relevant authorities to hold those responsible for these barbaric acts to account.”

What happened in the Independiente vs Universidad de Chile match

Independiente faced Universidad de Chile in the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 on Wednesday, August 20. However, the match had to be suspended during the second half due to violent clashes in the stands. CONMEBOL later confirmed the cancellation of the game, citing a “lack of security guarantees.”

The problems began in the first half but escalated dramatically after halftime. Universidad de Chile supporters, positioned in the upper section of the stadium, threw “pieces of masonry, brooms, and parts of bathroom fixtures” toward Independiente fans seated below. They also hurled “coins, stones, fireworks, broomsticks, and various projectiles.”

With little visible police intervention, Independiente’s barra brava stormed the visiting section to confront Universidad de Chile fans directly. Reports described brutal fights, people being stripped and beaten, and even individuals falling — or being thrown — from the upper tier to the lower stands.

Referee Gustavo Tejera initially halted play when the situation spiraled out of control and some fans invaded the pitch. Stadium announcers later ordered Universidad de Chile supporters to leave the venue so the match could continue. Both teams retreated to the locker rooms to wait out the evacuation, but conditions only worsened. Ultimately, the suspension was made permanent, and the game was declared canceled.

What decision did CONMEBOL take regarding the match?

More than an hour after the suspension, CONMEBOL issued an official statement. The governing body’s Competitions and Operations Department announced that “due to the lack of security guarantees provided by the host club and local authorities to ensure the continuity of the match between Independiente and Universidad de Chile in the Copa Sudamericana 2025 round of 16, the match has been canceled.” The statement also confirmed that “the case will be referred to CONMEBOL’s judicial bodies for further decisions.”

While fans worldwide hope to see Messi lead Argentina in 2026, the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner emphasized that he is taking things one step at a time. “I’ll see how it goes. Obviously, you think about it, but you don’t want to set goals either. I want to live day by day, see how I feel physically, and be honest with myself about whether I’m ready or not,” Messi told Simplemente Fútbol back in April.

Amidst this scenario, Infantino congratulated Messi in an Instagram post for joining an exclusive group of players who have scored in both the FIFA Club World Cup and the World Cup. He then wished Messi success “for next year’s tournament,” a comment widely interpreted as hinting at Messi’s potential participation in 2026.

“The great @leomessi added to his glorious list of achievements when he scored at the recent FIFA Club World Cup, becoming part of a special group of players who have also scored at the @fifaworldcup! A world champion and two-time FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner, I have great memories of our interaction in Qatar in 2022 and wish you the best for next year’s tournament,” Infantino wrote.

Lionel Scaloni on Messi and the 2026 World Cup

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has also expressed hope that Messi will be available for the next World Cup but stressed that no decision will be made until closer to the tournament.

“Both he and his teammates are aware there’s still time,” Scaloni said in an interview with D-Sports on Jan. 31. “He wants to play in the World Cup, and so do they, but nothing can be guaranteed. We need to see how everyone arrives. He knows what we think, and he’s the smartest of them all”. While Messi’s future on the international stage remains undecided, Infantino’s remarks have added intrigue to Argentina’s preparations for 2026.

According to reports from The Athletic, tickets for the tournament’s opening match went on sale in December at an initial price of $349. However, due to low demand, prices plummeted by 84%, dropping to $55.

Despite this, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confidently stated in a video shared in X (formerly Twitter) by Deporte Total USA that the stadium would be packed for the first game of the competition.

“Yes, absolutely, it will be full,” Infantino affirmed when asked about the attendance for the opener. “We’re going to have an incredible atmosphere and make history in soccer with the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup match featuring two great teams with very different stories”.

“A young team like Inter Miami, known around the world, and the team with the most titles in Africa and millions of fans worldwide, Al Ahly,” he continued. “And a new competition that’s set to change club soccer. So the stadium will be full, and it’s going to be an incredible celebration”.

Infantino unfazed by ticket price drops

Despite the ticket price fluctuations, Infantino showed no concern, attributing the changes to the U.S. system of dynamic pricing. “Whenever you launch a new project, there will always be discussions, and you never really know what to expect. One of the best things I’ve learned here in the United States is the concept of dynamic pricing,” Infantino explained during an event in Miami.

“I didn’t know much about it, but it means prices can go up or down, and that’s the important element—giving people opportunities to attend,” the FIFA president emphasized.