The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in June — and HuffPost will be live-blogging every twist, turn and controversy from the buildup through the final of what’s widely shaping up to be the most political soccer tournament of all time.From the action on the pitch to the potential chaos off it, the storylines are already piling up: Iran’s possible non-participation amid Donald Trump’s war, the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino, and simmering tensions between the U.S. and fellow host nations Mexico and Canada fueled by Trump’s tariffs and divisive rhetoric.Trump’s travel bans could keep some fans out, there’s been fury over soaring ticket prices, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could be present at games as the Trump administration continues its anti-immigration crackdown.Not to mention extreme heat concerns that scorched all those involved the last time the U.S. hosted the tournament some 32 years ago, in 1994.And that’s all before a ball has been kicked.U.S. President Donald Trump received the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino in December.Andrew Harnik via Getty ImagesOn the field, the men’s national teams from 48 countries will compete in a record 104 matches across the three host nations in what will be the biggest World Cup in history.Mexico will take on South Africa at the iconic Mexico City Stadium in the opening game on June 11. The U.S. will play Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25, in the group games, before potentially competing in the later knockout rounds.The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which is being temporarily rebranded as the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the competition.Current European champions Spain are favorites to lift the trophy. Defending champions Argentina, of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi fame, along with France, England and Brazil, are also expected to be in the mix.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:World Cup Diplomacy: Spain’s King To Attend Game In Mexico After Colonial RiftSpanish King Felipe VI will visit Mexico to attend a World Cup match, the Mexican president said on Monday, in a sign of warming ties after recent tensions between the two countries over colonial-era abuses.President Claudia Sheinbaum did not invite King Felipe, who is head of state in Spain, to her 2024 inauguration after the monarch declined to apologise for wrongs committed during the Spanish conquest.However, after he acknowledged colonial abuses in March, saying Spain could not feel proud about them, she extended an invitation to the World Cup."It is a completely different moment," Sheinbaum told reporters, confirming the visit. "With the exception of a few who still defend (Spanish conquistador) Hernan Cortes... the vast majority of the Spanish people do recognise that there was a period of abuses," she added.Madrid's conservative regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso cut short a 10-day trip to Mexico earlier this month after provoking tensions by paying homage to Cortes during the visit and saying that Spain had brought civilisation, hope and joy to the Americas.In the 16th to 18th centuries, Spain ruled one of the world's largest ever empires that included much of Latin America, where it practiced forced labour, land expropriation and violence against Indigenous peoples.Spain will face Uruguay in their third Group H match on June 26 in Guadalajara, with Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia completing the group. It will mark Spain's first game on Mexican soil in a tournament also being hosted by the United States and Canada.See All UpdatesClose
World Cup Diplomacy: Spain’s King To Attend Game In Mexico After Colonial Rift
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in June — and HuffPost will be live-blogging every twist, turn and controversy from the buildup through the final of what’s widely shaping up to be the most political soccer tournament of all time.From the action on the pitch to the potential chaos off it, the storylines are already piling up: Iran’s possible non-participation amid Donald Trump’s war, the president’s close relationship with FIFA’s Peace Prize-awarding President Gianni Infantino, and simmering tensions between the U.S. and fellow host nations Mexico and Canada fueled by Trump’s tariffs and divisive rhetoric.Trump’s travel bans could keep some fans out, there’s been fury over soaring ticket prices, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could be present at games as the Trump administration continues its anti-immigration crackdown.Not to mention extreme heat concerns that scorched all those involved the last time the U.S. hosted the tournament some 32 years ago, in 1994.And that’s all before a ball has been kicked.U.S. President Donald Trump received the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino in December.Andrew Harnik via Getty ImagesOn the field, the men’s national teams from 48 countries will compete in a record 104 matches across the three host nations in what will be the biggest World Cup in history.Mexico will take on South Africa at the iconic Mexico City Stadium in the opening game on June 11. The U.S. will play Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25, in the group games, before potentially competing in the later knockout rounds.The final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which is being temporarily rebranded as the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the competition.Current European champions Spain are favorites to lift the trophy. Defending champions Argentina, of Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi fame, along with France, England and Brazil, are also expected to be in the mix.Check out the full games schedule on the FIFA website.Follow along with our coverage below:World Cup Diplomacy: Spain’s King To Attend Game In Mexico After Colonial RiftSpanish King Felipe VI will visit Mexico to attend a World Cup match, the Mexican president said on Monday, in a sign of warming ties after recent tensions between the two countries over colonial-era abuses.President Claudia Sheinbaum did not invite King Felipe, who is head of state in Spain, to her 2024 inauguration after the monarch declined to apologise for wrongs committed during the Spanish conquest.However, after he acknowledged colonial abuses in March, saying Spain could not feel proud about them, she extended an invitation to the World Cup."It is a completely different moment," Sheinbaum told reporters, confirming the visit. "With the exception of a few who still defend (Spanish conquistador) Hernan Cortes... the vast majority of the Spanish people do recognise that there was a period of abuses," she added.Madrid's conservative regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso cut short a 10-day trip to Mexico earlier this month after provoking tensions by paying homage to Cortes during the visit and saying that Spain had brought civilisation, hope and joy to the Americas.In the 16th to 18th centuries, Spain ruled one of the world's largest ever empires that included much of Latin America, where it practiced forced labour, land expropriation and violence against Indigenous peoples.Spain will face Uruguay in their third Group H match on June 26 in Guadalajara, with Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia completing the group. It will mark Spain's first game on Mexican soil in a tournament also being hosted by the United States and Canada.See All UpdatesClose
