The manufactured Qatar Cup could adapt a famous saying known in the manufactured city of Las Vegas: what happened in Qatar stays in Qatar.
With the main football competition in the world returning to the American continent in 2026, many things will be different from what happened at this year’s World Cup.
3 homelands
The next tournament can be called the Continental Cup. The three countries that make up North America will host the competition in 2026: Canada, the United States and Mexico. It is the first time that the tournament will have a trio of hosts (surpassing the 2002 Cup, until then the only one in more than one country, South Korea and Japan).
long distances
Don’t even think about going from any stadium to another in 2026 by subway, as happened in this Cup. All of Qatar must fit into many of the host cities for the next World Cup, which will have 16 (against 5 in Qatar), a record number: Vancouver and Toronto (Canada); Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami and New York (USA); and Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey (Mexico).
New formula
After seven Cups with 32 teams, the next tournament will have 48 teams for the first time. And how will that be? Nobody knows yet. But Fifa should hit the hammer on the dispute system at the beginning of 2023. What is certain is that we will have six direct vacancies via Conmebol, with ten countries in the dispute. It’s easier than getting a vacancy for Libertadores.
Oceania selection guaranteed
Possibly New Zealand is among the nations that most vibrated with the increase in selections for 2026. Without Australia (which competes with the Asians), New Zealanders are favorites to have a direct spot, which Oceania will be entitled to, without having to recap. Chance to see haka dances at the Cup.
June tradition
Good news for those who can’t stand to wait too long: there are only three and a half years left for the next World Cup. In 2026, the Cup leaves December aside and returns to its June tradition, that is, at the end of the European season (it is scheduled for the period between June 8 and July 3).
Without Messi and CR7
If you’ve just reached the age of majority or you’re still a teenager, here’s an important warning: in the old days the Cup was a tournament played without Messi, 35, or Cristiano Ronaldo, 37. Since 2006, if there’s a Cup, the duo is there, not always with Shine. The last World Cup without the two was in 2002, and it will happen again. In 2026, neither the Argentine nor the Portuguese should play… right?
+ Retirees
In addition to Messi and Cris Ronaldo, the list of retirees from their national teams is relatively large and many holders of the Qatar Cup will not pursue the American dream (the final should be in New York). The INSS queue for the Cup includes Modric (Croatia), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Busquets (Spain), Suárez and Cavani (Uruguay), Eden Hazard (from the Belgian generation) and Thomas Müller (Germany).
human rights, okay
After the World Cups in Russia and Qatar, the 2026 Cup will make peace with democracy and the end of the restriction of individual freedoms, especially in relation to women and the LGBTQIA+ community.
No Galvão
“Look at the goal, look at the goal, look at the goal”? No, no. Let’s look at it only once, starting in 2026. It will be the first Cup on open TV without Galvão Bueno, the one with eternal life, since 1982 (or the first game Brazil has played in Cups without Galvão since 1990; in 1986 he narrated only one, against to Algeria). But who knows, maybe the narrator doesn’t appear on some streaming to cheer up his fans…
it’s coming man (the beer)
Yes, beer is coming home, after all, Budweiser, sponsor of the event, is American. It is not possible to guarantee that this is good news, but they will be there in 2026, in the stadiums and their surroundings, unlike the 2022 perrengue. But the country of Bud is also known for the variety of craft beers on every corner. Anyway, it will be the Cup of hops.
And the favorites?
Well, this will be the fourth Cup on the North American continent. Brazil, in 1970, and Argentina, in 1986, won in Mexico; and Brazil won the only disputed in the USA. Soon…
As a seasoned news journalist, I bring a wealth of experience to the field. I’ve worked with world-renowned news organizations, honing my skills as a writer and reporter. Currently, I write for the sports section at News Bulletin 247, where I bring a unique perspective to every story.
