Vyacheslav Koloskov, honorary president of the Russian Football Union, argued that the 2026 World Cup hosts—Mexico, Canada, and the United States—will not be on par with Russia’s 2018 tournament. He reflected on a career spanning four decades at world championships and suggested that Qatar 2022 and the Russia event sit at different levels in history. He expressed doubt that the North American hosts could deliver a World Cup equal to Russia’s celebrated edition, noting how the FIFA board later hailed Russia 2018 as the best in history. This perspective adds to a broader debate about the quality and scale of the 2026 event. (Source: Sports Express)
The 2026 edition will mark several firsts. It will be hosted by three nations for the first time and will feature an expanded field of 48 national teams, a significant increase from the previous format of 32. A total of 104 matches are scheduled, spanning a larger geographic footprint across North America. This expansion reflects efforts to engage more teams and fans globally while testing new logistics for hosting across multiple countries and time zones. (Source: Sports Express)
Mexico has previously hosted the World Cup twice, in 1970 and 1986. For Canada, this marks its debut on football’s biggest stage, with Vancouver and Toronto among the host cities. The U.S. portion of the event forms part of a long tradition of hosting major international tournaments across American soil. (Source: Sports Express)
In the current champion status, Argentina holds the world title, continuing to demonstrate the strength and depth of South American football on the global stage. Discussions surrounding the tournament’s coaching and team leadership have also featured comments about the potential need for foreign guidance for national teams in the region. These conversations reflect broader strategic questions about how national teams prepare for the modern World Cup environment and adapt to its evolving formats and competitive demands. (Source: Sports Express)