Some Issues as Cup Countdown Starts

Visa processing, mooted dynamic pricing among stumbling blocks at 2026 World Cup

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LOS ANGELES - The largest and most complex World Cup in history kicks off in just over a year's time, with the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosting the football extravaganza against a backdrop of political tension triggered by US President Donald Trump.

Forty-eight teams and millions of fans are set to descend on North America for the first World Cup shared by three nations, with the event starting on June 11, 2026.

In theory, the 23rd edition of the most popular sporting spectacle on the planet has all the makings of a successful tournament.

An array of venues, ranging from Mexico's iconic Estadio Azteca to the glittering US$5 billion (S$6.4 billion) SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, will play host to 104 games spread over nearly six weeks.

The US will stage 78 fixtures, with Canada and Mexico 13 each.

All matches from the quarter-finals onwards will be held in the US, with the tournament culminating in the final at New Jersey's 82,500-seater MetLife Stadium on July 19.

American officials believe the return of the World Cup to the country - 32 years after the US hosted the 1994 Finals - could represent a watershed moment for football in the country.