World Cup 2026, to be hosted by Mexico, USA and Canada, one or three opening matches | Football | Sports

FIFA vice-president Victor Montagliani announced on Wednesday that the company was examining whether one or three opening matches would take place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.

“We have nothing definite, the decision will be made in February or March 2022. In 2018 the presentation document proposed one, three opening matches for each country,” he explained at a press conference in Montreal, northeastern Mexico.

“Now we have the same idea, but we need time to analyze it. The most important thing is the grounds, but the format of the competition,” he said.

The FIFA delegation, led by Montagliani, head of Concacaf, is based in Monterrey, where they will evaluate BBVA Rayados Stadium, one of the three proposed headquarters of the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) for the 2026 World Cup. .

FIFA officials will inspect the city’s logistics and authorities, inspecting property located in the municipality of Guadeloupe, near Monterey, the state capital of Nuevo Len.

“The stadiums in Mexico are as spectacular as they are here in Monterrey. They are designed for American football and are different from those in the United States. Football Like here ”, said the head of Concacaf.

In conjunction with the BBVA, the FMF proposed the Akron de los Shivas Stadium in Guadalajara and the legendary Azteca Stadium in the capital, which seeks to host the World Cup opener for the third time since the 1970 and 1986 editions.

“All arena problems will be solved here, in Azteca or New York. We are here to work on the problems we have identified over the next three or four months while defining 16 locations and to solve them,” Montagliani said.

Colin Smith, director of FIFA events and tournaments, noted that the features being tested in Monterrey include transportation, accommodation for players and tourists, and the stability and conditions for the work of the media.

“There is a global analysis of how the city’s security systems work, what facilities are available in terms of transportation and accommodation, and the steps to follow in that regard,” he commented. (D)