World soccer’s governing body FIFA — not to mention continental confederations, national leagues and broadcasters — will argue that the appetite for the ‘beautiful game’ is insatiable and will point to the past 12 months as evidence. FIFA described its expanded 32-team Club World Cup as a ‘roaring success’ with 2.4-million fans attending the summer tournament in the United States, including 81,000 for the final in which Chelsea beat Paris St Germain. That Auckland City FC lost 10-0 to Bayern Munich and 6-0 to Benfica while Al Ain suffered 5-0 and 6-0 defeats raised questions about quality control and such mismatches could litter the World Cup.
A record 48 nations — up from 32 in Qatar in 2022 — will descend on the US, Canada and Mexico for a 104-match tournament that will test the endurance of players, supporters and media to the absolute limit. 🚨 BREAKING: Ousmane Dembele 🇫🇷 crowned Best Men’s Player at the Globe Soccer Awards! 👑Another major achievement after the Ballon d’Or and The Best award!#GlobeSoccerpic.twitter.com/PQaPJBnRiA Player welfare has already become a flashpoint, with FIFPro warning of rising injury rates and burnout amid an ever-expanding calendar.
Once the likes of Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan have had their moments in the sun, the World Cup will more than likely arrive at its business end with the usual suspects – holders Argentina, France, Brazil, Spain, England and Germany – scrapping for the coveted crown. Television commentators will require copious notes on some unfamiliar names, but two players will need no introduction.= Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, the two dominant players of the 21st Century, have never faced each other in their five previous World Cups but, if results pan out as expected, could meet for a last dance in a Kansas City quarter-final, by which time Ronaldo would be 41 and Messi 39. Neither showed any sign of losing their hunger in 2025 with Ronaldo banging in the goals for Al-Nassr and helping Portugal to the Uefa Nations League title, while Messi won the MLS Cup with Inter Miami plus the MVP award and MLS Golden Boot. With the pair away from soccer’s European heartland, other talents have flourished.
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