Beijing, May 12: The FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to kick off on June 11. This tournament will be historic, featuring 48 teams instead of the traditional 32. FIFA Secretary General Matthias Grafström announced on Tuesday that preparations for the event are progressing well.
During his visit to China, Grafström expressed his excitement, stating, “Preparations are going very well. We are thrilled. With just a few days left until the tournament begins, I believe this first World Cup with 48 teams will be highly successful, providing 16 more teams the opportunity to experience the World Cup.”
The expanded format is expected to allow more countries, particularly from Asia, Africa, and North America, to participate in this premier football tournament. However, this increase has sparked debates about the total number of matches, player workload, and the overall balance of the tournament.
Grafström believes that involving more nations could have a long-lasting impact on the development of football. He remarked, “Measuring the World Cup’s impact on a country, its grassroots football, professional levels, and fans is truly challenging. We are very eager to witness this tournament in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. It’s going to be very exciting. I am confident it will generate tremendous passion for football worldwide, especially in China.”
While touring China’s National Football Youth Training Center, Grafström praised the country’s five-tier youth academy system, which includes national, regional, urban, and county levels. He noted, “China is such a large country; you have a national center, but you also need to work in these regions, cities, and counties. I want to congratulate the Chinese Football Association and the government for establishing this framework.”
Grafström expressed hope that China’s youth teams will qualify for FIFA tournaments more regularly. He mentioned, “China has qualified for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, and tonight there will be a significant match for the men’s Under-17 team. Now we have the Under-17 World Cup every year for both boys and girls. I think this is a fantastic way to inspire children, as they get the chance to participate in a World Cup every year. Therefore, we expect to see China represented, both boys and girls. Clearly, we will work closely with the CFA to develop the sport here and invest in it. We are very excited about this. This is the main reason for our visit.”
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