The countdown to one of the world’s biggest sporting events has entered its final stretch, with participating national teams beginning to arrive in North America as the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears its opening kickoff.
As delegations stepped off their planes over the past 48 hours, the scope of preparations for the month-long tournament has been on full display. While a number of squads opted for coordinated, sharp matching suits to mark their official arrival, other teams outfitted every member with identical branded green carry bags, holding essential gear and documentation for the duration of their stay. The unified attire and coordinated equipment have already sent a clear signal of team unity, even before players take to the training pitches for their first on-site practice sessions.
Hosted jointly across three North American nations – the United States, Canada and Mexico – this edition of the World Cup marks the first time the tournament has been held across three countries, and the first time it has expanded to 48 competing teams. With just days remaining until the opening match gets underway, the arrival of the squads is shifting the event from months of planning and infrastructure preparation to the on-field competition that fans across the globe have been anticipating for years. Local organizing committees have confirmed that all arrival protocols, security arrangements and team accommodations are fully operational, ready to welcome the world’s best football talent and the hundreds of thousands of traveling supporters set to follow them.