Teams participating in the expanded 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be strategically grouped in regional clusters during the initial rounds to facilitate travel, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced on Wednesday. Infantino made this announcement while unveiling the official logo and branding for the tournament in Los Angeles, emphasizing the necessity of this approach due to the immense scale of the 2026 finals.
The upcoming World Cup will be groundbreaking in several aspects, as it will be the first time the tournament includes 48 teams instead of the previous 32, and it will be co-hosted by three countries simultaneously, marking another historic milestone in the event’s history.
Infantino acknowledged the challenges posed by organizing the World Cup across a vast geographical expanse, involving three significant nations. He highlighted the various logistical aspects that need to be addressed, including long distances, time zone differences, and contrasting climates, such as the altitude in Mexico and sea level in other regions.
Considering these factors, Infantino stressed the importance of creating an optimal environment for both teams and fans. The objective is to minimize excessive travel, particularly during the initial stages of the tournament. To achieve this, FIFA plans to establish clusters where teams will be stationed based on the draw results, allowing them to play their matches within their respective clusters.
The topic of travel and the concept of regional clusters were extensively discussed during a meeting in Doha last week, which involved the 32 coaches who participated in the previous World Cup. Infantino praised the successful implementation of a similar approach during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where players could return to their accommodations shortly after matches.
While acknowledging that travel will still be a factor in the 2026 tournament, Infantino assured that careful coordination would be employed to provide teams with the best possible conditions throughout their journey.
Infantino expressed his hope that the 2026 World Cup would surpass the achievements of the 1994 finals hosted in the United States, which played a significant role in establishing Major League Soccer as a prominent soccer league in North America. When asked about the desired legacy of the upcoming event, Infantino stated to AFP, “That soccer will be the number one sport in North America.”
The announcement by Infantino took place at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, where FIFA organized a lavish event referred to as the “green carpet.” The gathering attracted celebrities and former players who were invited to witness the unveiling of the official branding for the 2026 tournament. Among the distinguished guests was former U.S. international player Alexi Lalas, who gained fame as one of the standout performers during the 1994 World Cup.
Lalas expressed his support for Infantino’s decision to group teams in regional clusters. He acknowledged the unique challenges posed by long flights and time zone differences, noting that such factors could significantly impact the competition for players from around the world. Lalas believed that a regional approach to team organization made logical sense under these circumstances. He emphasized that while professional players often travel on chartered flights, the extended travel duration and time zone adjustments could fundamentally alter the dynamics of the tournament.
With the upcoming 2026 World Cup, FIFA aims to strike a balance between the logistical complexities of organizing a multi-nation tournament and providing an equitable and favorable environment for teams and fans alike.
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