Everything you need to know about the new qualification system for the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:9 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

The 2026 World Cup is set to enter a radically different phase in its history, following the decision to increase the number of participating teams from 32 to 48. This expansion has not only increased the number of teams but has also completely reshaped the tournament’s structure, from the group stage right through to the knockout rounds. This change has led to an increase in the number of matches from 64 to 104, with the adoption of a completely new competition format, the biggest since the tournament’s inception. A completely new format: 12 groups and an expanded knockout stage In the…

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US denies visas to 15 members of Iran’s 2026 World Cup delegation

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Preparations for the Iranian national team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup have escalated into a tense political issue, following a visa crisis that triggered a diplomatic spat between Tehran and Washington. Meanwhile, the team continues its technical training, focusing away from the administrative turmoil. For a long time, there were doubts and continuous discussions about whether the Iranian national team would participate in or withdraw from the 2026 World Cup due to the US war against Iran since last February. Visa crisis brings politics back to the World Cup While the Iranian national team players and technical staff received US…

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England — one of the top candidates for the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

As the 2026 World Cup approaches in North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), England enters the list of serious contenders to win the title for the first time since 1966. This assessment relies on a strong combination of exceptional talent, tactical preparation under Thomas Tuchel’s leadership, a perfect qualifying record, and statistical expectations. Despite a long history of “disappointments” in the knockout stages, the English team appears more balanced and mature this time. The golden generation The English national team possesses one of the strongest squads in the world, combining experience with explosive youth: Attack: Harry Kane (Captain and historical top scorer)…

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Visa crisis threatens media coverage for the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:7 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

As FIFA continues to promote the 2026 World Cup as the most expansive and inclusive tournament in history, a new crisis has emerged that could overshadow the long-awaited event. The International Sports Press Association has warned of significant difficulties facing dozens of accredited journalists in securing visas to enter the United States. In an official letter to FIFA media officials, the association revealed it has received an increasing number of complaints from accredited journalists—including a large group of Iranian journalists and those from various African nations—who have yet to secure the necessary visas, despite fulfilling all of the tournament’s media accreditation…

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FIFA water ban sparks fan backlash ahead of 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:5 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Fans attending the 2026 World Cup will not be allowed to bring reusable water bottles into stadiums. The latest restriction introduced by FIFA has sparked criticism and concerns about temperatures across the tournament’s hottest host cities. This year’s tournament features 48 teams for the first time. It will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As a result, several matches are expected to be played in high temperatures and humidity. What has changed in stadium rules? Under the new regulations, fans cannot bring reusable water bottles into venues. However, previously, spectators could carry transparent, empty plastic bottles up to…

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The 2026 World Cup will test Pelé’s youngest-scorer record

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:5 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

For nearly seven decades, Pele has topped one of the most distinguished rosters in World Cup history. When the Brazilian legend scored against Wales at the 1958 World Cup, he was just 17 years and 239 days old — a record that has yet to be beaten. With the final squad lists confirmed for the 2026 tournament, attention has turned to this historic number, especially with several teenagers set to make their World Cup debuts. Pele reigns supreme 68 years on Brazilian Pele still sits at the top of the youngest scorers list, ahead of all stars who have passed through…

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The biggest international stars missing from the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:4 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Although the 2026 World Cup will go down in history as the biggest edition ever, featuring 48 teams and co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the tournament’s expanded format has not been enough to guarantee the presence of all the world’s football stars. Whilst fans prepare to follow an unprecedented edition in terms of the number of teams and matches, qualifiers, injuries and tactical choices have shaped another side of the World Cup: the absence of names that have played a significant part in the game’s landscape in recent years. Whilst the tournament has opened its doors to new…

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Manchester City leads the world… List of the most represented clubs at the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:4 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

With the final squads for the 2026 World Cup now confirmed, the competition is no longer limited to national teams alone, but has also extended to the clubs that have become the biggest suppliers of stars for the biggest tournament in World Cup history, which will feature 48 teams and 1,248 players for the first time. According to data released by FIFA following the approval of the final squads, the major European clubs have dominated the scene, whilst Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal has made an exceptional showing as the leading Arab and Asian representative. City in the lead… a new record English…

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Algeria at the 2026 World Cup: Restoring prestige and chasing the 2014 feat

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:3 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Algeria — After years of ups and downs, marked by both successes and failures, the Algerian national team returns to the 2026 World Cup with a twofold ambition: to restore its standing amongst the African elite on the one hand, and to prove that the current generation is capable of writing a new chapter to match what the Desert Warriors achieved at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil on the other. Algeria, which dazzled the world over a decade ago when it reached the quarter-finals and played a historic match against Germany, has since experienced contrasting phases. From winning the 2019…

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2026 World Cup final squad lists announced

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:3 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

FIFA has announced the final squads for the 2026 World Cup, with a week left before the tournament kicks off on 11 June. It’s confirmed that 1,248 players representing 48 national teams will take part in the biggest edition in World Cup history, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. Featuring 104 matches, this World Cup involves a record number of national teams and players. FIFA has said this reflects the global expansion of the game and provides an opportunity for broader representation of nations and fans. According to FIFA’s statement, the final squads include 357 players who have previously featured…

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Saudi must overcome challenges of the past at the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:1 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

When the Saudi national team takes to the pitch at the 2026 World Cup, they will carry a weighty legacy of both glory and anticipation. In the same country that witnessed its greatest World Cup moments more than three decades ago, the Green Falcons return to reclaim a story that has remained unfinished since the summer of 1994. In 1994, Saudi entered the tournament for the first time and emerged having put their name on the map of world football. Since that extraordinary American summer, generations have come and gone, and teams and managers have changed, but that achievement remains a…

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Iraq hopes for an upset at the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:1 June 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

Forty years after its sole World Cup appearance, Iraq returns to the world stage carrying the dreams of an entire generation that never experienced Mexico 1986. Between memories of the past and aspirations for the future, the Lions of Mesopotamia enter the 2026 World Cup with ambitions that go beyond simply making an appearance. The squad hopes to prove their return was no fluke and that Iraqi soccer is capable of regaining its place among the elite. Qualifying for the World Cup was a historic milestone that brought the team back to the forefront of international football after many years of…

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Valued at €2.5 Billion: The 19 Most Valuable Players in the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:31 May 2026
• Post last modified:9 June 2026

The battle for the World Cup is no longer confined to the pitch; it has extended into the global football market, where the market values of players reveal the scale of the stakes riding on their performance before the biggest football event on earth. As national teams prepare for the 2026 tournament, attention turns to an elite group of stars whose names have become footballing fortunes, collectively valued at over two billion euros. According to the latest data from “Transfermarkt” as of the publication date of this report, the number of players whose market value exceeds the €100 million threshold has…

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The Canary tracks the Top 7 contenders for the 2026 World Cup title

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:29 May 2026
• Post last modified:8 June 2026

With only a few days to go before the start of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the features of the main contenders competing for the global title have begun to take a clearer shape. This comes amid an exceptional struggle between two generations: the generation of legends approaching the final curtain of their careers, led by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and the new dominant generation led by Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Vinícius Júnior. The Canary has identified the top 7 teams leading the title expectations, considering the quality of names, stability, and recent…

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The 2026 “Ceasefire”: Re-Organizing the Violence

• Post author:Mohamad Kleit
• Post published:29 May 2026
• Post last modified:8 June 2026

When a ceasefire is announced in a conflict zone, the international community breathes a sigh of collective relief. Headlines declare a pause, diplomats exchange handshakes, and the world looks away, assuming that the silence of heavy artillery equates to the beginning of peace. But when the conflict is with Israel, this assumption is not just naïve, it is dangerous. ‘De-escalation’ Recent truces have revealed a grim paradigm shift in modern warfare: “de-escalation” is no longer the antithesis of conflict, but a tactical phase of it. Rather than halting aggression, recent ceasefires have functioned as a diplomatic screen. They offer the cover…

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Forbes ranks Ronaldo, Messi, and Benzema among sports top earners in 2026

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:27 May 2026
• Post last modified:8 June 2026

The world’s top-earning sportsmen are making billions, according to Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes. Their earnings reflect ballooning sponsorship deals, investments, and commercial rights. Mega contracts, lucrative brand deals, and sponsors Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo topped the list with a total income of $300 million, driven by a mega contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr and lucrative endorsement deals. Lionel Messi came in fifth globally with $140 million, maintaining his position among sport’s highest-paid athletes. He also retains a strong commercial profile off the pitch. The report confirmed that the total income of the top ten athletes…

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Fight to end guga hunt intensifies as NatureScot receives 2026 licence application

• Post author:The Canary
• Post published:26 May 2026
• Post last modified:8 June 2026

Pressure is mounting on Scotland’s nature agency after it confirmed a new licence application has been received for the guga hunt this year. The guga hunt involves the annual killing of gannet seabird chicks in the Outer Hebrides. Now the controversial practice is once again under consideration for 2026 after an application was submitted by the 10-man hunting team based in Ness on the Isle of Lewis. The hunt, which takes place on the remote island of Sula Sgeir, has been carried out for centuries and was once used for food during harsh winters. However, campaigners argue that young gannet flesh…

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Iran changes its base ahead of the 2026 World Cup

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:26 May 2026
• Post last modified:8 June 2026

In a move that reflects the political complexities surrounding the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has appproved Iran to move its football team base from the US to Mexico. The decision came after months of escalating political tension between Tehran and Washington, which had raised concerns within Iranian sporting circles regarding the national team’s participation in the World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada. The crisis reached boiling point, with reports that Iran might withdraw from the finals. FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, confirmed that the international federation was committed to the Iranian team participating as normal. He also denied any…

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The 2026 World Cup could turn into a global climate crisis

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:24 May 2026
• Post last modified:8 June 2026

A few days before the kickoff of the 2026 World Cup, environmental warnings are escalating around the tournament, which is supposed to be the biggest in football history, but is now poised to become the “most climate-destructive” since the tournament began. The Guardian revealed that the edition, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, does not appear to be just an exceptional sporting event, but a massive project that could leave an unprecedented carbon footprint. This is due to the enormous expansion in the number of teams, matches, and host cities, alongside the almost complete reliance on…

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Does the 2026 World Cup ball really need charging?

• Post author:Alaa Shamali
• Post published:24 May 2026
• Post last modified:8 June 2026

The World Cup ball is no longer just a piece of rubber and air, as fans have known it for decades, but has transformed in the 2026 World Cup into a comprehensive technological tool containing electronic sensors and advanced tracking systems, to the extent that it requires charging before matches. The Spanish newspaper AS revealed that the new official match ball for the 2026 World Cup, named “Trionda,” contains a smart chip embedded within its structure, which necessitates pre-charging so it can transmit data during games. The newspaper explained in its report that the battery works for several continuous hours, while…

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