With the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming ever closer, the world’s biggest football stage is already stirring up anticipation, controversy, and plenty of drama both on and off the pitch. Set to be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada in a historic, expanded format, the tournament promises 48 national teams and 104 matches in 16 cities, making it the largest World Cup ever. But as fans, teams, and officials gear up for the spectacle, a series of high-profile friendlies, crucial qualifiers, and thorny political debates are shaping the road to kickoff.
Argentina, the reigning world champions, have confirmed a marquee friendly against Mexico on US soil, scheduled between June 1 and June 9, 2026. This long-awaited matchup, originally planned for 2025, is now set to serve as a critical warm-up for both squads before the main event. As reported by Argentine insider Gaston Edul and confirmed by Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Lionel Messi and company will also face Honduras in a second friendly in the United States. Tapia told Argentine outlet Olé, “While we’re still waiting for March fixtures, we already have the June warm-ups confirmed against Mexico and Honduras. Both will be played here in the U.S., with stadiums still to be finalized.”
The Argentina–Mexico fixture has always carried a special weight, especially since their dramatic clash at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Messi and Enzo Fernández powered Argentina to a 2–0 group-stage victory. Yet, Messi himself has played down the notion of a fierce rivalry. “The truth is I don’t know what happened with Mexico—when this rivalry started,” Messi said in an interview with Simplemente Fútbol. “I’ve always felt very loved by Mexico. I never disrespected anyone. I think they put themselves in a position of having a rivalry with us that doesn’t really exist.”
Despite Messi’s diplomatic words, the stats paint a clear picture: out of 36 meetings, Argentina boasts 19 wins, 13 draws, and just four losses against Mexico. The June 2026 showdown gives Mexico another shot to close the gap, and with both teams looking to fine-tune their squads before the World Cup, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
While Argentina and Mexico prepare for their high-profile friendlies, the competition is heating up elsewhere in the world. Indonesia is bracing for a daunting challenge in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Placed in Group B, Indonesia will face host Saudi Arabia on October 9, 2024, and Iraq just three days later on October 12. Their journey to this stage has been anything but easy. In the second qualifying round, Indonesia suffered heavy defeats to Iraq—1-5 and 0-2. But the third round saw a revitalized squad, bolstered by naturalized players, battle to a 1-1 away draw against Saudi Arabia and snatch a 1-0 home victory.
Finishing fourth in Group C of the third round, Indonesia joined two other fourth-placed teams and three third-placed teams in the fourth round. The six teams are split into two groups, playing round-robin matches to decide which top two teams will punch their tickets to the World Cup. The second-placed teams will then face off in a fifth-round playoff, with the winner advancing to the intercontinental play-off. But Indonesia’s path is fraught with logistical and competitive hurdles. All their matches will be played in Saudi Arabia, where only 8% of tickets—no more than 5,000 seats in a 62,000-seat stadium—are reserved for away supporters. That means Indonesia will be massively outnumbered by local fans.
Coach Patrick Kluivert and his staff have over two weeks to prepare, but CNN Indonesia has highlighted several concerns. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) rejected requests for neutral venues, giving both Saudi Arabia and Iraq the home advantage in terms of crowd support and familiarity with the pitch and climate. Indonesia’s schedule is also unforgiving—two matches in three days—while their rivals enjoy more recovery time. The Indonesia vs Saudi Arabia match was postponed by over two hours at the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI)’s request, and their game against Iraq was moved to a late-night slot, adding another layer of complexity.
Refereeing has been a flashpoint. A Kuwaiti referee has been assigned to officiate Indonesia’s match against Saudi, prompting PSSI to lodge a formal protest with FIFA and AFC. They’re seeking a neutral referee after controversial decisions in previous rounds, including an Omani referee’s excessive added time that allowed Bahrain to score a late equalizer in October 2024. That incident sparked outrage among Indonesian fans, who directed their ire at the AFC and the Oman and Bahrain football federations. Determined to avoid off-field distractions, PSSI has dispatched an advance team to coordinate logistics, hoping to give Kluivert’s squad the best chance to focus on football.
Meanwhile, the political backdrop to the World Cup is as charged as ever. US President Donald Trump has issued a bold public invitation to football fans worldwide, urging them to attend the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Trump exclaimed, “It’s going to be very exciting. I hope you all come. I hope that countless people from all over the globe will take part.”
But Trump’s open invitation has been met with skepticism, as new US visa policies threaten to dampen the global party. Reports indicate that a new ‘visa integrity fee’ of $250 USD has been slapped on travelers from non-visa waiver countries, and average wait times for B-1/B-2 (tourist/business) visa interviews now exceed 169 days. To make matters worse, a sweeping travel ban enacted in June 2025 fully restricts visa issuance for nationals from 12 countries—including Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, and Iran—and partially restricts seven others. While exemptions exist for diplomats and special cases, the reality is that fans from some of the world’s most passionate football nations, like Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil, may face daunting barriers to attending the World Cup.
Despite these challenges, global enthusiasm for the World Cup remains sky-high. FIFA reported over 1.5 million ticket applications from 210 countries during a single presale day, highlighting football’s unique power to unite. But as the tournament draws near, the tension between the spirit of inclusivity and the reality of travel restrictions is impossible to ignore.
As teams finalize their preparations, fans scramble for tickets, and officials wrestle with logistical and political hurdles, the countdown to the 2026 World Cup is anything but dull. One thing’s for sure: when the world’s eyes turn to North America next summer, the beautiful game will once again prove it’s more than just a sport—it’s a global phenomenon that refuses to be sidelined by borders, bureaucracy, or controversy.
