Overview
- The tournament opens on June 11 with Mexico taking on South Africa at Estadio Azteca, kicking off a 39‑day event that runs through a July final in New Jersey.
- Final warm‑up results that shaped selection and momentum included Spain beating Peru 3‑1, France defeating Northern Ireland 3‑1 with Michael Olise scoring a hat‑trick, England beating Costa Rica 3‑0, and the Netherlands edging Uzbekistan 2‑1.
- All nations have submitted 26‑player squads by the June 1 deadline, leaving teams to manage fitness, late injuries and tactical choices as group play begins across Mexico, the United States and Canada.
- The competition expands to 48 teams in 12 groups, creating a new round‑of‑32 that advances the top two from each group plus the eight best third‑placed sides and raises demands on squad rotation and travel planning.
- Off‑field changes that will shape matches include IFAB‑approved law tweaks and upgraded VAR review capabilities, while organisers face logistical pressure from heavier schedules, venue travel and ticketing and accreditation frictions.