Will Antoine Griezmann make it to the 2026 World Cup with France? We analyze statistics, current events, and his role with Les Bleus on their way to the most important tournament on the planet.
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WHAT MOMENTS WILL BECOME LEGENDARY AT THE 2026 WORLD CUP?
The 2026 World Cup promises to be a true football extravaganza, with a record number of teams, spectacular venues in North America, and a new generation of stars ready to shine. From impossible comebacks to historic farewells, everything points to moments that will go down in football history. Will Messi return? Will there be an unexpected final? Get ready to discover the moments that could become legendary in this unique World Cup.
New venues, new format
The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history with 48 teams and 104 matches. This radical change in format makes it a unique tournament, full of opportunities for surprises and unforgettable moments.
A continental tournament
For the first time, the World Cup will be co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. There will be 16 host cities, ranging from Mexico City to Vancouver and New York. This multicultural setting offers spectacular landscapes and world-class stadiums, ready to welcome millions of fans from around the globe. Canada will make its World Cup host debut. The Azteca Stadium will be the only one to host three World Cups. The United States will host the most matches: 60. For the first time, matches will be played in three time zones. The new format includes a group stage with 12 groups of 4 teams, meaning more matches and more opportunities for unexpected upsets. The new knockout system starting from the round of 32 could generate historic matches early on. This World Cup has everything it takes to break with tradition and become a landmark for its scope and spectacle. Records are waiting to be dethroned.
Potential Show-Stealing Moments
What if an African country reaches the final? Or if an 18-year-old becomes the tournament's top scorer? The World Cup is made for the unexpected, and 2026 has the potential to give us moments that will go down in history.
Legends in Their Last Act
Everything points to this being the final farewell to the World Cup for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, if they even make it. Seeing them together, perhaps facing off for the last time on a global stage, would be simply legendary. New stars ready to explode. Rising stars like Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala, or Endrick could become the new idols. There's something special when a teenager takes control of the world's biggest tournament.
Could Haaland debut and be the top scorer without Norway advancing?
Brazil seeking redemption after 20 years without a title
Japan or Korea pulling off a major upset?
An African nation reaching the top 4 again
And let's not forget the USA, who could be the surprise on home soil, with a young, dynamic generation and the boost from the home crowd. A stunning goal in the quarterfinals in Los Angeles or a penalty shootout in New York could enter the hall of fame of unforgettable moments. The narrative is ready: emotions, comebacks, debuts, farewells. This World Cup has all the ingredients to create cinematic scenes.
Records that could fall
With more matches, more national teams, and more stars, the chances of breaking records are through the roof. What records are at stake?
Individual and collective records in danger
Most goals in a World Cup: the current record is 171 goals (2018 and 2022)
Player with the most appearances: Messi could surpass 26 if he plays
Most average assists per game
Record of penalties taken (with the new VAR this is increasing)
We could also see the first debutant champion in more than 20 years. Croatia came close in 2018, Morocco nearly pulled off a miracle in 2022, will it be the turn of a non-traditional team now? Another moment that would be historic: a goal from one end of the field to the other, something that has never happened in a World Cup. With goalkeepers like Neuer or Ederson, it doesn't seem so far-fetched. Furthermore, we could have the highest-scoring match in a single edition, surpassing the legendary 7-5 or 6-6 of yesteryear. And with more "new" teams, the routs could be epic… or embarrassing. In short, the 2026 World Cup will be fertile ground for feats never before seen. The history of football is about to write one of its most exciting chapters.
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