All-time top scorer chase

The long-standing World Cup scoring record held by Miroslav Klose is under serious pressure heading into 2026. He sits on 16 goals, with several modern attackers closing in as the expanded format offers more matches than before.

Lionel Messi is among the closest challengers, currently just three goals behind Klose, and will again lead Argentina’s defence of their title. One goal further back is Kylian Mbappe, who has already scored 12 World Cup goals across the last two editions and is still only 27, making the record increasingly reachable.

Multiple Golden Boot history in reach

A separate milestone that could be rewritten in 2026 is the possibility of a first-ever two-time Golden Boot winner. Across the entire history of the tournament, no player has managed to finish as top scorer in more than one edition.

Kylian Mbappe returns after leading the 2022 tournament in goals and will captain a strong France side. England captain Harry Kane also arrives with major momentum after a 61-goal club season and is aiming for a second Golden Boot following his 2018 success. Colombia’s James Rodriguez is also part of the conversation, returning to the tournament after previously winning the award in 2014.

Six tournament appearances milestone

The 2026 edition could also see history made through longevity, with several iconic players potentially appearing in a sixth World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Guillermo Ochoa have each taken part in every tournament since 2006 and could extend that run.

If they feature again, it would mark an unprecedented sixth appearance at the competition for all three players, setting a new benchmark for World Cup participation longevity.

Coaching milestones and historic debuts

Several managerial and team-based records are also in reach. No foreign coach has ever won the World Cup, although a number of high-profile national teams are currently led by overseas managers, including England under Thomas Tuchel, Brazil under Carlo Ancelotti, and Portugal under Roberto Martinez.

On the records side, France manager Didier Deschamps is closing in on Helmut Schön’s mark of 16 World Cup wins and has already reached 14 victories, with a total of 19 matches managed at the tournament so far.

The 2026 World Cup will also see debutants Curaçao become the smallest nation ever to feature at the finals, with a population under 150,000, surpassing the previous record held by Iceland. At the other end of the spectrum, their coach Dick Advocaat is set to become the oldest manager in World Cup history at 78, overtaking Otto Rehhagel’s previous record.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has agreed that Iran’s national football team can remain based in Mexico during the World Cup, following an approach from FIFA. She said there was no objection from her government to hosting the squad while the tournament is taking place.

Sheinbaum explained that the United States had made clear it did not want the Iranian team staying overnight on its territory, despite Iran being scheduled to play several matches there. As a result, FIFA contacted Mexico with a request regarding accommodation arrangements for the team.

She added that Mexico saw no issue with allowing Iran to stay in the country during the competition.

The training base moved to Tijuana facility

FIFA has confirmed that Iran’s training base will be located at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico. The decision follows changes to the team’s original plans for the tournament.

Iran had initially been assigned Tucson, Arizona, as their base camp, even though all of their group-stage matches were scheduled to be played in the United States.

Security concerns and revised arrangements

Uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation has grown amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East and related security concerns. These factors contributed to adjustments in logistical planning for the team’s World Cup preparations.

The tournament is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Iran is set to face New Zealand on 15 June in Los Angeles, Belgium on 21 June, also in Los Angeles, and Egypt on 26 June in Seattle.

At present, Iran is continuing its preparations in Antalya, in southern Turkey.

Visa assurances and political conditions

Iran’s sports minister Ahmad Donyamali said FIFA had assured the country that all members of its squad would be granted visas for entry into the United States during the tournament. He added that there should be no obstacles preventing players from receiving entry approval.

The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) submitted a list of 10 conditions to FIFA regarding participation. These included a request that players, coaches, and officials who had completed military service with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) be allowed to obtain visas.

US position and previous entry issues

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Iranian players would be permitted to take part in the tournament, although individuals with connections to the IRGC could face restrictions on entry.

Separately, FFIRI official Taj was denied entry at the Canadian border ahead of FIFA’s annual congress in Vancouver. Canadian authorities later said his visa had been revoked due to alleged links to the IRGC.

Some members of Iran’s squad have also visited the US embassy in Ankara to submit their visa applications for the upcoming tournament.

United States President Donald Trump said he was unaware supporters might need to spend about $1,000 (£736) to attend the national team’s opening 2026 World Cup match against Paraguay and admitted he would not pay that amount himself.

Speaking to The New York Post, Trump said he would like to attend the fixture in Los Angeles on 12 June but was blunt about the reported expense. He added that he would be disappointed if ordinary supporters, including many of his own voters, were unable to afford seats despite the tournament’s success.

FIFA faces criticism over pricing and resale charges

FIFA has come under fire over what critics describe as excessive costs for the expanded tournament, which begins on 11 June and is being staged across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Unlike some previous World Cups, group-stage ticket prices were set according to the expected appeal of participating teams rather than a standard pricing model. Supporters have also been confronted by significantly higher prices on FIFA’s official resale marketplace, where the organization collects a combined 30% fee from transactions by charging both buyers and sellers 15%.

Infantino defends strategy and cheaper seats emerge

FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the pricing approach during an appearance at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, arguing that lower initial prices could simply encourage resale at far higher amounts in the United States, where ticket reselling is legal.

Following criticism after the first ticket release, Fifa introduced a limited allocation of more affordable £45 tickets covering all 104 matches. In Toronto, supporters are also protected from inflated resale costs because Ontario recently prohibited event tickets from being resold above face value.

Transport costs also spark concern for supporters

Travel expenses in the United States have added to concerns around affordability, especially for games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. A round-trip rail fare for the roughly 30-minute journey from Manhattan’s Penn Station had originally surged from the normal $12.90 (£9.50) to $150 (£111).

That fare has since been reduced by 30%, bringing the cost down to $105 (£77). New Jersey Transit chief executive Kris Kolluri said Governor Mikie Sherrill requested sponsorship and alternative funding to help lower the burden on fans traveling to matches.