By momodu favour
World football’s governing body, FIFA, on Tuesday officially launched the final 100-day countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, heightening global anticipation for what is set to be the biggest edition of the tournament in history.
In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, FIFA declared: “The biggest-ever @FIFAWorldCup is just 100 days away! 48 teams. 104 games. 11 June to 19 July.”
The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico the first time three nations will co-host the competition. It will also mark the debut of the expanded 48-team format, an increase from the previous 32-team structure, resulting in a record 104 matches to be played across multiple cities.
According to FIFA, June 11, 2026, will mark “the opening scene to the greatest show in the world,” with the curtain-raiser scheduled to take place in Mexico.
The governing body has positioned the tournament as a landmark event, both in scale and commercial reach, with preparations already intensifying across host venues.
However, despite the celebratory tone surrounding the countdown, FIFA made no reference to the pending disciplinary matter involving Nigeria national football team and DR Congo national football team.
Nigeria had reportedly lodged a formal complaint against the Congolese side following issues arising from their 2026 World Cup qualifying encounter. The complaint is believed to concern alleged regulatory or eligibility breaches, though FIFA has yet to publicly clarify the exact nature of the case or provide a timeline for its resolution.
The absence of an update has fueled speculation among Nigerian football stakeholders, who are keenly awaiting a verdict that could have implications for the qualification standings in the African zone.
With the expanded format offering more qualification slots to African teams, the stakes remain high in the ongoing qualifiers. A disciplinary ruling in favour of Nigeria could potentially alter group dynamics, depending on the nature of the decision.
As the countdown clock ticks towards June 2026, attention now shifts not only to tournament preparations across North America but also to unresolved matters in the qualification process particularly those capable of reshaping the road to football’s grandest stage.
FIFA has yet to indicate when it will communicate its decision on the Nigeria–DR Congo matter.
