The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, took part in an extravagant opening ceremony held in Los Angeles where he cracked a joke that LA is going to witness an invasion of football lovers from all over the world. The celebration ceremony held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum saw the FIFA boss announcing that Los Angeles would soon be receiving visitors from across the globe to watch the World Cup games.
“You are going to be invaded by a horde of barbarians, but they’re happy barbarians, so don’t be afraid,” Infantino quipped.
Other participants in the launching event included famous actors Will Ferrell and Brendan Hunt, Lance Bass, NBA basketball great Robert Horry, and former American soccer stars Mia Hamm and Cobi Jones.
Mayor Mamdani gets dunked on playing some pre-presser soccer near Central Park with Gov Hochul and FIFA Prez Gianni Infantino. pic.twitter.com/ot1bVquVoG
— Josie Stratman (@JosieStratman) June 8, 2026
Infantino set to unite the world
Infantino explained that the World Cup would turn Los Angeles and other venues into national pride celebrations, seeing fans arriving in the jerseys of their countries, carrying flags and sporting their national colors.
"Everyone will be celebrating their countries," he said. "They will only want to have fun because that is what the World Cup means – celebration."
This World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is the first ever World Cup to have 48 participating teams. Infantino further pointed out that one fourth of the world’s countries would participate in the soccer games on the field, while billions of fans would watch from all over the world.
"This World Cup is not just about another World Cup," he said. "This is going to be the greatest FIFA World Cup in history."
Los Angeles bears spotlight
According to Infantino, the World Cup was going to make Los Angeles and all other host cities a spectacle of patriotism, where fans will arrive dressed up in national jerseys, waving flags and sporting national colors.
"They'll do it from men to women, grandmothers to grandchildren," said Infantino. "Everybody's just going to be happy because the World Cup is about being happy and uniting."
The football championship, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, will also be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. "A quarter of all countries in the world are going to participate on the pitch," he stated. "Meanwhile, billions will be watching around the world."
"This isn't any World Cup; this will be the greatest FIFA World Cup ever."
With only few hours remaining for the world's biggest tournament, the host countries as well as the stadiums were set enlighten for the event. The fans from all around the world have keep their gaze open to witness the magics created by the international maestros.
FAQs:
Q1: Why is the 2026 FIFA World Cup historic?
Ans: It will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 participating teams.
Q2: What did Infantino say about the 2026 World Cup?
Ans: He described it as potentially the greatest FIFA World Cup in history.
