There will be three more qualifying periods this year — in September, October, and November — jammed into a crowded calendar that already has obliterated the offseason.

From June 11 to July 19, 2026, the FIFA World Cup will feature 104 games across 16 cities in North America, with 11 cities in the United States.

Argentina and Colombia played to a 1-1 draw in a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier on May 10. Lionel Messi now must shift gears toward the Club World Cup.