FMF is doing ‘detailed planning’ to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, with exec saying event can ‘revitalize LIGA MX’ and grow game
FMF exec Ivar Sisniega says federation using the next two years to prepare stadiums, fans and cities for the global event
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Ahead of Mexico’s 2-0 victory over the U.S. men’s national team in an international friendly earlier this week, Mexican Football Federation executive president Ivar Sisniega told reporters that the FMF is doing “detailed planning” to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.
Mexico are hosting the tournament along with the United States and Canada, with the international windows serving as important tests for the teams – but also the federations. The FMF is using the next two years to prepare their stadiums, fans and cities for the global event.
One important piece of that is scheduling matches against opponents outside CONCACAF – and they’re going about it in a unique way, too.
“We’re doing detailed planning with each of the FIFA dates, and some dates are certainly getting complicated,” Sisniega said. “We’ve even talked with the U.S. to do the double-headers we sometimes do, where we will both play the same two teams, and that means it’s more attractive for those teams to come and play for us, because they’re playing against both of our teams.
“We’re going to continue looking at clubs. Some people maybe didn’t believe in the Valencia option, in the end, it turned out to be a very solid team that is playing in La Liga, and they play together. So there’s different conditions. We’re looking at and going to South America, possibly in January. We’re looking at that option, you just have to find the best option possible.”
And the hope is that the efforts will benefit all of North America.
“We think a lot of teams will want to come and play here before the World Cup,” he said. “And I think that’s maybe a good thing for Canada, USA and Mexico.”