NewKerala.com

Empire State Building Lights Up for FIFA World Cup 2026 100-Day Countdown

The 100-day countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 was celebrated by illuminating New York's Empire State Building in the colors of the three host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will begin on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium and conclude with the final on July 19 in New York/New Jersey, featuring a record 104 matches. Federation officials from each country expressed excitement about the ready infrastructure and the event's power to unite people through sport. The official tournament poster was also unveiled, symbolizing football's ability to bring the world together.

Key Points: 100 Days to FIFA World Cup 2026 Marked at Empire State Building

  • Empire State Building illuminated for countdown
  • Tournament starts June 11 in Mexico City
  • Features record 104 matches
  • Official tournament poster unveiled
2 min read

Empire State Building illuminated in host nations' colours to mark 100 days until FIFA World Cup 2026

The Empire State Building was lit in the colors of the US, Canada, and Mexico to mark 100 days until the FIFA World Cup 2026 kickoff.

"It's the only sport in the world that speaks the universal language of football - Peter Augruso"

New York, March 4

Representatives from the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico marked 100 days to go until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026 by illuminating the Empire State Building in the colours of the three host countries on Tuesday.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will see Canada, Mexico and the United States host the world for football's biggest spectacle. The tournament will feature a record 104 matches, beginning at Mexico City Stadium on June 11 and culminating at New York New Jersey Stadium with the final on 19 July.

JT Batson of the United States Soccer Federation, Inigo Riestra from the Mexican Football Federation, and Peter Augruso of Canada Soccer shared their thoughts regarding preparations for the tournament.

Speaking to Reuters, the US Soccer Federation CEO and Secretary General, JT Batson, highlighted that with 100 days to go, the excitement of hosting the World Cup in Canada, the US, and Mexico comes from having the stadiums, airports, hotels, and infrastructure ready, setting the stage for an enjoyable tournament.

"With 100 days out, what's exciting about hosting a World Cup in Canada, US and Mexico is we have the stadiums, we have the airports, we have the hotels, we have the infrastructure and so let's bring on the fun," said JT Batson.

General Secretary of Mexican Football Federation, Inigo Riestra, on the other hand, described the World Cup as the world's biggest event and called it an ideal opportunity for teamwork and collaboration.

"I think it's the biggest event in the world. It's 6 billion people watching the opening game. So it's a perfect excuse to work together as team," said Inigo Riestra.

Canada Soccer President, Peter Augruso, said football is a universal language that transcends spoken languages, emphasising the importance of teamwork in the sport.

"It's the only sport in the world that speaks the universal language of football and you can't do it by yourself; you need a teammate. And it doesn't speak English, it doesn't speak French, it doesn't speak Italian, it speaks the language of football," said Peter Augruso.

To celebrate 100 days until kickoff, the Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament Poster was also unveiled on Tuesday, capturing the spirit and excitement of the global event, according to the FIFA official website. The poster showcases a central player in a collage-style design, symbolising football's power to bring the world together.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The Empire State Building lighting up is such a powerful visual. It really drives home the scale of this event. Can't wait to watch, though the time difference means some very late nights for us in India!
A
Ananya R
Exciting times! But hosting across three countries sounds logistically very complex. Hope the travel for fans between US, Canada, and Mexico is smooth. The "universal language of football" quote is spot on though. 🤝
V
Vikram M
6 billion watching the opening game? That's almost the entire planet! Football's power is unreal. Makes you think, if a sport can bring so many people together, why can't we solve simpler problems? Food for thought.
K
Karthik V
The infrastructure in those countries is already top-class, so that's one less worry. My only respectful criticism: FIFA needs to ensure ticket pricing is fair for global fans, not just those from wealthy nations. The beautiful game should be accessible.
P
Priya S
The poster unveiling and building lighting... the marketing machine is in full swing! As a marketing professional, I'm taking notes. The hype is real. Counting down the days with my football-watching squad! 🎉

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50