Mexico City Welcomes All for 2026 World Cup Countdown
MEXICO CITY will embrace fans from all nations and cultures during the 2026 World Cup, Mayor Clara Brugada said on Wednesday as she unveiled the countdown clock marking one year to the tournament's return to the Mexican capital.
As the city prepares to host the World Cup for the third time, Brugada stressed the importance of inclusion and openness, framing a contrast to anti-immigration measures in co-host nation the United States under President Donald Trump
'All football fans are welcome here. In this city, no one is a foreigner,' Brugada said at the FIFA event.
'We will joyfully welcome those who come from all corners of the globe, with their music, their colours, their languages and their passion. We think diversity is our greatest treasure.'
'Today is a very special day for Mexico City. We are exactly 365 days away from opening our doors to the world and hosting, for the third time, the opening of a World Cup, something that no other city on the planet has ever achieved.'
Addressing concerns from residents near the Azteca Stadium, Mayor Brugada assured them that they would benefit from over six billion pesos in investments aimed at upgrading public services and infrastructure.
'We will strengthen the rights of residents with more water, better public spaces and more services,' she said.
'We are therefore building a legacy, and that is something that fills us with pride. That is why we have made a historic investment in works, infrastructure, water, security and mobility.'
In addition, as part of the festivities leading up to the 2026 World Cup, more than 40 buildings and landmarks in Mexico City will be illuminated in green on Wednesday night.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Judge orders Trump to return control of National Guard to California
A man stands in front of a row of California National Guard members and waves a combination US and Mexican flag during ongoing protests in response to federal immigration operations outside the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, on June 12, 2025. — AFP photo LOS ANGELES (June 13): A judge has ordered Donald Trump to return control of the California National Guard to the state, saying the president's decision to deploy them to protest-hit Los Angeles over Governor Gavin Newsom's objections was 'illegal.' 'His actions were illegal … He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith,' US District Judge Charles Breyer wrote of the president in the ruling, seen by AFP. However, he paused the order until 12pm local time (1900 GMT) Friday — and the White House almost immediately launched an appeal that could make it all the way to the Supreme Court. 'Donald Trump will be relieved of his command at noon tomorrow,' Newsom said in televised comments after the ruling was issued. 'He is not a monarch, he is not a king, and he should stop acting like one,' the 57-year-old Democrat said. Trump's decision to federalize the National Guard — a reserve force — and deploy them in California over the objection of the state governor was one not taken by a US president since 1965. The Republican has argued he did so because protests in Los Angeles against immigration raids ordered by his administration had gotten out of control, and the city was 'burning.' But Newsom and local law enforcement have stated repeatedly that there was no need for the deployment, and the protests have been mostly peaceful and contained to a few city blocks — albeit tarnished by some spectacular violence, including the torching of several cars. Critics have accused Trump — who also deployed 700 active Marines to the sprawling city — of exaggerating the crisis and exceeding his authority to conduct a power grab. Breyer's 36-page opinion said the violence fell 'far short' of the 'rebellion' Trump described to justify calling in the guardsmen. There was 'no evidence of organized, as apart from sporadic or impromptu, violence' during the protests, which first broke out in Los Angeles on Friday, he said. 'Nor is there evidence that any of the violent protesters were attempting to overthrow the government as a whole; the evidence is overwhelming that protesters gathered to protest a single issue — the immigration raids.' Breyer also wrote that he was 'troubled' by the implication that 'protest against the federal government, a core civil liberty protected by the First Amendment, can justify a finding of rebellion.' There was no immediate reaction from the White House to the ruling. — AFP california Charles Breyer donald trump Gavin Newsom US National Guard
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
FIFA's Infantino hails Club World Cup as ‘historic' new era for football ahead of Inter Miami opener
MIAMI, June 13 — FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the Club World Cup, which kicks off on Saturday, marks a historic 'new era' for the game, comparing it to the first World Cup held in 1930. In an interview with AFP, Infantino also took aim at critics of FIFA's ticketing policy and said that skeptics who had questioned the need for the tournament would quickly change their minds. The 32-team competition, with clubs from all continents, gets under way with Inter Miami facing Egyptian club Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium. 'It starts a new era of football, a new era of club football. A little bit like when, in 1930, the first World Cup, right, started,' Infantino told AFP. 'Everyone today speaks about the very first World Cup. That's why it's also, this World Cup here is historic.' The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 and Infantino noted that only European and South American teams took part, adding that the Club World Cup would give a chance to clubs from outside of football's traditional heartlands to play on the global stage. 'We want to be inclusive. We want to give opportunities to clubs from all over the world,' he said. 'It's really to globalise football, to make it truly, truly global. Because when you scratch the surface, we say it's the number one sport in the world, and it is but then the elite is very concentrated in very few clubs, in very few countries,' he said. The Swiss official, who was general secretary of European body UEFA before taking the helm at FIFA in 2016, said that the club tournament also offered chances to players from over 80 countries. 'Countries who would never have a chance to play in a World Cup are suddenly part of a World Cup and they feel to be part of it, the fans of these players and of these clubs,' added Infantino, who noted several great players of the past who never played in a World Cup, 'A very good friend of mine is George legend, great player, Ballon d'Or winner, only African player who ever won the Ballon d'Or, by the way. He never played in a World Cup. He would have been playing in a Club World Cup and made not only his club and also his country proud,' he added. 'Something special' Infantino dismissed concerns that the tournament added to fixture congestion but acknowledged that some fans were yet to be sure of the value of the tournament, saying though that would quickly change. 'I believe, I'm convinced that, you know, as soon as the ball starts rolling, the whole world will realise what is happening here. It's something special,' he said. Reports of low uptake of tickets for same games has led to criticism of FIFA's ticketing policy with 'dynamic pricing', increasingly common in the United States, allowing for prices to rise and fall according to demand. But Infantino defended the approach and the decision to offer heavy discounts to students in Miami. 'I'm a positive person generally, but they criticise FIFA if the prices are too high, then they criticise FIFA if the prices are too low. 'Then they criticise FIFA if we make ticketing promotions with students. Students! I mean, when I was a student and I didn't have money, I would have loved FIFA to come to me and say, you want to come and watch a World Cup match?' 'We don't want to see empty stadiums. I believe the stadiums will be pretty full,' he said. The FIFA president said that the tournament, which secured a global broadcasting deal with DAZN reported to be worth $1 billion, was already an economic success and stressed that all the money generated from commercial deals would be ploughed back into the game. Asked how he would judge whether the tournament had been a success, Infantino said he would feel it in his 'heart' but said he was confident. 'In terms of inclusivity, in terms of economy, in terms of fan interest, you take all of these criteria, we'll speak again at the end of the club World Cup, but already now, I (feel positive), when I look at the number of tickets sold, and I look at the TV rights,' he said, noting that the games were available on DAZN's streams for free. 'Tell me one top competition today, where you can watch football for free?' he asked. The Club World Cup has also been caught up in the US's fierce debates over immigration control with games being held near Los Angeles, scenes of violent clashes between protestors and immigration officers. 'Security for me and for us is a top priority, always. So when something is happening, like in Los Angeles we are obviously monitoring the situation, we are in constant contact with the authorities, we want fans to go in games in a safe environment,' he said. — AFP
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Club World Cup marks 'new era' for football: Infantino
MIAMI: FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the Club World Cup, which kicks off on Saturday, marks a historic "new era" for the game, comparing it to the first World Cup held in 1930. In an interview with AFP, Infantino also took aim at critics of FIFA's ticketing policy and said that skeptics who had questioned the need for the tournament would quickly change their minds. The 32-team competition, with clubs from all continents, gets under way with Inter Miami facing Egyptian club Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium. "It starts a new era of football, a new era of club football. A little bit like when, in 1930, the first World Cup, right, started," Infantino told AFP. "Everyone today speaks about the very first World Cup. That's why it's also, this World Cup here is historic." The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 and Infantino noted that only European and South American teams took part, adding that the Club World Cup would give a chance to clubs from outside of football's traditional heartlands to play on the global stage. "We want to be inclusive. We want to give opportunities to clubs from all over the world," he said. "It's really to globalise football, to make it truly, truly global. Because when you scratch the surface, we say it's the number one sport in the world, and it is but then the elite is very concentrated in very few clubs, in very few countries," he said. The Swiss official, who was general secretary of European body UEFA before taking the helm at FIFA in 2016, said that the club tournament also offered chances to players from over 80 countries. "Countries who would never have a chance to play in a World Cup are suddenly part of a World Cup and they feel to be part of it, the fans of these players and of these clubs," added Infantino, who noted several great players of the past who never played in a World Cup, "A very good friend of mine is George legend, great player, Ballon d'Or winner, only African player who ever won the Ballon d'Or, by the way. He never played in a World Cup. He would have been playing in a Club World Cup and made not only his club and also his country proud," he added. Infantino dismissed concerns that the tournament added to fixture congestion but acknowledged that some fans were yet to be sure of the value of the tournament, saying though that would quickly change. "I believe, I'm convinced that, you know, as soon as the ball starts rolling, the whole world will realise what is happening here. It's something special," he said. Reports of low uptake of tickets for same games has led to criticism of FIFA's ticketing policy with 'dynamic pricing', increasingly common in the United States, allowing for prices to rise and fall according to demand. But Infantino defended the approach and the decision to offer heavy discounts to students in Miami. "I'm a positive person generally, but they criticise FIFA if the prices are too high, then they criticise FIFA if the prices are too low. "Then they criticise FIFA if we make ticketing promotions with students. Students! I mean, when I was a student and I didn't have money, I would have loved FIFA to come to me and say, you want to come and watch a World Cup match?" "We don't want to see empty stadiums. I believe the stadiums will be pretty full," he said. The FIFA president said that the tournament, which secured a global broadcasting deal with DAZN reported to be worth US$1 billion, was already an economic success and stressed that all the money generated from commercial deals would be ploughed back into the game. Asked how he would judge whether the tournament had been a success, Infantino said he would feel it in his 'heart' but said he was confident. "In terms of inclusivity, in terms of economy, in terms of fan interest, you take all of these criteria, we'll speak again at the end of the club World Cup, but already now, I (feel positive), when I look at the number of tickets sold, and I look at the TV rights," he said, noting that the games were available on DAZN's streams for free. "Tell me one top competition today, where you can watch football for free?" he asked. The Club World Cup has also been caught up in the US's fierce debates over immigration control with games being held near Los Angeles, scenes of violent clashes between protestors and immigration officers. "Security for me and for us is a top priority, always. So when something is happening, like in Los Angeles we are obviously monitoring the situation, we are in constant contact with the authorities, we want fans to go in games in a safe environment," he said. — AFP
