There are nearly four months left until the start of the 23rd World Cup.
The Championship will be held from June 11 to July 19 in three countries - the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Medianews.az reports that this week, bloody clashes that flared up after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico, have raised concerns regarding the fate of the World Cup.
The UK's "Sky News" channel states that the violence in Mexico could affect the championship, the position of the players, and the fans.
The channel emphasizes that there is not much time left before the start of the World Cup, so the Mexican government must quickly bring the situation in the country under control and establish stability: "Otherwise, people may hesitate to travel to Mexico and may avoid going to this country."
Medianews.az recalls that 48 national teams will participate in the World Cup. 42 teams have already qualified for the championship. The holders of the last 6 spots will be determined in March 2026.
In the championship hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the teams are divided into 12 groups: the top two teams and the 8 best third-placed teams will earn tickets to the round of 16:
Group A
Mexico
CAR (Central African Republic)
South Korea
Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Ireland
Group B
Canada
Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia
Qatar
Switzerland
Group C
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
Group D
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
Group E
Germany
Curaçao
Ivory Coast
Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands
Japan
Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania
Tunisia
Group G
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
Group H
Spain
Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
Group I
France
Senegal
Norway
Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname
Group J
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
Group K
Portugal
Democratic Republic of Congo/New Caledonia/Jamaica
Uzbekistan
Colombia
Group L
England
Croatia
Panama
Ghana.
Uruguay was world champion in 1930 and 1950, Italy in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006, Germany (West Germany) in 1954, 1974, 1990, and 2014, Brazil in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002, England in 1966, Argentina in 1978, 1986, and 2022, France in 1998 and 2018, and Spain in 2010.
Toğrul Ali,
Medianews.az