Dude! The greatest competition on the planet has kicked off: the 2026 FIFA World Cup! Seven years ago I was watching the Russia World Cup with a Pepsi and a pizza, now it's with 48 teams, bro! Yeah, you heard right: 48 nations, 1,248 players, and 48 coaches packing their bags for America, Mexico, and Canada. And guess what? You can catch the matches on Antena 1 and AntenaPLAY – no more rushing to shady sites, you know how it is.
And now, check out the names strutting on the pitch: Neymar, Son Heung-Min, Edin Džeko, Christian Pulisic, and Jamal Musiala. Man, I've been watching Neymar since he played for Santos, and now I see him at his third World Cup. Well, if you don't have character and talent, you don't get there. And let's not forget the surprises: Curacao, Haiti, and Bosnia. Man, I don't know how many players Haiti has in their league, but they sure have heart! And Bosnia, with that old man Džeko, still pulling off miracles.
Now, I get that the coaches had until June 1 to announce the squads, but injuries kept them on edge. Normal, bro! When you play at the highest level, you get injured too. But the final squads are out, and each team has 26 players – not like the old days when there were 23. Now they stock up on players like they're shopping.
And where are they playing? In 16 stadiums spread across the three host countries. You'll see matches from New York to Mexico City, and from Vancouver to Miami. It's like going on a 40-day tour, but you're sitting in Berceni watching TV. But hey, at least if I catch a match at Fane's terrace with a beer and some grilled meat, it's like I'm there.
Now, let's be serious: Brazil, Germany, France, and Argentina are favorites. But I say don't underestimate the small teams either. Look, Panama has upset many calculations. And if you ask me, I see Messi in his last World Cup, but Ronaldo is there too. It's going to be a fierce battle.
So, guys, get your fridges ready, stock up on beer, and grab the remote. Between June 11 and July 19, nothing else matters. Come on, I'm off to tell Mioara to fire up the grill for the opening match – Mexico vs South Africa is coming, and I want to see if they still put on a show!
