Another year in the books, another chance to look forward and imagine what can be. The World Cup will dominate 2026 the way only the biggest sporting event in the world can, but there are plenty of other things to hope for.
These are my 30 wishes for football in the new year. And, of course, No. 30 is ever present — at least for me.
- That the 2026 World Cup be safe and welcoming for all involved, from fans to players to officials. Let’s not lose sight of, ultimately, why we do this. (I’d add in “enjoyable too” but, hey, if your country disappoints, it’s going to suck.)
- That we get a “clean” winner in 2026. To borrow a term from professional wrestling, I don’t want a final draped in controversy, like 1954 or 1966 or 2006 or 2010. Refereeing errors and skullduggery are, to some degree, part of this, but if that has to happen, let it be before the final.
- That the World Cup be a catalyst for the sport’s growth and development in the region. It’s not just the old chestnut of becoming a mainstream sport in the United States — by some metrics it already is — or helping MLS (or, indeed, the USL’s fledgling first-division project) achieve sporting legitimacy. It’s also about Canada, where the Canadian Premier League continues to grow (slowly), and Mexico, where Liga MX will be bringing back promotion and relegation after a five-year hiatus.