Set-piece prowess may be reshaping club football, but FIFA’s Technical Study Group said on Monday that dead-ball dominance is unlikely to define this year’s World Cup, ​largely due to limited preparation time for international teams.

Speaking at a FIFA media ‌roundtable a month before the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, TSG members discussed emerging trends, including Arsenal-style set-piece specialisation.

Premier League leaders Arsenal – dubbed the “set-piece kings” – last month smashed the record ​for most goals scored from corners in a single Premier League season.

“I’d be interested ​to see how the other teams approach this,” said Gilberto Silva, a 2002 ⁠World Cup winner with Brazil and former Arsenal midfielder.

“We have seen this season, especially ​in the Premier League with Arsenal. In the last few years, corner kicks and long balls ​have not been used as much compared to when I played, when they were more common. In the last few years, the game has developed, with teams building from the goalkeeper.

“But I’m not so sure the World ​Cup will be the same, because you don’t have much time to prepare a team ​for these tournaments. Of course, it can be a weapon and teams will use it, but not as ‌the ⁠main one.

“I expect tight games, with a lot of practical aspects and teams looking to exploit transitions to break through.”

Last year’s Club World Cup in the U.S., which served as a dress rehearsal for the showpiece tournament, also highlighted the potential impact of scorching heat.

“In general, the Club ​World Cup showed a ​very similar level of ⁠intensity in the matches compared to the 2022 World Cup when we looked at some of the key games,” said Tom Gardner, Lead ​of Football Performance Insights.

“So I’m sure heat may be a factor in ​how teams ⁠manage that. But we don’t expect to see on a physical level very similar outputs to 2022, as we did at the 2025 Club World Cup.”

The TSG will provide analysis of all matches ⁠at ​the World Cup. Guided by FIFA Chief of Global ​Football Development Arsene Wenger, the group includes figures such as Silva, Juergen Klinsmann and Pablo Zabaleta, and is supported by ​a team of analysts and data specialists.

-Reuters

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The United States will stage a star-studded and entertainment-driven opening ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles on Friday, 12 June, as football’s biggest tournament officially takes centre stage across North America.

FIFA announced that the ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium will feature some of the world’s biggest music stars, including Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema and Tyla, with more international performers expected to be announced in the coming months.

The ceremony, scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kick-off, is expected to deliver a high-energy showcase reflecting the diversity, entertainment culture and global influence of the United States, particularly the creative spirit of Los Angeles, widely regarded as the entertainment capital of the world.

According to FIFA, the Los Angeles spectacle will form part of an unprecedented trilogy of opening ceremonies spread across the three co-host nations:  Mexico, Canada and the United States — creating what organisers described as one continental celebration united by “a shared heartbeat.”

Produced in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, the ceremony will combine large-scale visuals, immersive storytelling and live performances centred around the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy and the cultural identity of the United States.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the Los Angeles ceremony would underline the scale and global reach of the expanded tournament.

“This opening ceremony in Los Angeles represents the extraordinary scale of what the FIFA World Cup 2026 will become,” Infantino said.

“The lineup of artists reflects the cultural diversity of the United States and the vibrancy of its many diasporas, highlighting the nation’s rich influence on music, entertainment and pop culture.”

Fans attending the event have been encouraged to arrive early, with stadium gates opening four hours before kick-off to allow supporters to participate in activations, entertainment experiences, live pre-match programmes and interactive fan activities.

The ceremony will precede the United States’ opening match against Paraguay in what promises to be one of the biggest sporting and entertainment events of the year.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, will be played across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, beginning in Mexico City on 11 June before concluding with the final at New York-New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.

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Canada will officially welcome the world to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a star-studded opening ceremony in Toronto on Friday, 12 June, showcasing the country’s diversity, multicultural identity and growing football culture.

The ceremony, scheduled to begin 90 minutes before kick-off at Toronto Stadium, will feature performances from leading international and Canadian music stars, including Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Elyanna, Jessie Reyez, Michael Bublé, Nora Fatehi, Sanjoy, Vegedream and William Prince.

FIFA said the event would celebrate the energy and diversity of the tournament while connecting fans in Toronto to festivities taking place across the three host nations — Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The Canadian ceremony will revolve around a unique artistic interpretation of the FIFA World Cup Trophy as a mosaic, symbolising the country’s many cultures, communities and people. The production is being organised in partnership with Balich Wonder Studio, which is overseeing the creative vision for the opening ceremonies across all three host countries.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the event as a reflection of Canada’s identity and football ambitions.

“The opening ceremony in Toronto will be a powerful reflection of Canada’s identity and the energy surrounding the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “Through music, culture and unforgettable performances, we will welcome the world with a celebration that is uniquely Canadian while also connected to a larger story unfolding across Mexico and the United States.”

According to FIFA, the ceremony will begin with a visual and musical journey across Canada, highlighting moments and communities from coast to coast to coast as anticipation builds towards kick-off.

Supporters attending the event will also play an interactive role in the celebration, with stadium gates opening four hours before the match to provide access to fan activities, entertainment, rewards and special pre-match experiences.

The ceremony will precede a landmark occasion for Canadian football as Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match on home soil.

The expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the final scheduled for 19 July at New York /New Jersey Stadium.

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