Days Away from Club World Cup Kick-off: USA Primed for a 2026 World Cup Preview

As the FIFA Club World Cup, with its exciting new format, rapidly approaches its June 13th start date, the United States is buzzing with anticipation. The nation is rolling out the red carpet for elite clubs from around the globe, many of whom boast fresh new signings, all eager to provide a tantalizing glimpse of what the 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring to North America.

The expansion of football's presence in the U.S. has been nothing short of phenomenal. Major League Soccer (MLS), a league born just 30 years ago, has witnessed a monumental surge in popularity and investment. This growth truly accelerated with the arrival of footballing legends like Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Olivier Giroud, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez, among others. This influx of star power has helped the MLS attract an astounding 12.15 million fans, making it the second most attended football league globally, trailing only the Premier League.

With the Club World Cup set to unfold in US cities, and the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the trajectory of football in the country is expected to reach new heights. As esteemed commentator and MLS legend Diego Valeri shared in a conversation with TyC Sports, "It's one of the sports that has developed the best, grown the most, that young kids play the most, and that has the most affinity in the country. The World Cup adds to that, just as Leo's arrival did. This is like the cherry on top that comes to fully integrate everything." Valeri, who witnessed the league's expansion and financial investment firsthand since his playing days began in 2013, now observes its incredible progress from the commentary booth.

Valeri, who enjoyed a successful spell with the Portland Timbers from 2013 to 2021, highlighted the significant infrastructure development: "There's a lot of expectation for the World Cup, for everything that's been in process since '94 – the only other time the championship was held in North America. All of this was already building with the US's much stronger presence in everything, and the MLS being a key part."

How does the Copa América differ from the Club World Cup?

While the Copa América 2024 provided a solid foundation, the Club World Cup represents a further leap in preparation. Though major structural overhauls aren't expected between now and 2026, the focus is on refinement. "The country is used to big events; this one is incredibly important, so the antennas are much more raised," Valeri explained. "There's better preparation for the pitches, to make them better, an important change that has been made. When you travel the country, you realize the current structure of the MLS in terms of stadiums, organization, the people behind it. It's all aligned to create an extraordinary event, which it will deserve, because there's a format change, more teams, and more people coming to the country."

This Club World Cup is set to be a spectacular prelude, showcasing the readiness and passion of the United States to host the world's biggest football spectacle in 2026.