This event comes to crown a historic Arab presence in the upcoming edition of the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with seven national teams having already secured their spots.

Arab fans are holding their breath in anticipation of a footballing occasion that could mark a first in the history of Arab participation on the global stage. Following FIFA’s detailed announcement of the 2026 World Cup draw, four Arab national teams now face a golden opportunity to make history by playing in the tournament’s opening match.

According to the new mechanism revealed by the football governing body, the World Cup kickoff, set to take place at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, will officially feature the host nation, Mexico, facing one of the third-placed teams from the group stage. The excitement lies in the potential inclusion of teams such as Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, making it highly possible that an Arab side could take part in the opening match.

All eyes will be on Washington, D.C., on December 5th, when the draw ceremony will determine which team will face “El Tri” in the first game. Alongside the four Arab teams, other third-placed hopefuls from previous confederations, including Norway, Panama, Scotland, Paraguay, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, and South Africa, as well as Qatar (which previously hosted the opening match in 2022), will also be part of the draw.

This event solidifies a significant Arab presence in the jointly hosted World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Seven teams have already booked their spots, including Qatar, Jordan (making its debut in the fourth tier), and Morocco (in the second tier), with hopes resting on other teams to complete the lineup.

Each of the four Arab candidates brings a distinct footballing legacy: Tunisia’s “Eagles of Carthage” and Algeria’s “Green Falcons” aim to record a seventh World Cup appearance, Saudi Arabia seeks its fifth, while Egypt returns for its fourth. All teams aspire to replicate or surpass past achievements, such as Morocco reaching the semifinals or Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco advancing to the quarterfinals in previous editions.

These are moments anticipated by millions from the Atlantic to the Gulf, as the world may witness a purely Arab flavor in the opening stages of the largest football gathering on Earth, adding an exceptional level of excitement and suspense before the first kick-off.