The United States and Canadian embassies in Zimbabwe launched celebrations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with an event in Harare, marking the start of activities ahead of the historic tournament.
Speaking at the event, United States Ambassador Pamela Tremont said the 2026 tournament would be a landmark occasion, with 48 teams competing for the first time and three nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, jointly hosting the competition.
"It has been 32 years since the United States hosted the World Cup and this year's tournament is truly historic," Ambassador Tremont said. "Soccer is the world's game, and the United States is looking forward to welcoming the world to America for the sport's most important event."
She said the United States would host 78 matches across 11 cities and expected about seven million international visitors, adding that the competition coincides with America's 250th anniversary and would help promote tourism and economic growth.
"This World Cup showcases the power of international cooperation. The joint efforts of the United States, Canada and Mexico to ensure the safety and success of this event demonstrate what we can achieve when we work together toward shared objectives," she said.
Although Zimbabwe will not feature at the World Cup, Ambassador Tremont highlighted the growing sporting relationship between the two countries, noting that the Zimbabwe Sables will travel to the United States for the 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup.
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"We're proud to welcome Zimbabwean athletes to America and look forward to cheering on the Sables as they compete," she said.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi, speaking from Mexico City where he was attending the opening match between South Africa and Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium, said Zimbabwe was using the opportunity to learn from the world's biggest football event.
"We are privileged to lift Zimbabwe's flag high today because many countries are being represented, and we got this opportunity, as Zimbabwe, to take a seat on the football table where all key stakeholders come together to celebrate the uniqueness and the power of football in uniting people globally," Magwizi said.
He said Zimbabwe had much to learn in developing its football structures and building a sustainable ecosystem capable of regularly producing talent for major tournaments.
"We have to build our own football ecosystem that, in the next few years, should be in a position to give us adequate talent to participate regularly at such tournaments," he said.
Magwizi added that Zimbabwe was also gaining valuable insights into the complexities involved in hosting major sporting events.
"It is a privilege for us that, as Zimbabwe, we can also participate at such a huge, electric event," he said.
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