And then there were 48 ... how the World Cup has expanded since 1930
The football fest is expected to attract more than one million visitors to the countries while billions across the globe watch on an array of screens ranging from mobile phone and laptop to TV and giant inflatable.
It will be a far cry from the inaugural event in July 1930 in Uruguay where three stadiums in Montevideo provided the venues for 13 teams and 18 games over 17 days.
Whoever wins the2026 World Cup