FIFA Deletes Poster Due to Ronaldo's Absence

FIFA has removed the first official poster for the 2026 World Cup from its social media platforms. The decision came after the poster was criticized by football fans.

The poster depicted players from 42 teams, representing one player from each country. Portugal's national team was represented by "Manchester United" midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

However, legendary footballer and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo was absent from the poster. This sparked discontent among fans, prompting FIFA to take down the poster.

Notably, the poster also featured Uzbek footballer Eldor Shomurodov. The 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian club "Al-Nassr," has announced that the 2026 World Cup will be his final tournament.

The tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time in history, 48 teams will participate in the event, with the final to be held at the "MetLife Stadium" in New Jersey.

In the European regional qualifiers, 12 teams will compete in the playoffs for 4 spots, while 2 additional spots will be decided in intercontinental playoffs. Read “Zamin” on Telegram!