With just two games remaining, the curtain is set to drop on the . The biggest edition of the global showpiece has captured hearts and minds from across the globe, and has produced some incredible stories, like Cabo Verde's run to the knockout stages and Lionel Messi's return to a second consecutive final.
As the three co-hosts — Canada, Mexico and the USA — prepare to conclude their host responsibilities, the FIFA Podcast sat down with Concacaf president Victor Montagliani and Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber to discuss the impact and legacy of the North American World Cup.
"I was pretty confident that we would sell out games and that would be a great experience," Montalgiani said on the podcast. "What I wasn’t expecting, I think, to the degree and just the sheer magnitude of it was what was happening in the streets, and the marches of fans, fans coming together dancing, fans drinking pubs right out of beer, fans going to other sports and taking over baseball games like the Scots did, or the Aussies drinking out every bar in Vancouver, fans marching in Philly and Atlanta.
"That’s what I didn’t think would… I’m not saying it wasn’t gonna happen, but not at the scale and magnitude that it happened. That was, to me, obviously beautiful, but obviously I didn’t expect that." Montagliani's surprise is reflected in the at the tournament. 4.6 million fans from over 210 countries attended group stage matches, with over one million more fans going to FIFA Fan Festivals™. In addition, 300,000 hot dogs were consumed during the initial 72 games and over two million alcoholic beverages. But beyond the numbers, this World Cup has had the chance to inspire future generations and has brought people from all walks of life together tightly, according to Garber. "I think the world came here to experience the (FIFA) World Cup and they experienced, at least from my perspective, a new America," Garber told the FIFA Podcast. "They discovered something about us that allowed us to discover something new about ourselves. "We had people in New York that were going to Ecuador games and they were from Ecuador, but they were also from Queens. They were taking the subway as opposed to coming from South America and it provided us with – we love this expression – a love letter from FIFA to North America that the beautiful game can be embraced by these three countries in ways that will elevate this great sport for a generation."
With the tournament set conclude in a matter of days, Garber and Montagliani are already looking to the future, specifically at how to build on the global showpiece. The Concacaf president is keen to see football take a leap into mainstream culture across North America.
"What I think we saw here is the continuation but, really, the acceleration of what I think is the next frontier for us in North America, (which) is the cultural revolution of football going to the next level, encapsulating the dynamics of the family unit," Montagliani said.
"You and I, as an immigrant, grew up speaking about football at the kitchen table. Something that doesn’t happen – or didn’t happen – in America and in Canada because there were other sports that dominated. That’s starting to happen now, thanks to leagues like MLS and other competitions. Now, you’re going to have kids speaking to their parents at the kitchen table, at breakfast, about ‘Oh, did you see that? Did you see that?’ To me, that’s what the start of the cultural revolution is."
Alongside making the sport even more culturally relevant, what Garber would like to see on the back of this World Cup, is enhanced player development across the region. "We need to be really good in our country about developing great players, continuing to have our teams running academies, get together with the men and the women’s game at youth level and figure out how we can become the model for player development... I believe ten years from now, we’re going to be leaders in the development of men’s and women’s players. No different than we’re leading the commercial business."
The FIFA Podcast takes fans to the heart of FIFA World Cup 2026™ with exclusive access, expert analysis and unforgettable stories from across Canada, Mexico and USA. Hosted by Olivia Buzaglo and Mikael Silvestre, the show features FIFA legends, current football stars and celebrity guests reflecting on the tournament’s biggest moments. From match reactions and behind-the-scenes insights to unique World Cup memories, each episode offers a fresh perspective on the beautiful game. .
Sources: FIFA Official
