<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>A diplomatic delegation from the three host countries of the 2026 World Cup were in Qatar on Sunday for a handover ceremony ahead of the final between France and Argentina.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The United States, Mexico and Canada will stage soccer’s biggest event in less than 3½ years.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We could not be more excited,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who led a presidential delegation to the final. “We are already hard at work preparing for 2026 and we’re looking forward to welcoming fans from around the world.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Greenfield told Sheikha Alya Al Thani of Qatar, a fellow ambassador to the United Nations, that the current host had “set the standards high.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“The most important thing to remember is the World Cup transcends things and it plays an exceptional role in uniting people and countries and creating lasting friendships,” Sheikha Alya said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read more: Qatar bustles with life as World Cup nears end</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2026 tournament will be played in 16 cities: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Argentina won the title in Qatar by beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw. UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>