FIFA Removes 2026 World Cup Poster Following Fan Backlash
FIFA has taken down its first official promotional poster for the 2026 World Cup after it sparked a wave of criticism from fans on social media.
The poster, which featured players from all qualified nations, was released to celebrate the historic 48-team tournament set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. So far, 42 teams have secured their spots, with six more places still to be decided.
Play-Offs Determine Final Spots
On Thursday, a European play-off draw finalized the last four European qualifiers. Northern Ireland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland now know who they will face in March next year. Two additional teams will be decided through an intercontinental play-off.
The final World Cup draw is scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, where powerhouse nations including England, Germany, Brazil, Spain, and Portugal will learn their group stage opponents.
Ronaldo Missing from Poster Sparks Outcry
The poster prominently featured stars such as Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, and Lionel Messi—likely appearing in his last World Cup. However, Cristiano Ronaldo was notably absent, with Portugal represented only by Bruno Fernandes alongside Austria’s Marko Arnautovic.
Ronaldo’s omission ignited social media debate. One fan wrote: “The sport’s biggest face, no debate.” Another commented: “FIFA leaving Cristiano Ronaldo off the official World Cup poster is hard to understand. From a marketing point of view, he’s the most influential athlete on the planet.” A third added: “2026 World Cup poster without Ronaldo? Feels strange. He was the face of every tournament for nearly two decades along with Messi.”
Following the backlash, FIFA removed the poster from its official X account on Thursday. While the reason for its removal has not been confirmed, many speculate it was due to criticism over Ronaldo’s absence. SPORTbible has reached out to FIFA for comment.
Ronaldo on World Cup Dreams
Earlier this month, Ronaldo emphasized that winning the World Cup is not central to his legacy. In an interview with Piers Morgan, he said: “If you ask me, Cristiano, is it a dream to win the World Cup? No, it’s not a dream. Define what? To define if I’m one of the best in history, to win one competition of six, seven games—do you think that’s fair?”
