Javier Aguirre, the veteran coach steering Mexico through its home World Cup, has taken aim at FIFA for altering the tournament’s game schedule without consulting the teams affected. The complaint centers on disruptions to training routines and preparation, the kind of operational headaches that can quietly derail a squad’s momentum at the worst possible time.

The scheduling problem and what it means for teams

Aguirre’s grievance is straightforward: when you change when and where games happen after teams have already built their preparation calendars, you force coaches to scramble. Training sessions get compressed or scrapped. Recovery windows shrink.

This isn’t Aguirre’s first rodeo. He’s coaching Mexico in his third World Cup, having previously led the team in 2002 and 2010. Mexico has managed to advance from Group A as of mid-June, so the on-field results haven’t cratered. But Aguirre has been vocal at post-match press conferences about the pressure his squad faces.

The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 and features an expanded 48-team format. That’s 16 more teams than the previous tournament, spanning 16 host cities in North America and Europe.

Kraken’s front-row seat to FIFA’s growing pains

On June 9, 2026, just days before the tournament kicked off, Kraken was named FIFA’s Official Crypto Exchange Supporter. It’s the first time a cryptocurrency exchange has held such a role at a World Cup, and it represents a significant milestone for the digital asset industry’s push into mainstream sports marketing.

The 48-team format means this World Cup will run longer and generate more content than any previous edition. Aguirre will keep coaching, Mexico will keep playing, and Kraken will keep its logo on the screen.