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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
Sport

World Cup nears kickoff after pre-tournament turbulence

World Cup Donald Trump Fifa Gianni Infantino United States Lionel Messi Mexico City Omar Artan Iran Mexico
The World Cup will kick off in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City

MEXICO CITY - The World Cup kicks off on Thursday with FIFA betting that the enduring appeal of the greatest footballing show on earth can rise above anger at soaring ticket prices, an uneasy political climate in Donald Trump's America and the shadow of conflict in the Middle East.

A record 48 teams and millions of fans are set to descend on the United States, Canada and Mexico for the first ever World Cup co-hosted by three nations, the largest and most logistically complex edition of the tournament ever staged.

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