From FIFA World Cup to Commonwealth Games and Asian Games; wishlist for 2026

2026 is shaping up to be a sporting extravaganza, with the FIFA World Cup headlining the year. Indian athletes can look forward to a double-header of Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Here’s a what I am wishing for

NO MORE PAIN, SPAIN
July 19 — day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final — would be 16 years and eight days, or 5,852 days, since Andres Iniesta’s iconic goal sealed Spain’s first World Cup against the Netherlands in Johannesburg. Back then it was Xavi Hernandez, Iniesta, Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos among others. Now, the torch has passed to Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Unai Simon, Dani Carvajal and Pedri. Perhaps not the same pedigree, yet. The 2010 brigade got superstar status after the ‘This Time for Africa’ triumph. Leading to it, they had Euro 2008 to their name. Well, the current La Roja have also clinched Euro 2024 and let’s wish for history to repeat itself: ‘This Time for America’.


ALONSO, TAKE A BOW
The last time Fernando Alonso won a Formula One Championship, Sachin Tendulkar was still 27 hundreds away from completing a century of centuries in international cricket, and Virat Kohli’s India debut was two years in the future. Then, the Spaniard’s back-to-back championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006 had broken Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari winning streak from 2000-04. Nearly 20 years later, and coming close in 2010 and 2012 (3 points and 4 points respectively), he has raced for McLaren, Ferrari, back to McLaren, Alpine and now Aston Martin. At 44, podiums seem increasingly elusive. Hope the great Spaniard switches off the engine in 2026.

100-PLUS MEDALS
2026 brings a double bonanza for Indian athletes: the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. While India has crossed the 100-medal mark in both events—101 at the 2010 Delhi CWG and 107 at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023)—the challenge is to do it in the same year. With India set to host the 2030 CWG, Asian Games sometime in the future and eventually the Olympics, athletes need to stand up. If the country strives to be a superpower of the future, a sporting superpower is a precursor to it. That wishlist starts with winning 100 medals in each major 2026 event. If Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) was India’s best Olympic performance with seven medals and Paris 2024 produced six, then the least to expect for Los Angeles 2028 would be 13 (7+6).

THE BARCA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
It’s a shame that Barcelona, with all their might, have not won a Champions League since 2015, even while claiming the LaLiga titles half of the times since then. A team comprising Yamal, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi, Pedri and Dani Olmo, among others, not winning the biggest European prize is a travesty. They have reached the quarterfinals five times and semifinals twice, including 2024-25. At 16th position right now (tied on 10 points with three other teams) they look certain to make the top 8 with games against Slavia Prague and Copenhagen in the first round to go. Many say the LaLiga champions are due, some say overdue.