Nigeria, April 2 -- The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup was long and quite demanding. While some navigated the bumpy terrain, others saw their ambitions derailed.

With kickoff set for 11 June and the final scheduled for 19 July, the global football map is already taking shape; stacked with contenders, heavy with expectation, and brimming with legacy battles waiting to be written.

From Spain to England, from reigning champions Argentina to perennial challengers Brazil, the usual suspects are gearing up for another assault on football's ultimate prize. France and Portugal are equally poised, each chasing legacy, each chasing history.

But as the spotlight intensifies, so too does the shadow it casts.

Because for every giant marching towa...