Indeed, the moment has arrived! Every four years, the premier men’s soccer teams from around the world convene to compete for the title of world champions. This year’s event will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, taking place in 16 diverse cities ranging from Vancouver to Kansas City to Guadalajara. The tournament will feature 48 teams, organized into 12 groups of four, where each team will compete against the others within their group once. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will progress to the knockout rounds, totaling 32 teams. From this stage onward, matches will be single-elimination; if teams are tied after extra time, the outcome will be determined through a penalty shootout.
The championship match is scheduled for July 19 in “New York” (technically New Jersey, designated as New York/New Jersey by FIFA), following 104 matches across three nations. The tournament will kick off this Thursday, June 11, at Estadio Azteca, featuring the co-hosts, Mexico, facing off against South Africa.
This format has been consistent since the last World Cup and previous tournaments, which began with only 13 teams in 1930. Critics argue that FIFA expanded the number of teams primarily to increase revenue, as the last World Cup in 2022 reportedly generated around $7.5 billion. However, FIFA asserts that the revenue supports the development of grassroots soccer, and the larger field allows for underdog teams, such as Jordan, Curaçao, and England, to have opportunities to compete against stronger nations.
Nonetheless, FIFA faces significant backlash regarding the exorbitant ticket prices for this summer’s matches. According to a December analysis by The Guardian, the cheapest tickets for this year’s final are nearly ten times pricier than those for the 2022 tournament. Additionally, FIFA charges a 30% fee on ticket sales through its resale platform. Controversy has also surrounded FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s decision to confer a peace prize to Donald Trump, who is currently engaged in a conflict with Iran and has made contentious statements regarding one of the tournament’s co-hosts.
This event showcases some of the world’s top athletes vying for one of sports’ most prestigious accolades. Spectators can expect remarkable goals, unexpected outcomes (as seen when Argentina, the eventual champions, suffered an opening match defeat to Saudi Arabia in the last World Cup), emotional defeats, and overwhelming triumphs for the victors.
Spain aims to capitalize on the European title they secured in 2024 by winning the World Cup, having previously been champions in 2010. The team boasts a mix of talented young players and seasoned veterans, along with an experienced coach. France, who reached the finals in 2022, presents a similar story. The current champions, Argentina, remain contenders but are not as formidable as they were four years ago. Their traditional rivals, England, are also among the favorites, largely due to the optimistic bets placed by their fans. Brazil and Germany, with a combined total of nine titles, should not be overlooked, despite neither team being at their peak performance.
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New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, expressed confidence that Morocco will win the tournament. If successful, they would become the first African nation to claim the trophy, having reached the semi-finals in 2022. Norway, buoyed by their success in the recent Winter Olympics, features the prolific scorer Erling Haaland. The co-hosts—Mexico, Canada, and the United States—are expected to advance from the group stages, although they will likely aim for a spot in the quarter-finals as their best outcome.
Among the tournament’s star players are Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, though at 41 and 38 years old, respectively, they are not at the peak of their careers. Ousmane Dembélé, fresh off a Champions League victory with Paris St-Germain, is widely regarded as the top player in the world, while Spain’s 18-year-old winger Lamine Yamal has garnered significant excitement. Other notable goal scorers include England’s Harry Kane and France’s Kylian Mbappé, while Vitinha’s skillful play in Portugal’s midfield has earned him respect from his peers.
If attending matches in one of the 16 venues (two in Canada, three in Mexico, and eleven in the United States) isn’t feasible, fans can watch the entire tournament on television. In the U.S., broadcasts will be available on Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish), while Australian viewers can catch every game live on SBS and SBS Viceland. Canadian coverage will be provided in English by TSN and CTV, with RDS offering French-language broadcasts. In the UK, BBC and ITV will share coverage throughout the tournament. For comprehensive coverage, fans can also follow live updates on The Guardian’s website.
The bid from Canada, Mexico, and the United States emphasized a collaborative World Cup experience. However, the U.S. will host 78 matches, while Canada and Mexico will each host 13. All quarter-final games and beyond will take place in the United States. The 2026 bid also highlighted the co-hosts’ commitment to environmental sustainability, although the tournament will necessitate significant travel; teams reaching the final may cover over 8,000 km.
FIFA is distributing $727 million in prize money for this tournament, a substantial sum. However, FIFA’s vice-president, Victor Montagliani, anticipates that this World Cup will generate approximately $13 billion in revenue. The winning team will receive $50 million, which could cover the cost of two tickets to the 2030 World Cup final.
