Figure 1 This summer’s World Cup will be the largest ever – Source: Unsplash
Forget about the Super Bowl, World Series, or NBA Finals, there is another sports event coming up in the summer that eclipses them all. Only held every four years, the FIFA World Cup is soccer’s most prestigious international tournament, and brings together most of the very best players on the planet.
Soccer is the world’s game, of course. When the World Cup was held in the US in 1994, there were vast swathes of the country that had very little knowledge of the sport. Those days are long gone, but there will still be some new fans who are getting ready to settle in to watch their first-ever finals.
At a time when most of the major leagues will be enjoying their offseason, the World Cup comes at the perfect time to dominate the nightly highlight shows, with plenty of fans also getting ready to back their favorites at the wide range of sportsbooks now available. But before you place your bets, you will need to know a few basics about the competition, at least. So, here’s a quick beginner’s guide to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
When and Where?
For the first time ever, there will be three co-hosts for the World Cup this summer. The US, Canada, and Mexico will be sharing the duties, welcoming the fans, athletes, and coaches of 48 teams. That is also the most countries ever competing at a finals as well, by the way, after FIFA decided to expand the tournament.
There will be 104 games in all, with the US hosting 78 of them across 16 different venues. Canada and Mexico will have 13 each. The first group game, between Mexico and South Africa, kicks off on June 11th, with the World Cup final taking place at MetLife Stadium in New York/East Rutherford on July 19th.
Who’s Playing?
The US, Canada, and Mexico all automatically secured a place at the finals as co-hosts, but the remaining 45 had to go through the grueling qualifying process that has taken place over the last two years. Each of FIFA’s regional confederations will be represented, with 16 from Europe, 10 from Africa, 9 from Asia, six from North America (including the hosts), six from South America, and one from Oceania.
There will be an intriguing mix of regular World Cup attendees, such as Brazil, Argentina, Spain, and England, as well as some debutants. The likes of Cape Verde, DR Congo, and Uzbekistan had never qualified for a finals before, and the new expanded format should make for a more inclusive tournament than ever before.
Stars to Look Out For
Although there are some notable absences, with four-time champion Italy failing to qualify for the finals (once again), most of the best national teams and players will be taking part in this summer’s soccer extravaganza. Argentina will be defending the title it won in 2022, with Lionel Messi possibly competing in his final major tournament.
Like many of the top international teams, Argentina is full of global soccer stars, and there will be a whole host of big names taking part. Even complete soccer and World Cup novices will probably recognize a few of them. France’s Kylian Mbappé will be hoping to win the trophy for his country again, while Cristiano Ronaldo will be aiming to lead his Portugal side to glory.
Other big names will be making their first appearance at a World Cup finals. Erling Haaland is arguably one of the best players in the world, but he has missed out on the biggest international tournament as his national team has failed to qualify in recent times. That’s all changed this year, as Norway return to the finals for the first time since 1998.
Potential Surprises
Although there are a number of nations who are making their World Cup debuts, it is unlikely that any of them will still be in contention when the later knockout rounds come around. There are always a few surprises at the World Cup, though, so don’t expect the big guns to have everything their own way.
The US, Mexico, and Canada will all be hoping to make the most of home advantage, while Morocco will be aiming to replicate their incredible 2022 run to the semifinal stage. The biggest surprises will probably come in individual games, however, rather than the World Cup ending up with a shock winner this year.
Figure 2 Fans from all over the globe will be watching the games – Source: Unsplash
Who Will Win the World Cup?
So, who will end up victorious? Argentina, France, Spain, and England are the main favorites to lift the trophy in July. To offer some perspective on the chance of a surprise winner, Spain was the last nation to win a first World Cup, in 2010, and the eventual champion usually comes from a very select group of nations.
Norway and Portugal are probably the most likely to change that particular script this summer. But if you are looking for a team to back, those first four teams mentioned are a good place to start, with perennial crowd favorite Brazil, another nation that has enjoyed multiple World Cup triumphs in the past.
This summer’s World Cup finals are sure to bring excitement, drama, and lots of incredible games, as well as prove why it is the most-watched sports event on the planet. If you are getting ready to enjoy your first-ever finals, get ready for six weeks of intense soccer action – and know that this definitely won’t be your last.
