Fans from all over the world will visit the United States to attend World Cup games. Many fans from the United States will also come to support the US Men’s National team.
Did you know that there is a sporting event that is five times more popular than the Super Bowl? While the Super Bowl for the National Football League usually has around 120 million viewers, one soccer game in the World Cup usually has 500 million viewers. This summer, the World Cup will kick off on June 11, 2026. Like the Olympics, it takes place once every four years. There is also a Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Brazil in 2027.
Photo Credit: Ievgen Chabanov/Alamy Stock Photo
While there have been 22 World Cups for men’s soccer, only eight countries have ever lifted the World Cup trophy. Will a new country win this year?
This summer’s World Cup will be the largest ever. It will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 16 different host cities. Thirteen teams played in the first World Cup in 1930. By 1998, 32 teams became the standard number of teams. This year, the tournament has expanded to include 48 teams.
Each nation will finalize their 26-man rosters by June 1. There will be 104 soccer matches total played in the World Cup. The winner will be crowned at the World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in Meadowlands, New Jersey.
Photo Credit: Mike Egerton/PA Images/Alamy Stock Photo
Lionel Messi (left) and Christiano Ronaldo (right) both played in their first World Cup 20 years ago. If they play in the 2026 World Cup, they will become the first two players to play in six different World Cup tournaments.
Two of the most famous soccer players in history are Lionel Messi of Argentina and Christiano Ronaldo of Portugal. Both of them are expected to play in this summer’s World Cup. Many people expect them to retire before the next World Cup. While this will likely be the last World Cup for these two legends, several young superstars are just beginning their World Cup careers. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is expected to play an important role for Spain. Norway’s Erling Haaland is one of the best goal scorers in the world. Several countries will be playing in their first World Cup. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all make their World Cup debuts in 2026.
What Do You Think? Do you have a favorite team in the World Cup? Is there a country playing in it that you would like to learn more about?
Photo Credit: (l)Alizada Studios/Shutterstock, (r)Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock
