The 2026 FIFA World Cup finally gets underway this week, and you can follow all of the latest breaking news before Thursday’s opening group-stage game with The Athletic. We’d also love to hear from you before Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday. Get in touch by emailing live@theathletic.com.

Forty-eight teams come into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with all sorts of aspirations. The top nations in the sport, like Spain, France, Brazil and Argentina, are focused on winning the final on July 19.

The World Cup has arrived! It's time for ESPN's experts to make their picks for silverware, surprise results and everything in between.

The United States wanted an easy group at the World Cup, and it certainly got one that qualifies as manageable. All eyes will be on the Americans in Group D as they open their first World Cup on home soil in 32 years against Paraguay on June 12.

Donald Trump thought he’d miss out on the chance to stride the globe’s biggest sporting stage, lamenting in 2018, when the US won the right to co-host this year’s World Cup finals, that “I won’t be here” owing to presidential term limits.

Canada hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina to begin World Cup play. Captain Alphonso Davies' status is unknown, though, as he battles a hamstring injury.

As you've probably heard, the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins this Thursday, June 11, and fans, players and celebrities are flooding into the US, Mexico and Canada for the festivities. With thousands of people attending matches in the three host nations (and millions more watching around the world),