The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup kicks off a yr right this moment when joint-hosts Mexico get the event underway in Mexico Metropolis’s Azteca Stadium on June 11, 2026.
It is going to be the most important World Cup, with the format increasing from 32 nations at Qatar 2022 to 48 groups in USA, Mexico and Canada. The result’s 104 video games throughout 16 cities in three nations earlier than the brand new world champion is topped at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on July 19.
There will likely be some acquainted faces, some World Cup rookies, loads of gamers and coaches beneath stress to ship and likewise huge questions nonetheless to be answered about what occurs off the pitch. So, with the World Cup countdown now simply three hundred and sixty five days away, here is every little thing it’s essential find out about what lies forward in North America in 2026.
Messi vs. Ronaldo for the ultimate time?
When Lionel Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, it appeared to be the ultimate act within the decade-long battle between himself and Cristiano Ronaldo. By profitable the World Cup, Messi had carried out one thing Portugal captain Ronaldo had by no means carried out, and with the previous Real Madrid and Manchester United star turning 41 subsequent February, there was no probability he might return for one final shot on the huge one.
However guess what? Ronaldo remains to be going sturdy, main Portugal to UEFA Nations League success with wins in opposition to Germany and Spain this month — he scored in each video games too — whereas Messi, who will likely be 38 on June 24, remains to be the star attraction in MLS with Inter Miami and he continues to captain Argentina.
4 years in the past, Qatar actually appeared to be Messi and Ronaldo’s remaining look within the World Cup, but it surely’s now nearly sure that they’ll each save their final dance for the 2026 version.
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Is it time for Portugal to search for a Ronaldo alternative?
The “ESPN FC” crew focus on whether or not Portugal have to search for a brand new striker earlier than the 2026 World Cup.
The brand new youngsters on the block
World Cups at all times launch new stars onto the worldwide stage — Pele was 17 when he burst onto the scene with Brazil in 1958 — and the 2026 event has an array of younger expertise ready to turn out to be the most important title within the recreation.
Lamine Yamal will likely be simply 18 when the 2026 version kicks off and the Spain and Barcelona ahead undoubtedly has what it takes to be the star of the present, hoping to encourage his nation to a second World Cup win. However France even have a wonderkid in 20-year-old Désiré Doué, who scored twice in Paris Saint-Germain‘s 5-0 Champions League remaining win in opposition to Inter Milan, and Germany’s attacking duo of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, each 22, are able to dominating subsequent yr.
Brazil, who’re determined to win a primary World Cup since claiming their fifth title in 2002, have two teen sensations in Actual Madrid’s Endrick (18) and Chelsea-bound Estevao Willian (18) who will likely be anticipated to shine on the massive stage.
Will it’s Haaland’s time?
Erling Haaland might be the most important title in soccer proper now who’s but to play in a World Cup. The Manchester City ahead, who will likely be 25 subsequent month, was born in Leeds whereas his father Alfie performed for Leeds United within the Premier League, however regardless of a tentative try by the English FA to assert him for England, Haaland has solely ever represented Norway.
But that loyalty to his household residence has but to be rewarded with an look at a significant event since Haaland made his worldwide debut in 2019. However with Arsenal‘s Martin Odegaard additionally making an attempt to information the Landslaget to a primary World Cup since 1998, Haaland is doing his half, scoring 4 objectives in 4 video games to assist his nation to the highest of UEFA Qualifying Group I — a run that features a 3-0 win in opposition to four-time World Cup winners, Italy.
Norway have 4 extra qualifiers to clinch their spot and a nine-point lead over Italy, although the Azzurri have six qualifiers remaining resulting from a crowded schedule.
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How Brazil clinched their spot for the 2026 World Cup
Brazil certified for the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Paraguay on Tuesday night time in Sao Paulo.
Can Carlo Ancelotti finish Brazil’s World Cup drought?
Brazil have carried out one thing unprecedented of their try to finish their 24-year World Cup drought, hiring a non-Brazilian — Carlo Ancelotti — to teach the Selecao for the primary time within the group’s historical past. The 66-year-old is the one coach to win 5 Champions League titles, so he has the credentials to tackle Brazil, winners of 5 World Cups, however does he have the gamers?
Ancelotti’s first Brazil squad included Premier League strugglers like Manchester United pair Casemiro and Antony and Tottenham Hotspur‘s Richarlison, however he additionally has the world-class expertise of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker, PSG defender Marquinhos and Actual Madrid’s Vinicius Junior to attract from within the expertise pool.
Brazil have gone past the quarterfinal stage simply as soon as since final profitable the World Cup in 2002, after they completed fourth on residence soil in 2014, so Ancelotti will likely be beneath enormous stress to alter all that subsequent yr.
How far can Poch’s U.S. go?
Mauricio Pochettino was employed by the us final yr to convey elite degree teaching and administration expertise to an under-performing U.S. men’s national team, but it surely has been a bumpy trip thus far for the previous Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach.
Following Tuesday’s dismal 4-0 pleasant loss to Switzerland, Pochettino has gained 5 and misplaced 5 of his 10 video games in cost and has displayed little proof of constructing a group able to reaching the latter levels of the World Cup subsequent yr. A number of Europe-based stars — together with Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson and Yunus Musah — are absent from this summer time’s friendlies and Gold Cup marketing campaign for varied causes, inflicting some controversy amongst followers and former gamers, however Pochettino has cited the necessity for these gamers to relaxation as a way to be extra ready for the World Cup.
A lot relies on the group stage draw for the World Cup, however proper now, Pochettino’s group would battle to even attain the knockout levels.
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Dan and Stevie get heated over Pochettino
Dan Thomas and Steve Nicol conflict over Maurico Pochettino’s reign as far as USMNT coach.
Look out for the World Cup rookies
The enlargement to 48 groups subsequent summer time has opened a path for brand new nations to qualify for the event, with Uzbekistan and Jordan each securing qualification for the primary time.
Uzbekistan, nicknamed the White Wolves, have Manchester Metropolis’s Abdukodir Khusanov of their protection, whereas Jordan’s star ahead Musa Al-Taamari performs in Ligue 1 with Rennes. New Caledonia, a tiny archipelago within the South Pacific, have certified for subsequent yr’s Inter-Continental play-off, whereas Cape Verde — generally known as the Blue Sharks — are prime of their African qualifying group with a group that features former Manchester United winger Bebé.
Curacao, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Suriname have all reached the ultimate spherical of qualification in Concacaf, whereas Venezuela are well-placed to assert South America’s spot within the Inter-Continental play-offs. All of it means we must always see loads of triumphant debutants subsequent summer time.
Are Italy again within the huge time or will it’s a three-peat of absences?
Italy are World Cup aristocracy, with solely Brazil (5) profitable the event greater than the Azzurri‘s 4, however the Italians are at risk of lacking out on qualification for the third successive World Cup.
After dropping 3-0 to Norway final week, Italy are in disaster. Supervisor Luciano Spalletti was fired and former Chelsea, Leicester City and AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri has turned down the job as his alternative.
When making an attempt to qualify for the previous two World Cups, Italy misplaced out within the playoffs to Sweden (2018) and North Macedonia (2022), they usually sit third in UEFA Group I, 9 factors behind leaders Norway and three factors behind Israel, who occupy the play-off spot.
One of many recreation’s most storied nationwide groups wants to enhance, and shortly, in the event that they’re to characteristic subsequent summer time.
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Who will likely be Italy’s new supervisor?
Gabriele Marcotti goes over who might be the brand new supervisor for Italy after Luciano Spalletti managed his remaining recreation on Monday.
Who wins all of it? These are the groups to observe …
Argentina ended 20 years of European dominance by profitable their third World Cup at Qatar 2022 and the reigning champions will fancy their probabilities of retaining their crown subsequent summer time. However whereas South American rivals Brazil will likely be sturdy beneath Ancelotti and an actual risk to Argentina, the massive problem will undoubtedly come from Europe.
Euro 2024 winners Spain, Nations League champions Portugal and 2018 World Cup winners France would be the strongest European contenders, with Germany and England possessing the gamers to go all the way in which in the event that they discover some consistency. However proper now, Spain, France and Portugal, because of star names like Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Ronaldo, respectively, are the groups to beat.
… however do not overlook these dangerously proficient outsiders
Okay, we have marked your card for the favorites to win the World Cup, however who’re the harmful outsiders able to emulating Morocco‘s run to the 2022 semifinals, or Croatia‘s feat in reaching the 2018 remaining and the semis 4 years later?
Ecuador have run Argentina shut for prime spot within the South America qualifiers and are nonetheless in second spot, regardless of a three-point deduction. With Moisés Caicedo, Willian Pacho and Pervis Estupiñán of their group, Ecuador will likely be sturdy subsequent summer time.
Mexico have reached the quarterfinals twice — each events after they hosted the World Cup in 1970 and 1986 — so El Tri can exploit residence benefit once more. Nonetheless, they could battle with out aggressive fixtures between now and subsequent summer time by advantage of qualifying mechanically as co-hosts.
Morocco and Egypt will lead Africa’s hopes of success, whereas in Europe, Turkey and Georgia — each combating for a playoff spot behind Spain in Group E — confirmed at Euro 2024 that they’ve the expertise to trigger an upset in the event that they qualify for the World Cup.
Will it’s the identical outdated story for England?
England are world soccer’s nice under-achievers — the house of the Premier League and former greats akin to Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer, Paul Gascoigne and Steven Gerrard — and subsequent yr will mark 60 years since their one and solely World Cup success. However after two successive defeats within the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, the English FA have gone huge by hiring former Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel to show the Three Lions into winners.
However do not financial institution on England profitable subsequent summer time. A woeful 1-0 win over Andorra on the weekend , adopted by a shock 3-1 residence loss to Senegal on Tuesday, uncovered England’s array of under-performing stars, and you may write the script for subsequent summer time proper now.
After a draining Premier League season, Tuchel’s gamers will wilt within the warmth in North America as a result of, like perpetually, they can not hold the ball and use it in addition to the highest groups.
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How ought to Tuchel assess England’s loss to Senegal?
The “ESPN FC” crew react to England’s 3-1 loss to Senegal in a world pleasant and debate what Thomas Tuchel ought to take away from his group’s efficiency.
Will the U.S. journey ban trigger logistical issues?
Final week, U.S. President Donald Trump introduced a journey ban on the residents of 12 international locations, stopping them from coming into the US. A type of nations is Iran, whose soccer group has certified for subsequent yr’s World Cup. Haiti, a possible qualifier from Concacaf, can be listed.
Beyond the 12 countries banned from all travel, seven nations have been hit with partial restrictions — together with Venezuela, who’re prone to attain the Inter-Continental playoffs.
There are exemptions, nevertheless, and the U.S. has acknowledged that any athlete or member of an athletic group — together with coaches, individuals performing a vital assist function and rapid family members — will likely be allowed to journey to the World Cup and 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Because it stands, all vital nationwide group personnel will likely be cleared to journey to the U.S., but it surely appears unlikely that supporters from nations on the banned listing will likely be allowed to enter the nation and present their assist.
It is going to be sizzling and hectic
Within the early levels of subsequent yr’s World Cup, there will likely be as many as 4 video games a day, with some fixtures scheduled to kick off as early as midday and that might result in points regarding gamers, officers and supporters being impacted by excessive warmth. Throughout final yr’s Copa America, assistant referee Humberto Panjoj fainted throughout the first half of Peru‘s group recreation in opposition to Canada in Kansas Metropolis when temperatures reached 93 levels.
When the U.S. final hosted the World Cup in 1994, Republic of Ireland defender Steve Staunton had to wear a hat throughout the nationwide anthems to shelter from the solar earlier than a noon kickoff in opposition to Mexico in Orlando when the temperature was recorded at 105 levels.
FIFA has mentioned that each one groups will likely be given a minimal of three days between video games, however kickoff instances are to be finalized following the World Cup draw later this yr.