SouthernWorldwide.com – The 2026 FIFA World Cup is rapidly approaching, with fans worldwide set to tune in to the most popular sporting event on Earth in less than a month.
Significant developments will occur before June 11. Rosters will be finalized, teams will convene for their final tune-up matches, and fans will begin to plan their schedules, highlighting the games and star players they wish to follow.
To prepare you for the tournament, here are five key storylines to consider as we approach the event, with the world eagerly anticipating every goal and moment.
Historically, only eight nations have ever won the men’s FIFA World Cup: Brazil (five times), Germany (four), Italy (four), Argentina (three), France (two), Uruguay (two), Spain, and England (once each). The question remains whether a ninth nation will be crowned champion on July 19.
Despite the extensive fanfare leading up to the largest World Cup ever, the focus will quickly shift to the action as it unfolds across three countries and 16 cities, with 48 participating teams embarking on a marathon group stage.
Upsets are inevitable. However, the crucial stages of the 39-day tournament are expected to feature many of the traditional powerhouses. France, currently ranked number one by FIFA, is a co-favorite according to bookmakers to win the entire competition, alongside the reigning European champions, Spain.
Argentina, the current World Cup holders and South American champions, will be defending the title they narrowly secured against France in Qatar in 2022.
Brazil, a record five-time World Cup winner, is long overdue for another title, having last won in 2002. They have historically not gone more than 24 years between victories. Notably, they won the trophy the last time the U.S. hosted the final in 1994.
England is aiming to secure its first major men’s trophy since winning their sole World Cup exactly 60 years ago this summer. The Three Lions are considered to have the third-best odds.
Beyond these favorites, the landscape is uncertain. Portugal boasts a strong squad, but can they become the first new World Cup winner since Spain’s triumph in 2010? The same question applies to Belgium, whose so-called golden generation has a final opportunity to prove themselves after failing to reach the knockout stage in 2022. The Netherlands, a three-time runner-up, who lost to Argentina on penalties in the quarterfinals four years ago, also remains a contender. We will not have to wait much longer to find out.
Home advantage is a significant factor. For decades, no host nation had failed to advance past the first round in the World Cup (South Africa and Qatar were exceptions in 2010 and 2022, respectively). In 1998, France secured their first World Cup title at the Stade de France. Four years later, co-hosts South Korea reached the semi-finals, narrowly losing to Germany in Seoul. Back in 1994, the host nation, the U.S., aiming to avoid embarrassment, surprised many by defeating Colombia before being eliminated by the eventual champions, Brazil, by a single goal in the knockout stages.
Expectations are considerably higher for the current U.S. squad. After missing the 2018 tournament, a new generation, spearheaded by Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, qualified for Qatar and reached the Round of 16.
Now, playing on home soil, the bar has been raised. The USA’s quarterfinal appearance in 2002 was nearly a quarter-century ago. The question is whether this squad possesses the capability to replicate that success.
Fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico also have their own ambitions. While Canada has never won a World Cup match, reaching the knockout stages is a primary objective. Mexico will be hosting World Cup games for a record third time, having previously hosted the iconic 1970 and 1986 tournaments. Mexico has not reached the quarterfinals since 1986, having been eliminated in the Round of 16 for seven consecutive tournaments between 1994 and 2018. Returning to the last eight is their clear goal. However, simply advancing would represent an improvement, as El Tri failed to progress beyond the group stage in 2022.
Although he has not officially confirmed his participation for Argentina, Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 during the World Cup group stage, is expected to captain the Albiceleste if he is fit. Cristiano Ronaldo will undoubtedly lead Portugal; even at 41, he remains a pivotal player for coach Roberto Martinez.
For both legendary players, there is a great deal at stake this summer. Messi was reportedly planning to retire from international football after 2022 but reconsidered after leading his country to their first World Cup victory since 1986, solidifying his status as the greatest of all time. He will likely be keen to avoid a disappointing performance in the country where he currently plays his club football for Inter Miami.
The stakes for Ronaldo are arguably even higher. As the all-time leading scorer and appearance holder in international men’s football, the World Cup trophy is the only major accolade missing from his illustrious career. Winning it would not only match Messi’s achievement from four years prior but also deliver Portugal its first title and ensure Ronaldo remains in the GOAT conversation for decades to come.
If the 2026 World Cup marks the twilight of Messi and Ronaldo’s international careers, it is also poised to be a springboard for two of football’s emerging megastars.
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Lamine Yamal is already drawing comparisons to Messi, primarily due to his status as a graduate of Barcelona’s renowned La Masia development academy and his skillful, left-footed attacking style. Although this will be the Spaniard’s debut World Cup, he was instrumental in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph before his 17th birthday, scoring a crucial and spectacular goal in the semi-finals. A hamstring injury in April has sidelined him for Barcelona, but he is anticipated to return in time for the summer’s major tournament.
At 25, Erling Haaland is an established talent. A winner of the Premier League and Champions League with Manchester City, he has consistently scored at the highest level for years. In 49 appearances for his native Norway since his 2019 debut, the striker has an impressive 55 goals. Like Yamal, this will also be Haaland’s first World Cup. If both newcomers perform at their peak this summer, it is plausible that Haaland and Yamal will become household names across America by August.
The expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 16 teams was always expected to produce Cinderella stories. Last October, the small West African nation of Cape Verde, with a population of 525,000, became the smallest country ever to qualify for a men’s World Cup. This record stood for a month until the Caribbean island of Curaçao (population 155,000) secured its qualification in November.
Jordan and Uzbekistan will also be making their debuts in the tournament this summer. Haiti and Congo DR are returning for the first time since 1974. Iraq is back after a 40-year absence. Scotland, Norway, and Austria have each waited 28 years. Türkiye, who will be in Group D alongside the U.S., has the potential to advance deep into the competition despite not having qualified since 2002, the year they reached the semifinals.
The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Hosted across three countries, the tournament will conclude with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will be broadcast live across FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches), with every game available for live streaming and on-demand viewing within both the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. A record 40 matches, representing more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21 matches) and FS1 (19 matches).
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The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be streamed for free on Tubi, as will the U.S.’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
