You can have the Newsbeat regularly delivered to your mailbox so you never miss any news. This is a free service -- you can unsubscribe any time. Enter your email address and click the submit button; then confirm your subscription from your email.

World Cup kicks off today with record 48-team field across North America

by

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins today, launching the largest tournament in the event’s history with matches spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The opening day features Mexico against South Africa and South Korea against the Czech Republic. The United States will open Group D play on Friday night against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California.

This year’s tournament marks a major expansion for international soccer’s premier event. A record 48 national teams will compete in 104 matches, up from 32 teams in previous tournaments. It is also the first World Cup to be hosted by three countries.

The group stage runs through June 27, with 12 groups of four teams each. Teams earn three points for a win and one for a draw. The top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout rounds.

The championship match is scheduled for July 19 at New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Among the favorites are defending champion Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, who is appearing in his sixth World Cup. Other contenders include Spain, France, Brazil, Germany, England and Portugal.

The expanded field also includes four nations making their World Cup debuts: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.

For American fans, Fox and FS1 will carry English-language broadcasts, while Telemundo and Universo will air matches in Spanish. Games will also be available through several streaming platforms.

The United States enters the tournament in a group that also includes Paraguay, Australia and Turkey. Canada will compete in Group B alongside Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, and Switzerland, while host Mexico headlines Group A.

Tournament organizers have also introduced new rules aimed at improving sportsmanship. Players who cover their mouths during confrontations or leave the field in protest of a referee’s decision could face red-card ejections.

The World Cup arrives amid high expectations for soccer’s continued growth in North America. The United States last hosted the men’s tournament in 1994, an event widely credited with helping spark the growth of the sport and eventually leading to the creation of Major League Soccer.

Over the next six weeks, millions of fans around the world will follow the action as countries compete for the sport’s most coveted trophy.

Source: NPR

>