Everything You Need To Know Before The 2026 FIFA World Cup Begins | Deadspin.com

It has been an undeniably unusual buildup to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However in 4 quick days, the match will lastly start in 16 cities throughout america, Canada and Mexico. And prefer it or not, after swearing as soon as once more that you simply’re going to boycott FIFA and its questionable methods, you’re going to be consuming up each second of it.

However first, you’ll have to play catch-up on what you’ve missed. Happily, we’ve bought you lined with seven incessantly requested questions concerning the return of the world’s greatest sporting occasion.

Who’s within the 2026 World Cup?

With 48 groups, the 2026 World Cup is the biggest within the match’s historical past, up from 32 groups between 1998 and 2022. All the normal suspects are right here. Nicely, aside from Italy. (It’s an extended story.) There’s additionally lots of much less acquainted faces and even 4 newcomers: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

What’s the format?

Simply as they’ve been since 1986, groups are drawn into teams of 4 and can play a three-match spherical robin. However this time, the single-elimination knockout part that follows will double in measurement to 32 groups. All 12 groups that end first or second will advance to the bracket, in addition to the eight greatest third-place finishers.

Who’s going to win this factor?

France and Spain are oddsmakers’ favorites, with England shut behind. In different phrases, France and Spain have the 2 greatest groups, and the sportsbooks know English folks will wager with their hearts as a substitute of their minds. Brazil, Argentina and Portugal observe shut behind. Historical past suggests the worth is with Brazil and Argentina; Germany, the 2014 champs, are the one European nation ever to win a World Cup hosted within the Americas.

Do the Individuals have an opportunity?

What do you name “an opportunity”? They in all probability gained’t win, nevertheless it’s not absurd to strive. For those who’re going to think about it like American sports activities, Crew USA is stronger relative to the sphere than 1985 Villanova or 2014 UConn was throughout their respective March Insanity title runs. However the trendy NCAA Match has been performed greater than 40 instances. This may solely be the twelfth World Cup performed with greater than 16 entrants, and solely the twenty third whole.

Who is that this Lamine Yamal man?

Spain’s 18-year-old FC Barcelona prodigy is probably the most hyped teenage World Cup expertise since a 17-year-old Pele led Brazil to its first World Cup title in 1958. Within the 2025-26 season, Yamal scored 16 objectives and assisted 11 extra to assist Barca to its twenty ninth La Liga title. He already has 101 profession appearances within the Spanish prime flight, and can already be making his second main worldwide match look after he helped Spain win Euro 2024.

Wait, Messi and Ronaldo are nonetheless round?

Not solely are the previous La Liga rivals nonetheless competing for his or her nationwide groups, however they’re nonetheless producing on the worldwide stage regardless of transferring on to lesser membership leagues like MLS and the Saudi Professional League. The 38-year-old Messi led all of South American qualifying with eight objectives, whereas the 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal’s qualifying effort with 5.

The place Ought to I Watch?

Given FIFA’s … erm, capitalistic … ticket pricing scheme, the overwhelming majority of unusual followers will select to look at the video games at residence quite than in particular person. However there may be some excellent news on that entrance: Of the 104 World Cup matches, 70 shall be accessible on over-the-air Fox TV for English audio system, and 92 shall be broadcast over Telemundo’s Spanish-speaking airwaves. So in case you are in search of an excuse to purchase a digital TV antenna, that is it.