June 11 (UPI) — A file 48-team area, advanced logistics and the doubtless farewells of soccer icons are amongst key storylines for the 2026 World Cup, which begins Thursday.
Event protection will air by July 19 on Fox, FS1, Telemundo and Universo and stream on the Fox Sports activities App and Fox One. A full schedule of match openers is listed under.
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is favored to win the title. , , , and reigning champion Argentina are among the many different High 5 anticipated contenders. The USA is exterior of the High 10 World Cup favorites.
“This group deserves all the pieces that is taking place to us,” Argentina’s Lionel Messi informed reporters Tuesday. “We’ll give it our all, simply as we at all times have. Let there be little doubt in anybody’s thoughts that we’ll give it our all, simply as all of us did and simply as we have been doing all this time. Simply as we at all times did each time I used to be a part of the nationwide workforce.
“Generally it really works out, generally it does not, however we have been lucky sufficient to have optimistic outcomes lately.
The 2026 World Cup ultimate shall be held July 19 at New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. File Photograph by John Angelillo/UPI
“It is troublesome, and it is getting tougher on a regular basis, however we have got used to that and we have got the followers used to it, and we will attempt to do it once more. Whether or not it really works out or not, that is soccer. Have little doubt that our opponents will discover it laborious to beat us as a result of this can be a very aggressive nationwide workforce.”
Logistical calls for
Mexico will host within the match opener at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday in Mexico Metropolis. The assembly, which can air on Fox, would be the first of 104 matches performed over 39 days in america, Canada and Mexico within the first version of the match to be held throughout three separate international locations.
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A complete of 16 stadiums shall be used for the match, which options 16 fewer groups over its earlier seven editions.
Almost 3,000 miles separate two match stadiums — in Vancouver and Mexico Metropolis. Canada and america will journey about 2,000 miles every in the course of the group stage, whereas co-host Mexico will navigate simply 580 miles for its first three matches.
England’s 1,721 journey miles within the group stage are essentially the most among the many High-5 favorites. France (334) and Argentina (461) have the fewest journey miles amongst anticipated contenders. Bosnia and Herzegovina will navigate a tournament-high 3,144 miles in the course of the group stage.
The 2026 World Cup groups will journey a median of 5,167 miles in the course of the group stage, in comparison with simply 86 from the 2022 match held in . Restoration, fueling, sleep, flight delays and local weather acclimation are amongst among the challenges the file 1,248 gamers might face on this yr’s match.
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A few of these gamers are extra identified than others relating to soccer fandom in america.
Iconic gamers, farewells
Becoming a member of Messi on the 2026 World Cup shall be Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico’s . By checking in on the match, they every will set information by showing of their sixth World Cup.
Ronaldo is the one participant in historical past to attain in 5 editions of the match. Messi’s 26 appearances are essentially the most in World Cup historical past. His 13 targets, essentially the most amongst lively gamers, are simply three behind German Miroslav Klose’s file 16.
Ronaldo’s eight scores are tied for twenty sixth.
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Messi, who will flip 39 years previous June 24, beforehand mentioned that the 2022 match was his final. Since then, he has mentioned that the 2026 version would doubtless be his World Cup farewell tour. Ronaldo mentioned final yr that the 2026 World Cup would “positively” be his final. The 41-year-old continues to be in search of his first title.
Ochoa, who will flip 41 on July 13, plans to retire after the match. ‘s (40), ‘s (40), ‘s (34), Brazil’s . (34), ‘s (34), Dutch defender (34) and ‘s (33) are among the many different star gamers nearing the top of their worldwide careers.
Whereas none of these gamers faces apparent off-the-field challenges en path to the World Cup pitch, some groups entered battles earlier than kicking off.
Disrupted preparation
An Ebola outbreak has hindered the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s preparation for the match. The African nation certified for the match for the primary time in 52 years.
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As of Saturday, there have been within the nation. The USA requires non-citizens who’ve been within the DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan to spend 21 days exterior these international locations and be symptom-free earlier than coming into.
The DR Congo moved its coaching camp to Belgium and practiced inside a bubble. The workforce additionally performed a pre-tournament pleasant in France after the match was moved from Spain resulting from public well being issues from native authorities.
DR Congo gamers are resulting from arrive this week in Houston. They may face Ronaldo and Portugal of their opener Wednesday at Houston Stadium.
Tensions persists between america and Iran, which mentioned it Wednesday towards the host nation’s bases within the Center East after U.S. strikes in southern Iran. Iran was initially set to carry its World Cup base camp in Tucson, Ariz., however moved to Tijuana, Mexico.
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The Iranians arrived Sunday at their base camp. Gamers and among the teaching employees members obtained visas to journey for 3 group stage video games performed in america, whereas others didn’t obtain approval.
The Iranians might face the Individuals within the spherical of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, if each groups end second of their respective teams.
The Individuals will kick off their marketing campaign towards Paraguay on Friday in Inglewood, Calif. Iran will tackle in a Group G opener three days in a while the identical area at Los Angeles Stadium.
Different notable openers fill characteristic Argentina, France, Brazil and England.
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Notable openers, gamers
Messi and the Argentines will begin their title protection towards on Tuesday in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. A youthful wave of elite performers additionally will take the stage.
, whom Fox rated as the highest participant of the match, might make his World Cup debut when the Spaniards face of their match opener Monday in Atlanta.
Yamal, 18, is amongst a number of soccer forward of the World Cup. He’s recovering from groin and hamstring points, however is predicted to be out there.
France’s and and , England’s , ‘s , Brazil’s and ‘s are amongst different star gamers who will seem within the match.
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No. 12 , No. 21 and No. 26 are the one groups inside the High 30 of FIFA world rankings who won’t take part within the World Cup.
Vinicius and No. 6 Brazil will tackle Hakimi and No. 7 Morocco within the first match of the World Cup performed between two High 10 groups. That Group C battle will kick off Saturday in East Rutherford, N.J.
No. 27 will tackle No. 22 Turkey in a Group D match Sunday in Vancouver. The No. 8 will play No. 18 on Sunday in Arlington.
Mbappe and No. 2 France will meet No. 15 Senegal on Tuesday in East Rutherford. Haaland and No. 31 Norway will tackle No. 57 Iraq the identical day in Foxborough, Mass.
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Kane and No. 4 England will face No. 11 Croatia in a Group L opener Wednesday in Arlington.
Followers proceed to have a look at sky-high ticket costs for the match, with the least costly group-stage ticket costs starting from about $160 to greater than $3,000. The least costly ticket for the finale is greater than $7,600.
World Cup openers
(All instances EDT)
Thursday
Mexico vs. South Africa at 3 p.m. on Fox
vs. Czechia at 10 p.m. on FS1
Friday
vs. Bosnia-Herzgovina at 3 p.m. on Fox
USA vs. Paraguay at 9 p.m. on Fox
Saturday
Qatar vs. at 3 p.m. on Fox
Brazil vs. Morocco at 6 p.m. on Fox
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vs. at 9 p.m. on Fox
Sunday
Australia vs. Turkey at midnight on FS1
Germany vs. at 1 p.m. on Fox
Netherlands vs. Japan at 4 p.m. on Fox
vs. at 7 p.m. on FS1
vs. at 10 p.m. on FS1
Monday
Spain vs. Cape Verde at midday on Fox
Belgium vs. Egypt at 3 p.m. on Fox
vs. at 6 p.m. on FS1
Iran vs. New Zealand at 9 p.m. on FS1
Tuesday
France vs. Senegal at 3 p.m. on Fox
Iraq vs. Norway at 6 p.m. on Fox
Argentina vs. Algeria at 9 p.m. on Fox
Wednesday
vs. at midnight on FS1
Portugal vs. Congo DR at 1 p.m. on Fox
England vs. Croatia at 4 p.m. on Fox
vs. at 7 p.m. on FS1
vs. at 10 p.m. on FS1