As the summer rapidly approaches, so does the start of the 2026 World Cup. The FIFA World Cup is the largest international soccer tournament in the world, hosted every four years to crown a single team as international soccer champions. According to fifa.com, the first World Cup was hosted in Uruguay in 1930, and the tradition of international soccer competition has only continued to evolve since then. The 2026 World Cup begins June 11, with all 104 matches hosted across North America. Canada, Mexico and the United States are hosting the tournament, with matches taking place in major cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Toronto. The upcoming World Cup provides opportunities for fans all over America and the world to come and watch their favorite teams play.
Around Old Saybrook High School, many students cannot wait for the tournament to begin.Student James Ashe ‘28, says the World Cup is important to him because “it is a time where the world can shift their focus away from social divisions and be unified in rooting for each of their own countries”. He highlights the strong sense of pride that he, along with other soccer fans feel in having their country represented in the upcoming tournament.
In addition, the 2026 World Cup marks a historic change, with the tournament expanding to 48 teams from the previous 32-team format.This change is a huge step forward in the world of soccer, as with an expanded field of teams, FIFA is promoting the growth of soccer by increasing global representation on the main stage. The expanded number of teams provides more opportunities for emerging teams to compete at the highest level, which will also have the effect of boosting the sport’s popularity in other countries. Furthermore, the amount of games has almost doubled, allowing for greater sponsorship, ticketing, and broadcasting income.
This year’s World Cup is certainly something to be excited about. It has the potential to be a turning point in the global growth of soccer and one of the most entertaining tournaments yet.
