FIFA Men's World Cup

Croatia name World Cup squad: Luka Modric set for fifth tournament, Petar Musa included

Modric, as well as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, could become the first male player to feature at six World Cups.

Ali Rampling

Lamine Yamal set to miss Spain's World Cup opener, doubt for second group game

Pol Ballús and Colin Millar Comments count 5

Greatest Of All Time: World Cup Upsets – USA, North Korea, Cameroon and more

Michael Cox Comments count 1

Speaking to World Cup ticket brokers: 'I had sold a lot before owning any'

Adam Leventhal Comments count 21

First look: Sudeikis, Haaland and Yamal front blockbuster Visa World Cup ad

Melanie Anzidei Comments count 5

May 18, 2026

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World Cup Groups

Analyzing team strength at the 2026 World Cup: Is England in a 'Group of Death'?

An expanded tournament of 48 teams doesn't mean the leading nations have an easy path to the knockout stage

Mark Carey and Conor O'Neill Comments count 57

The routes the favourites must take to reach the 2026 World Cup final… and could Messi play Ronaldo?

Philip Buckingham Comments count 8

Pochettino's own World Cup scars fuel his passion for USA's 2026 approach

Paul Tenorio Comments count 14

Canada's World Cup draw means its group suspense and uncertainty will linger

Joshua Kloke Comments count 28

It’s time for America to dream the impossible World Cup dream

Ian O'Connor Comments count 63

'Lamine Yamal… he's not bad!' – watching the World Cup draw with the underdogs

Tom Burrows and Nick Miller

Cinderella Stories

The odds are stacked against New Zealand, the World Cup's lowest-ranked team. But they are chasing history

They are the giants of Oceania and averaged 6-0 wins in qualifying. Now they are chasing a first victory at their third World Cup finals

Michael Bailey Comments count 19

"What an adventure": How Curacao became the smallest ever nation to qualify for the FIFA World Cup

Laurie Whitwell Comments count 65

The miracle of Cape Verde

Nick Miller Comments count 49

Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan... What can we expect from a World Cup with more footballing minnows?

Nick Miller Comments count 39

You thought Scotland would flunk their big World Cup chance? You haven't met this Scotland team

Jordan Campbell Comments count 69

The Challenges

FIFA creates new World Cup ticket category, deepening suspicions of deception

Yet another twist in the 2026 FIFA World Cup ticketing saga has soured fans who feel duped about the process

Henry Bushnell Comments count 578

Infantino says Iran will play at World Cup, attends friendly in Turkey

Dan Sheldon Comments count 55

Trio of bills proposed to 'Save the World Cup' from ICE involvement

Adam Crafton Comments count 252

‘Everyone is pissed’: Congresspeople write to FIFA with ticket price, funding concerns

Henry Bushnell Comments count 249

Iran could boycott World Cup in wake of U.S. attacks, sports minister says

Henry Bushnell Comments count 275

What happens if Iran do not play at the World Cup?

Henry Bushnell Comments count 517

Getting There

Hotel prices in World Cup host cities surge by more than 300% after schedule confirmed

Research by The Athletic for two-night stays around World Cup games in the 16 host cities has revealed huge price hikes

Adam Crafton and Henry Bushnell Comments count 156

Five games, four cities, 16 days – plotting a dream World Cup group-stage itinerary

Felipe Cardenas Comments count 38

How to buy 2026 World Cup tickets after the draw sets the field

Henry Bushnell Comments count 56

2026 World Cup ticket costs jump; Here's where FIFA has raised prices

Henry Bushnell Comments count 227

FIFA's next 2026 World Cup cash cow: Exorbitant parking prices

Henry Bushnell Comments count 208

World Cup Merch

World Cup 2026 kits: Our favourites of Adidas' home jerseys, from Mexico to Germany to Argentina

Adidas have released their 'home' kits for the 2026 World Cup. So, what do our writers think?

Carl Anka, Caoimhe O'Neill and more Comments count 100

Trionda ... Adidas' new World Cup ball and everything you need to know about it

Melanie Anzidei and Nick Miller Comments count 69

Over-analysing the 2026 World Cup mascots: Zayu, Maple and Clutch

Nick Miller Comments count 49

USMNT's Brenden Aaronson, Chris Richards suffer injury scares 26 days before World Cup opener

Both players' head coaches seemed to indicate that the injuries to their American players were minor.

Henry Bushnell Comments count 45

Teachers in Mexico planning to strike during 2026 World Cup

Teachers are calling for reforms to wages, pensions and the country's education system.

Ali Rampling Comments count 130

FIFA Men's World Cup Collectibles

UNGRADED

2025 Prizm FIFA Club World Cup Man City RC Abdukodir Khusanov White Night SSP

1 available

$300.00

View Listing

GRADED

KARIM BENZEMA 2022 PANINI PRIZM WORLD CUP FIFA QATAR WHITE SPARKLE PSA 10

1 available

$399.00

View Listing

UNGRADED

2025 Panini Prizm FIFA Club World Cup Omar Marmoush Gold Glitter /10 Man City

1 available

$300.00

View Listing

GRADED

DAVID BECKHAM 2023-24 Select Premier League Signatures Silver Prizm Auto PSA 9

1 available

$399.95

View Listing

South Korea name World Cup squad: Jens Castrop call-up makes history

Castrop, who plays for Borussia Monchengladbach, had his international allegiance changed from Germany to South Korea in August 2025.

Leon Imber Comments count 12

Real Madrid announce captain Dani Carvajal will leave club this summer

The 34-year-old, a mainstay of Madrid's senior squad for the past 13 seasons, will leave the Spanish club as a free agent.

Guillermo Rai and Mario Cortegana Comments count 25

FIFA delegation set to meet Iran soccer officials for World Cup talks

The meeting is scheduled to take place in Istanbul, Turkey.

Ali Rampling Comments count 45

Auston Trusty interview: On Celtic's dramatic title run and his USMNT World Cup dreams

Ahead of Celtic's title decider against Hearts, Auston Trusty took The Athletic on a tour of his favourite places in Glasgow

Greg O'Keeffe Comments count 19

Tunisia name World Cup squad: AFCON captain Ferjani Sassi dropped

Burnley's Mejbri and Norwich City's Anis Ben Slimane are set to appear at their second World Cup after being selected on Friday.

Jessica Hopkins Comments count 1

FIFA drops World Cup referee after UK sexual assault investigation

Dutch official Rob Dieperink was due to be a VAR at the upcoming World Cup. The case against him has been closed, he said on Friday.

Dan Sheldon and Simon Hughes Comments count 48

Every country's 2026 World Cup squad: All 48 rosters as they get announced

The Athletic details which players have been picked to go represent their countries in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Jessica Hopkins Comments count 45

Ivory Coast name World Cup squad: Yan Diomande and Amad included, Nicolas Pepe earns recall

Ivory Coast were drawn into Group E, where they will face Ecuador, Germany, and World Cup debutants Curacao.

Nnamdi Onyeagwara Comments count 3

Chelsea's Levi Colwill included in England's 55-man provisional World Cup squad

Colwill, 23, has won five England caps so far, with only one of those coming under Tuchel.

Simon Johnson Comments count 16

Estevao to miss World Cup through injury after Brazil preliminary squad omission

Estevao suffered a grade four hamstring injury during Chelsea's Premier League loss to Manchester United in April.

Mario Cortegana Comments count 5

Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt out until next season after surgery on back injury

The surgery is expected to rule him out of being selected for the Netherlands' World Cup campaign this summer.

Mark Critchley Comments count 69

Belgium name World Cup squad: Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne included, several surprise omissions

Ajax talisman Mika Godts is among those to miss out, while veterans Thibaut Courtois and Axel Witsel are included.

Jordan Campbell Comments count 25

World Cup 2026 stadium guides: Welcome to New York New Jersey, hosting the final across the Hudson

The home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets will host the World Cup final next summer

Dean Jones Comments count 14

Japan name World Cup squad: Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma out of tournament with hamstring injury

The 28-year-old has been limited to just 27 appearances across all competitions for the south-coast club this season due to injuries.

Jacob Whitehead Comments count 15

Bernardo Silva interview: On being a bad loser, Guardiola's genius and why Arsenal needed to 'man up'

In a wide-ranging interview with The Athletic, Bernardo Silva reflects on titles, rivalries and being Pep Guardiola's 'favourite' player

Oliver Kay Comments count 332

Lowe's to sell 10-foot Lionel Messi inflatable yard decoration that vaguely looks like him

Is having a giant inflatable Messi in your yard the ultimate expression of World Cup madness?

Larry Holder Comments count 34

Shakira, Madonna and BTS will not be paid for World Cup final half-time show

The show at MetLife Stadium will be the first time in the tournament’s history that musical artists are performing at FIFA’s showcase event.

Dan Sheldon and Adam Crafton Comments count 58

U.S. State Dept. to waive $15k visa bond for World Cup. But will it really help players and fans?

On the surface, the waiving of visa bonds for players and ticket-holding fans seemed like good news. But how much has actually changed?

Adam Crafton Comments count 52

FIFA Men's World Cup

Croatia name World Cup squad: Luka Modric set for fifth tournament, Petar Musa included

World Cup Groups

Analyzing team strength at the 2026 World Cup: Is England in a 'Group of Death'?

Cinderella Stories

The odds are stacked against New Zealand, the World Cup's lowest-ranked team. But they are chasing history

The Challenges

FIFA creates new World Cup ticket category, deepening suspicions of deception

Getting There

Hotel prices in World Cup host cities surge by more than 300% after schedule confirmed

World Cup Merch

World Cup 2026 kits: Our favourites of Adidas' home jerseys, from Mexico to Germany to Argentina

More Stories

USMNT's Brenden Aaronson, Chris Richards suffer injury scares 26 days before World Cup opener

Teachers in Mexico planning to strike during 2026 World Cup

FIFA Men's World Cup Collectibles

South Korea name World Cup squad: Jens Castrop call-up makes history

Real Madrid announce captain Dani Carvajal will leave club this summer

FIFA delegation set to meet Iran soccer officials for World Cup talks

Auston Trusty interview: On Celtic's dramatic title run and his USMNT World Cup dreams

Tunisia name World Cup squad: AFCON captain Ferjani Sassi dropped

FIFA drops World Cup referee after UK sexual assault investigation

Every country's 2026 World Cup squad: All 48 rosters as they get announced

Ivory Coast name World Cup squad: Yan Diomande and Amad included, Nicolas Pepe earns recall

Chelsea's Levi Colwill included in England's 55-man provisional World Cup squad

Estevao to miss World Cup through injury after Brazil preliminary squad omission

Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt out until next season after surgery on back injury

Belgium name World Cup squad: Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne included, several surprise omissions

World Cup 2026 stadium guides: Welcome to New York New Jersey, hosting the final across the Hudson

Japan name World Cup squad: Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma out of tournament with hamstring injury

Bernardo Silva interview: On being a bad loser, Guardiola's genius and why Arsenal needed to 'man up'

Lowe's to sell 10-foot Lionel Messi inflatable yard decoration that vaguely looks like him

Shakira, Madonna and BTS will not be paid for World Cup final half-time show

U.S. State Dept. to waive $15k visa bond for World Cup. But will it really help players and fans?

FIFA Men's World Cup Teams