Soccer fans, get ready for the FIFA World Cup! The biggest international soccer tournament returns this summer. Sixteen cities will host a total of 104 matches match a contest or game (noun) . These will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States (see map). The action starts with the opening match in Mexico City, on June 11. It ends with the championship match in New Jersey, on July 19.
The first World Cup was in 1930 (see “Soccer Tradition”). It has been held every four years since then, except during World War II, when it was canceled twice. The 2026 World Cup will be the 23rd edition of the tournament. It’s the first to be hosted by three countries. And it will be the first time since 1994 that World Cup matches will be played in the United States.
Thirty-two teams played in the last World Cup. This year’s tournament will include 16 more teams. That’s a total of 48 countries represented. It will be the biggest World Cup ever.
ON THE MOVE Marc Cucurella (right), of Spain, takes the ball at a World Cup qualifying game in November.
CRISTINA QUICLER—AFP/GETTY IMAGES
On the World Stage
Host cities have been preparing for the World Cup for years. They’re getting ready to welcome fans from around the world.
Six matches will be played in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s the smallest host city. Officials there expect 650,000 people to pass through. Among the national teams playing there is Argentina, champion of the 2022 World Cup.
LOOK BACK Lionel Messi (center) holds the best-player trophy at the World Cup in 2022. He’s Argentina’s captain.
JEAN CATUFFE—GETTY IMAGES
CELEBRATION Argentina’s national team celebrates its World Cup win in Qatar in December 2022.
STEPHEN NADLER—ISI PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES
Like other hosts, Kansas City is planning a Fan Festival. This will be a gathering spot for fans. They can grab food and watch the matches. They can celebrate together. To help everyone get around, extra buses will carry spectators and workers to stadiums and events. City leaders are also planning for added security.
Kansas City sees the World Cup as a chance to showcase its city to visitors from around the globe. “People here are so excited,” Pam Kramer told TIME for Kids. She’s CEO of KC2026. It’s the organization in charge of preparing Kansas City for the World Cup.
“We’ve never hosted a Super Bowl,” Kramer says. “We’ve never had the Olympics. So for us, the opportunity may be bigger than [for] some of the other host cities.”
Ready to Cheer
Young fans everywhere are excited for the World Cup. Tobias Oviedo is one of them. He’s played soccer since he was 3. Now he’s 11 and a midfielder midfielder a player positioned between the defenders and forwards (noun) on his team in Illinois. Tobias says that while watching matches, he’ll be paying attention to “good passes, good shots, and teamwork.” He’s ready to enjoy the experience. “I love seeing the players just play,” he says. “I just like soccer.”
Tobias will be rooting for Spain. It’s thought of as a strong team. Spain may have a good chance of winning the tournament. But anything can happen. What team will you be rooting for?
Soccer Tradition
The first FIFA World Cup took place in Uruguay in 1930. Thirteen teams competed. Most traveled there on a long journey by ship. Uruguay built a huge new stadium for the tournament.
Uruguay (the pictured team) defeated Argentina in the championship match. It was played in front of a crowd of nearly 70,000 fans. Uruguay became soccer’s first world champion. The country declared the following day a national holiday.
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