This summer marks the 98th anniversary of the first World Cup, which was held in Uruguay, and you probably won’t be surprised to learn that the tournament has changed a lot over the years.1. FIFA

The 2026 FIFA World Cup finally gets underway this week, and you can follow all of the latest breaking news before Thursday’s opening group-stage game with The Athletic. We’d also love to hear from you before Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday. Get in touch by emailing live@theathletic.com.

Brazil and Portugal will play World Cup group-stage matches in Miami as they look to kick-start a run to a world championship.

World Cup opener faces storms in Mexico, as heat builds across U.S. games, with Texas matches topping 90°F.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on Thursday, and 48 nations will compete for the biggest prize on the planet. Whether you're a die-hard supporter who has been counting down the days since the last whistle in Qatar 2022,

A ball that needs to be charged before every match and can assist VAR on offsides calls? Say hello to the Trionda.

FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a record 48 teams for the first time, replacing the traditional 32-team format and expanding the tournament to 104 matches. The new structure includes 12 groups of four teams,

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just days away. For the first time in its 96-year history, the FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches among 48 teams. And 72 of these matches will be played in the group stage,