What do The Athletic's writers think of the World Cup? 'The ultimate sporting event'

The boys’s World Cup, the most important world occasion in sports activities historical past (48 groups, 104 matches in 16 cities over greater than 5 weeks), is coming to the U.S., Canada and Mexico in June and July.

The Athletic will cowl it like nobody else, with reporters at each sport and protection for each stage of fandom. In the event you’re an NFL or baseball fan in North America, questioning how one can expertise a event on dwelling soil, then don’t concern — we’ll have you ever lined. Solely care about how the US or Canada fare? Don’t fear, our consultants will maintain your hand and information you thru the dizziness of the event.

The boys’s World Cup is a event that draws sports activities followers who may not ordinarily comply with soccer all that carefully. So in that spirit, we requested a few of The Athletic’s writers who cowl different sports activities to share what they’re enthusiastic about.

Right here, Marcus Thompson, Ken Rosenthal, Michael Silver, Chantel Jennings, Bruce Feldman, John Hollinger and Hannah Vanbiber — co-author of our upcoming publication, the World Cup Briefing — clarify what they’re most wanting ahead to this summer time.

Be sure you don’t miss a factor by following the most effective of our 2026 males’s World Cup protection right here.

What does the World Cup imply to you?

Rosenthal: To me, the World Cup is the last word sporting occasion, the World Collection occasions 10, or much more. I performed soccer, was the final man on the bench for the worst high-school group in Lengthy Island — we went years with out profitable a sport. In highschool and faculty, I labored for the New York Cosmos ticket workplace when the group was in its glory. So, I can’t wait to see the World Cup performed within the U.S. Individuals unfamiliar with the game are about to search out out why so many name soccer the gorgeous sport.

Silver: It means five-and-a-half weeks of me, my spouse and our three grownup youngsters changing into immersed in and obsessive about the best males’s sporting occasion on the planet. Watching soccer’s best performers compete for nation is a thrill like no different; realizing how a lot it means — to the rivals, to the followers, to the annals of the game — makes the expertise elegant. That is very true when a compelling underdog (Croatia in 2018; any African nation, ever) has the potential to seize hearts and minds throughout the globe.

Feldman: As a result of soccer was a sport I didn’t play rising up and by no means adopted, the World Cup was barely on my radar until I used to be in my early 30s dwelling in NYC and would exit to bars with some pals who have been soccer followers — and I did just like the chants and the camaraderie you felt whereas watching a sport between two nations I had no rooting curiosity in. I acquired a bit extra into it as my son began enjoying membership soccer and I realized extra concerning the sport, however I’d be mendacity if I stated I’m an enormous fan of the game. However I’ve realized to love the game an increasing number of and normally find yourself watching all of the worldwide tournaments, like I acquired sucked into Copa America in 2024.

Thompson: It’s a possibility to dive into the world’s hottest sport, with maybe the best stakes in sports activities, and basically change into extra united with the world on this method. The World Cup is sports activities on PEDs. It has every thing that makes sports activities distinctive and addictive. And as an American, it typically seems like we’re disadvantaged of the excellence of soccer. Much less so now, as fashionable media affords us extra entry, however we’re nonetheless relative outsiders to the game in the identical method the remainder of the world is to the NFL or NBA. So it’s particular to be lively members in such a lovely and dramatic sport.

Hollinger: The perfect sports activities event on the planet, whatever the makes an attempt FIFA makes to mess it up. It’s the Olympics meets the NCAA Match, the place a small nation can nonetheless have their One Shining Second even when we all know one of many bluebloods will win the entire thing, besides as a substitute of once-every-four-year sports activities like gymnastics or determine skating, it’s the most well-liked sport on this planet.

Jennings: Although I wasn’t a lot of a soccer participant, my household grew to become a soccer household when my youthful sister acquired concerned and in the end performed in faculty, and I additionally married right into a soccer household, so I’m surrounded by devoted followers and thru osmosis, I’ve soaked up rather a lot. However for anybody who hasn’t watched (or married right into a household filled with soccer followers), soccer is the last word “change into a fan in 90 minutes or much less” sport and the World Cup is the gorgeous sport on its greatest stage — profitable a world championship and really profitable a world championship (not that different sport or league would declare such a factor…).

I really like the best way sports activities can draw followers in with this type of revelry and rivalry, and witnessing good competitors can immediately make any sports activities fan invested. Having the ability to be swept up into that throughout the World Cup shall be not like anything.

Vanbiber: I performed soccer briefly in center college and was absolute trash, so I didn’t comply with it a lot till I studied overseas (maintain your groans, please!) within the UK throughout my junior 12 months of school. It was there that I went to my first match and spent downtime in pubs cheering alongside to the Premier League. Just a few years later, I moved to NYC in time for the 2014 males’s World Cup, and it was really magical watching it from a metropolis the place practically each nation within the event has an enormous, built-in fanbase. I ended up pulling for Brazil after the U.S. was out, and I cried after they misplaced to Germany. Then, a 12 months later, the U.S. ladies gained! After which they gained once more in 2019! The power in NYC throughout these World Cups was unforgettable and unmatched.

The World Cup Briefing, a fast rundown of updates and insights for each fan — daily of the event. Join right here.

What’s the query about soccer that you simply’ve all the time questioned and by no means requested?

Rosenthal: How additional time is calculated!

Silver: Why the hell the powers that be would permit VAR (video assistant referees) to infiltrate the game in such a complete method? I can see utilizing it for goal rulings (did the ball cross the objective line?… did it carom off a defender’s hand?), however the overreach is nauseating. Hey, let’s play God and determine whether or not a full-speed sort out was really worthy of a PK, or not. Terrible. Play on.

Feldman: There’s two issues that all the time bugged me about soccer: all of the flopping and stoppage time. At occasions, among the damage faking seems like 70s WWF.

I get that there generally is a yellow card given out for the faking. I hardly ever see it within the video games I watch. So, why don’t they provide out extra yellow playing cards to discourage it? Additionally, due to all of the theatrics, and so forth, you’ve gotten this guessing sport that goes after 90 minutes. In a single sense, I feel that ramps up the angst of the sport’s ending however we don’t do that in different sports activities — wait, am I answering my very own query?

Thompson: Why can’t gamers who sub out can’t come again in? It’s extra an irritation than a query. I get endurance is a tenet of the game. However is that also not so if the most effective can relaxation for 5 minutes? With the rate and depth, the product could be higher if resting have been allowed. Stars might be more energizing for the waning moments. Or be on the sphere. Nothing extra irritating than a key participant subbing out and now the backup who finally ends up enjoying probably the most vital minutes in additional time. A group’s depth (and thus, roster development) issues extra when gamers can relaxation.

Hollinger: Why do they all the time use their subs on the forwards when the wingbacks are those doing all of the operating? I’ve requested a pair individuals who really work in soccer this query and was by no means completely happy with the reason I heard.

Jennings: If gamers are going to put on their socks over their knees, why don’t they simply put on leggings as a substitute? Feels extra handy by way of entry to the shin guards.

Vanbiber: Dumb query that’s truthfully my most burning one: How badly does it damage after they do this victory slide on their knees? And don’t inform me “if the grass is moist sufficient, it doesn’t damage.” I simply dislocated a kneecap from simply excited about it!

What are you most wanting ahead to throughout the World Cup?

Rosenthal: Seeing the occasion sweep over our nation in metropolis after metropolis. And the reactions of followers from totally different nations, optimistic and unfavorable. The emotion is at such a fever pitch, going nicely past what we expertise even for a championship even within the U.S.

Silver: Mexico lastly making some noise within the knockout spherical! (Hey, I do know it’s not going… however a Californian can dream.)

Feldman: My son turned me on to Erling Haaland just a few years again. He’s my favourite soccer participant. There are just a few uncommon athletes who simply appear that rather more dynamic than everybody else on the sphere which you could’t take your eyes off them. That’s him. He’s a goal-scoring machine. I really like watching him play. Because it’s been over 1 / 4 century since Norway has made the World Cup, I’m fired as much as see how he and his nation do after such a protracted drought.

Norway’s Erling Haaland might be one of many stars of the World Cup (Terje Pedersen / NTB / AFP through Getty Photographs)

Thompson: Two issues. One, watching the most effective play when it issues most. You actually get to see how good the elite soccer gamers are on this pressure-cooker of a event. Two, discovering some baller that true soccer followers already know. So once I discuss to my worldwide pals, I can act like I do know one thing.

Hollinger: Christian Pulisic. Lots has been heaped on him to principally be the savior of American soccer, or a minimum of the man who drags us as much as the extent of the higher European sides, and whereas he’s been our greatest participant when wholesome, he’s additionally been injured rather a lot and, in what must be his prime, hasn’t discovered the web as soon as in his final 19 video games. Can he be The Man who lifts the U.S. to the highest of a winnable group, or is he Only a Man?

Jennings: Very similar to faculty college students coming dwelling from research overseas and saying they spent a semester in Barcelona, I a lot look ahead to the Individuals spending the subsequent month and a half saying fútbol as a substitute of soccer. However actually, I’m simply excited to look at soccer with family and friends. My husband has been planning yard viewing events for months and there’s a improbable soccer bar in St. Paul (shout out, Black Hart) that can definitely host among the greatest watch events within the Twin Cities.

Vanbiber: That second of discovery. Perhaps it’s a participant you barely knew about who captures your pleasure, or an underdog nation profitable a match and the world’s coronary heart, or only a magnificent play that defies the legal guidelines of physics and sends you down a rabbit gap studying every thing you may about how soccer works. That’s the magic of sports activities fandom: Discovering you’re keen on one thing you simply realized about, or discovering a brand new surge of ardour for one thing you’ve all the time cherished. There’s nothing prefer it!

I’m additionally actually wanting ahead to seeing the phenom that’s Lamine Yamal. (Please recuperate rapidly!)

What’s your prediction for the way the US/Canada will fare?

Rosenthal: I don’t know. Don’t comply with it carefully sufficient.

Silver: I bear in mind in ‘94 when the host U.S. group made some noise, acquired to the knockout spherical and performed Brazil powerful on the Fourth of July. Thirty-two years’ price of growth later, the Individuals ought to, in concept, be higher positioned to achieve the next stage. Spoiler alert: They aren’t. Something can occur, and it’s all the time a bonus enjoying at dwelling, however the U.S. group nonetheless lacks the kind of game-changers that elite soccer nations possess. As for Canada, man it’s going to be powerful for them to make a run. Nevertheless, getting out of the group stage (below the revamped format) is a sensible objective.

Feldman: Group D (the U.S.’ group) isn’t precisely a gauntlet. There are not any powerhouse groups to concern. The USA is sixteenth in FIFA rankings and their odds with the house assist solely enhance expectations that rather more. Getting out of the group stage is a should. I feel advancing within the knockout stage is an inexpensive hope.

How deep into the World Cup can Christian Pulisic and the U.S. group go? (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs)

I feel Canada will make some noise, profitable Group B, which is kinda meh, and get to remain in Vancouver and win one other sport earlier than the competitors ramps up an excessive amount of.

Thompson: I’m predicting the U.S. males will spark a nationwide dialog, led by embarrassed former soccer gamers, about what it can take to compete with the most effective on this planet. They’ll both disappoint and never make the knockout rounds, or make it and stumble upon the ceiling of their expertise. Both method, American exceptionalism shall be triggered and we are going to search our souls for why we are able to’t win the world’s greatest sport. After which most of us will overlook about it till it’s time to look our souls once more in 2030.

Hollinger: I as soon as had hopes that this era of gamers might take the U.S. to a quarterfinal or additional; now that appears a extra real looking hope for 2030. At this level, I simply hope the USA could make it out of the group stage and perhaps win as soon as within the knockout spherical. This ain’t the 2008 squad, it appears, so something past that’s gravy. I’ll add one additional hope, that we aren’t compelled to revisit our worst earlier World Cup humiliation by enjoying Iran within the knockout spherical, which is technically doable.

Jennings: To cite my three-year-old each time we ask about any vegetable: Pwobably, not gweat.

Vanbiber: Placing on my Critical Analyst hat. I predict the USMNT will make it out of the group stage and win the primary knockout match.

Placing on my Soccer Fan hat. I predict the USMNT wins a quarterfinal match! And makes it to the semifinals for the primary time within the fashionable World Cup period! Something can occur if you make it to the knockout stage, of us! God forbid now we have a bit hope!

What’s your hope for the event?

Rosenthal: That it takes the recognition of soccer in our nation to a different stage.

Silver: I imply, the final males’s World Cup was fairly nice, so it’s arduous to be overly demanding. I might get pleasure from: VAR having as little an affect as doable; Mexico doing one thing particular; Croatia making another run; an African nation (or nations) making the quarterfinals, or going even additional; no American participant doing the ‘Trump Dance’; guests to the U.S. being handled with grace, kindness and dignity.

Feldman: My hope for the event is that we see the most effective of soccer and the spirit of it, and that we come away from it remembering the soccer and never one thing else.

Thompson: That some participant from an unlikely group turns into a global hero for his or her nation and a world star. {That a} actually good man with an awesome story and a way of objective has the event of his life and goes dwelling with the affect to affect lives.

Hollinger: That no additional FIFA humanitarian awards are given out in the middle of the event, and that we’re allowed to benefit from the soccer as a lot as doable with out occasions within the exterior world intruding.

Jennings: As with all sporting occasions, I’ll go into it with my baseline hope: For good storylines and no accidents. Past that, it’d be good for the video games to be determined by the gamers — and never refs or VAR.

Vanbiber: That is going to sound hopelessly naive, however there’s something about these world sporting occasions that provides the style, nonetheless fleeting, of world unity. Shared celebration. We’re all watching the identical matches collectively, all going by means of the identical emotions of elation and devastation and hope and perception. I hope that this 12 months, regardless of every thing, we reignite that sense of unity.

Oh, additionally: I hope we see a variety of kneecap-defying victory slides.