World Cup Run-Up: 50 questions with kickoff 50 days away

Our World Cup lookahead returns to look at the most important speaking factors heading into this summer time’s event. With the opening match precisely 50 days away, listed below are 50 questions surrounding the supersized occasion.

👉 Soar to: USMNT and Canada

When does the World Cup begin?

In 50 days! The motion begins June 11 when Mexico, one of many three co-hosts, meets South Africa on the iconic Estadio Azteca.

Why are there so many groups?

Cash, principally. FIFA president Gianni Infantino described the event’s enlargement to 48 nations – up from the 32-team format that had been in place since 1998 – as a solution to “open (soccer) to the world” so the game will be “sturdy in all places.” He is not mistaken, however we do not have to faux there is not one other very clear motivation.

How are the video games break up between co-hosts?

America will stage 78 of the event’s 104 matches. Neighbors Canada and Mexico will host 13 apiece. The U.S. will get each match from the quarterfinal stage onward.

It is a first, proper?

It certain is. That is solely the second time a number of nations have collaborated to host a males’s World Cup; Japan and South Korea break up internet hosting duties in 2002. The enlargement to 48 groups made all of it however unattainable for a single nation to deal with all of the logistics of internet hosting such a large world occasion.

⚽️ Guess on the World Cup with theScore Guess right here

The place are the video games being performed?

Sixteen cities may have video games this summer time.

United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas Metropolis, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Canada: Toronto and Vancouver.

Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico Metropolis, and Monterrey.

Do not among the venues use synthetic turf?

Eight of them, together with a number of of the NFL stadiums getting used for the event, have synthetic turf, however they are going to all set up “hybrid” pure grass surfaces for the World Cup.

When is the ultimate?

July 19 at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is ready for 3 p.m. ET.

Is there actually a halftime present?

You wager. The World Cup’s inaugural halftime present will likely be curated by Chris Martin. Coldplay’s frontman fulfilled the identical responsibility for final yr’s Membership World Cup closing, which featured J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly, and was seen as a check run for this summer time’s fundamental occasion.

Whether or not it is a game-changer or a foul gimmick stays to be seen.

How can I watch all this on TV?

Within the U.S., matches will proven on Fox and Fox Sports activities 1 (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish).

In Canada, the video games will likely be on TSN and CTV (English) and RDS (French).

Choose video games can even be obtainable on numerous streaming providers, together with Fubo, Peacock, and Sling TV. For the primary time, official broadcasters can present the primary 10 minutes of video games reside on their respective YouTube channels.

Hey, I heard you could possibly watch on TikTok?

Kind of. FIFA partnered with the short-form social media platform earlier this yr and stated sure content material creators can stream parts of video games on their channels. Particulars stay scarce, although.

Can I nonetheless get tickets?

Should you’re keen to pay a reasonably penny, sure.

FIFA’s ticketing course of has largely been a catastrophe so far, with numerous lotteries beset by tech points and apparently misleading seating charts. Amid reviews of lagging gross sales, FIFA made new ticket stock obtainable “for all 104 matches” Wednesday beginning at 11 a.m. ET. Seems they weren’t bought out in any case. Godspeed, everybody.

Why are tickets so costly?

Exorbitant pricing has arguably been the story surrounding the event within the months main as much as the opening match, with ticket costs hovering – usually into the hundreds – compared to earlier editions.

Within the face of widespread criticism, FIFA has defended its pricing mannequin, insisting it “displays the present market observe for main leisure and sporting occasions inside our hosts every day.”

Will stadiums be full?

Infantino continues to claim publicly that each one the matches will likely be bought out, however given the dimensions of some venues and, frankly, the matchups created by the expanded format, that appears not possible. Levi’s Stadium, for instance, seats almost 70,000 individuals and is slated to host a Group J conflict between Jordan and Algeria on June 22. I am … skeptical about that one, amongst others, being full.

What’s all this about adverts throughout video games?

For the primary time, each World Cup recreation may have mandated three-minute hydration breaks halfway by every half, whatever the climate or venue; even the indoor video games will pause. FIFA says it is for participant welfare. Detractors say it is an excuse for broadcasters to chop away to commercials.

So it may be … actually sizzling?

In lots of cities, sure. This was additionally a severe concern amongst gamers and FIFPro, the worldwide gamers’ union, throughout final summer time’s Membership World Cup, when temperatures soared within the USA. FIFA hopes the usage of a number of coated, air-conditioned stadiums this summer time will likely be a mitigating issue.

OK, in regards to the motion. Who’s the defending champion?

Argentina received the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, beating France 4-2 on penalties after an all-time basic closing. Solely two international locations – Brazil and Italy – have ever received consecutive World Cups, and it hasn’t occurred since 1962.

Who’re the favorites?

Reigning European champion Spain and 2022 World Cup finalist France are extensively considered because the groups to beat.

⚽️ Guess on the World Cup with theScore Guess right here

Who has probably the most World Cup wins?

Brazil leads the best way with 5 males’s titles, however the Selecao have not hoisted the trophy – or made the ultimate – since final profitable in 2002. Germany, sitting on 4 World Cup triumphs, can match Brazil’s complete.

What do the winners get?

Except for a coveted place within the annals of soccer historical past, the champions additionally get an enormous payday. FIFA’s record-breaking prize pool will distribute $655 million to the collaborating groups this summer time. The profitable facet takes residence $50 million, whereas the crushed finalist collects $33 million.

How far will the U.S. go?

Good query. The People have lofty targets, with midfielder Tyler Adams saying after December’s draw that his staff ought to set a “lifelike” goal of creating its deepest-ever event run. That may technically imply reaching the ultimate, because the U.S. did make the semifinals within the inaugural World Cup – when solely 13 groups took half – in 1930.

What occurred the final time the U.S. hosted?

The 1994 World Cup – the one the place Roberto Baggio fired an notorious penalty kick over the crossbar in Italy’s shootout loss to Brazil within the closing – was arguably probably the most transformative occasion in U.S. historical past for the expansion and recognition of soccer within the nation. The People made a shocking run to the spherical of 16, shedding to eventual champion Brazil.

What about Canada’s possibilities?

Canada is in search of its first World Cup level after shedding all six of its earlier matches. There’s rising optimism – and intense inside perception below head coach Jesse Marsch – that the Canadians cannot solely get their first level and first win, however safe a spot within the knockout stage.

And Mexico?

Mexico is perhaps probably the most mercurial of the co-hosts. El Tri’s finest World Cup showings have each come on residence soil, the place they reached the quarterfinals in 1970 and 1986. They’ve famously didn’t get past the spherical of 16 since. House cooking simply is perhaps the antidote.

Can the co-hosts play one another?

In the event that they attain the knockout levels, sure. There’s really a situation through which the U.S. and Canada might meet at Levi’s Stadium within the spherical of 32 on July 1 – Canada Day. For that to occur, the People would want to win their group, Canada must end third in its part, and numerous different tiebreakers would want to fall excellent throughout a number of different teams.

OK, so what do the teams seem like?

For an in depth breakdown of how every staff certified, faucet right here.

Wait a second, the place’s Italy?

For a 3rd consecutive World Cup, the Italians didn’t qualify; they misplaced to Bosnia and Herzegovina within the qualifying playoffs this time round. The president of the nation’s soccer federation, the staff’s head coach, and even iconic World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon all resigned from their roles with the nationwide staff after the most recent debacle.

Um, will Iran play?

Most definitely. Within the weeks because the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on the nation, Infantino has maintained that Iran will take part within the World Cup; most lately, the FIFA president stated Iran will “for certain” participate. This comes regardless of conflicting statements from Iranian officers on the matter and U.S. President Donald Trump telling the Iranian staff to not journey for the occasion as a consequence of security considerations.

Will anybody really boycott?

Regardless of rumblings of discontent, particularly from European nations, the prospect that any staff boycotts the World Cup are extraordinarily slim.

That stated, Trump’s journey bans could influence followers from 4 nations that certified for the World Cup: Haiti, Iran, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal. There are exceptions in place for athletes and staff officers, however supporters might face issues acquiring visas to enter america.

How does the group stage work?

From the 12 teams outlined above, the highest two finishers in every quartet advance to the knockout stage. They’re joined by the eight finest third-place groups to create the spherical of 32. If groups are tied on factors after they’ve every performed their three group-stage video games, the primary tiebreaker is objective distinction.

Who’re the brand new faces?

4 nations will likely be making their debuts: Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Curacao is the smallest nation by inhabitants (roughly 165,000) to ever play at a World Cup.

DR Congo, in the meantime, made its solely different World Cup look in 1974, when it competed as Zaire.

What are the must-watch video games?

The Group I contest between Kylian Mbappe’s France and Erling Haaland’s Norway (June 26) jumps off the web page. Listed here are another tantalizing group matchups:

June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco

June 14: Netherlands vs. Japan

June 17: England vs. Croatia

June 26: Uruguay vs. Spain

June 27: Colombia vs. Portugal

Will not a few of these video games be lopsided?

Nearly positively. We’re taking a look at you, Spain versus Cape Verde.

In case you are questioning, the biggest margin of victory in a males’s World Cup match is 9 targets. That is occurred thrice earlier than, with the standout outcome being Hungary’s 10-1 win over El Salvador in 1982. That is the one time a staff has scored 10 or extra targets in a single World Cup match.

Messi and Ronaldo are taking part in, proper?

Ronaldo will play barring damage. He is the all-time main scorer in males’s worldwide soccer, and his sixth World Cup will give him extra possibilities to proceed his quest to attain 1,000 profession targets. Portugal may perform higher as a staff with out him, however he’ll begin each recreation if match.

Messi has remained coy on his participation at any time when he is been requested, however he is anticipated to as soon as once more captain Argentina because the Albiceleste look to defend their crown.

Are they nonetheless the very best gamers on this planet?

They’re nonetheless world megastars, however they’re now not the unstoppable forces of nature that had a duopoly on the Ballon d’Or trophy for almost a decade in the course of the extended peak of their powers. Ronaldo, 41, and Messi, who turns 39 in the course of the World Cup, now ply their commerce in Saudi Arabia and Main League Soccer, respectively.

France’s Ousmane Dembele is the reigning Ballon d’Or winner because the presumptive “finest participant on this planet.” Mbappe, his compatriot, and 18-year-old Spanish sensation Lamine Yamal even have sturdy claims for that title.

Who’re the breakout stars to observe?

Yamal is just 18, however he is already established as one of many recreation’s most electrifying abilities.

A real breakout is, by definition, virtually unattainable to foretell, however children like Estevao (Brazil), Nico Paz (Argentina), Kenan Yildiz (Turkey), and Gilberto Mora (Mexico) are price monitoring this summer time.

Will any data be damaged?

Messi, who already owns the file for many World Cup matches performed, wants 4 targets to turn out to be the highest scorer in event historical past. He is sitting on 13 tallies. Germany’s Miroslav Klose is the present chief with 16.

Are any superstars lacking out?

Italy, Nigeria, and Cameroon had been among the many most shocking qualifying casualties, which implies the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Victor Osimhen, and Bryan Mbeumo will not be on the event. Poland’s failure to punch its ticket additionally robbed Robert Lewandowski of what would’ve been his closing World Cup look.

Extra gamers will be a part of the record of notable absentees as premature accidents strike and coaches make the robust decisions to omit sure gamers from their event rosters. Neymar, Brazil’s all-time main scorer, is in severe hazard of being not noted of the squad by supervisor Carlo Ancelotti, whereas England boss Thomas Tuchel has some huge selections to make concerning the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden.

When will squads be introduced?

Closing 26-man squads should be submitted to FIFA by Might 30. They’re going to be introduced June 1 in the event that they have not been already. Some groups have already confirmed their roster reveal dates; the U.S. will announce its World Cup squad Might 26.

Are there World Cup tuneup video games?

FIFA’s final worldwide window earlier than the World Cup runs June 1-9, giving groups their closing alternatives to fine-tune issues earlier than the event.

Is there a event mascot?

Every co-host has its personal anthropomorphic animal mascot, as a result of why would not they? Say howdy to Maple the Moose (Canada), Zayu the Jaguar (Mexico), and Clutch the Bald Eagle (United States).

They don’t have anything on Ciao from Italia 90, although.

USMNT and Canada 🇺🇸🇨🇦

How is the U.S. wanting?

It is a combined bag. The People put collectively an encouraging five-match unbeaten run to shut out 2025 – together with a 5-1 thumping of Uruguay – that made followers and pundits alike excited in regards to the prospects heading into the World Cup. Possibly Tyler Adams was proper to focus on the semifinals?

Effectively, maybe not. Sobering losses to Belgium and Portugal in March by a mixed rating of 7-2 served as a harsh actuality test, providing a reminder of the hole that the USMNT nonetheless must bridge to be able to make any severe noise this summer time.

What’s up with Pulisic?

Christian Pulisic, america’ finest and arguably most necessary participant, is in a severe stoop on the worst attainable time. The versatile AC Milan ahead hasn’t scored a objective for membership or nation since December and has only one help in that point. If he is not in kind, there is a particular ceiling on how far the U.S. can advance on the World Cup.

Who can choose up the slack?

Folarin Balogun, who performs his membership soccer for AS Monaco, is red-hot. The 24-year-old striker has discovered the online in eight consecutive league matches in France and, in doing so, probably solidified himself because the beginning No. 9 after Mauricio Pochettino went by a rotating solid of choices.

Weston McKennie, in the meantime, is having fun with an impressive season for Juventus and offers targets from midfield that might assist offset the struggles of Pulisic.

How will they line up?

Pochettino’s best success since taking the U.S. job has come when utilizing a fluid system that includes three center-backs, both in a 3-4-3 or 3-4-2-1 formation. That enables Pochettino to arrange with aggressive wing-backs with out forfeiting defensive solidity and offers his artistic attacking gamers extra freedom to seek out pockets of house in assist of a central striker. There are nonetheless some spots within the beginning XI to be determined, however it will be a shock – and possibly a mistake – to revert again to a four-man defensive system.

What does the schedule seem like?

The People play two extra pleasant matches earlier than their World Cup opener towards Paraguay on June 12. They’re going to tackle fellow World Cup participant Senegal on Might 31 earlier than assembly Germany on June 6.

How is Canada shaping up?

Targets, significantly from open play, proceed to be a priority; Canada’s scored simply 5 occasions in its final seven matches, and two of these had been penalties from Jonathan David in a 2-2 draw with Iceland. Canada has been stout defensively since Marsch took over and infrequently creates possibilities utilizing its aggressive high-pressing system, however really changing these alternatives into targets has been one other matter.

Cyle Larin, as soon as seemingly liable to being pushed to the fringes of the squad, is having fun with a late-season resurgence on mortgage at Southampton. If he carries his effective scoring kind into the summer time, it could possibly be troublesome to miss the veteran striker for a beginning berth.

Is Davies going to be wholesome?

Alphonso Davies hasn’t performed for Canada in over a yr after tearing his ACL in March 2025 after which coping with a number of hamstring points that hindered his eventual return to the pitch with Bayern Munich. The Canadian captain is now again at full pace with the German membership, nonetheless, and he makes Marsch’s staff extra explosive at any time when he is on the sphere.

What are the most important query marks?

Davies’ precise place stays up for debate – ought to he play left-back or increased up the pitch? – however that is a very good drawback for Marsch to have. Not so good: the uncertainty surrounding stud center-back Moise Bombito, who hasn’t performed since breaking his tibia in October.

Together with Davies and David, Bombito is one in every of Canada’s most necessary gamers, and his absence would go away a gargantuan gap within the coronary heart of the staff’s backline that no one else can appropriately fill.

Will Canada lastly win a recreation?

Canada will certainly get that monkey off its again this time, proper? The Canadians got here shut in 2022 – they need to have crushed Belgium of their opening match – however they’ve an incredible likelihood to get on the board this summer time. A bunch-stage encounter with Qatar has been circled because the draw was made, and although Bosnia and Herzegovina will likely be something however a straightforward contest, avoiding Italy must be thought-about a win for Canada’s total event hopes.

What does the schedule seem like?

Previous to its June 12 World Cup opener towards Bosnia, Marsch’s males will put together for the event with a pair of tuneup video games towards Uzbekistan (June 1) and Eire (June 5) in Montreal.

US: Should be 21+. Playing drawback? Name 1-800-GAMBLER; Hope is right here. Name (800)-327-5050 or go to gamblinghelplinema.org for twenty-four/7 assist (MA); Name 877-8-HOPENY or textual content HOPENY (467369) (NY).

ON: Please play responsibly. 19+. ON solely. Should you or somebody you already know has a playing drawback, name ConnexOntario 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. Textual content us at 247247 or chat with us at www.connexontario.ca.