The biggest World Cup ever is about to kick off with 48 teams playing 104 matches across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, transforming North America into the center of the soccer world for nearly six weeks.

Three nations − Canada, Mexico and the U.S. − will cohost 2026 FIFA World Cup teams, including debut teams Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe are among the players with records in their sights at this summer's tournament

From record-breaking crowds at iconic FIFA World Cup matches to scarcely attended games in the tournament’s early years, attendance figures reveal a fascinating side of soccer’s biggest event. Few events can rival the FIFA World Cup when it comes to drawing massive crowds.

The start of the World Cup is just days away, and last-minute tickets are still available for matches in the Miami metro area. Are they still pricey?

Mexico have already made history heading into the 2026 World Cup. They become the first nation in the tournament’s history to host or part-host the men’s World Cup, having previously held it in 1970 and 1986.

Throughout World Cup history, referees have frequently found themselves under the microscope for high-profile blunders on the biggest stage. We look back at some of the most infamous officiating disasters in tournament history.