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.

Just under eight years after the United States, Canada and Mexico won a historic joint bid to host the FIFA World Cup, it is finally time to kick things off. Here is everything soccer fans in New Jersey need to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup: 1.

All of the pretournament noise will be drowned out by events on the pitch when the 2026 World Cup finally -- finally! -- kicks off on Thursday.

The FIFA World Cup returns to North America for the first time since 1994. The 48-team event kicks off in Mexico on Thursday and then in Canada and the United States on Friday. All three host countries come into the tournament with high hopes to make a deep run into the knockout round.

The World Cup is staging seven games in the Boston area during its 2026 tournament. Here's what to do and explore in the city.

This year’s edition of the World Cup will be the biggest ever with an expanded field of 48 teams, three host countries and 16 stadiums staging the record 104 matches over the 39-day tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off Thursday at noon in Mexico City with Mexico taking on South Africa. Later that evening, South Korea will play Czechia in Guadalajara, Mexico. On Friday, the other two co-hosts will hit the field for the first time,

FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule: The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the largest ever with 48 teams. Hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the tournament runs from June 11 to July 19. A new format includes 12 groups and a Round of 32 knockout stage.