The 2026 World Cup is set to be a historic tournament, unlike any that have come before it. Expanded to 48 teams for the first time and spread across three countries - the United States, Canada and Mexico - it promises to be the biggest spectacle in the competition’s near-100-year history.
The World Cup is now just a few hours away, with teams currently making their final preparations for the tournament in North America. The stage is set for a whole host of players to make themselves national heroes, including some of the most exciting youngsters in the game today.
The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. Over the course of the next week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.
It's so close you can almost touch it. After years of build-up, the 2026 World Cup will kick-off on Thursday when co-hosts Mexico face off against South Africa in a repeat of the opening game from 2010. Over the next five-and-a-half weeks, records will be broken and legacies rewritten as a number of modern greats do battle to win the most recognisable trophy in all of sport.
Santiago Gimenez failed to register a single Serie A goal for AC Milan during the 2025-26 campaign, with legendary Mexican striker Jared Borgetti explaining his fellow countryman’s struggles to GOAL. Despite enduring a tough time at club level, leading to inevitable transfer talk, the 25-year-old forward is still looking forward to starring at a home World Cup finals.
Mexico enter the World Cup opener unbeaten in 2026, with Raul Jimenez chasing a full-circle moment, Brian Gutierrez rising and Rafa Marquez’s role growing.
FIFA has announced a significant protocol modification that will see every squad member take part in the pre-match national anthems at the upcoming World Cup. Moving away from traditional sporting custom, football's global governing body has mandated that both starting line-ups and substitutes congregate together on the pitch ahead of kick-off.
Mexico recovered from an early scare in Toluca to overwhelm Serbia, with Alvaro Fidalgo and Brian Gutierrez among the standouts as El Tri wrapped up their World Cup preparations in style.
With Mexico’s World Cup opener against South Africa looming, El Tri’s friendly vs Serbia gives Javier Aguirre one last chance to settle his XI, sharpen the attack and answer key questions around Alvaro Fidalgo, Alexis Vega, Roberto Alvarado, and Guillermo Ochoa.
The World Cup has had no shortage of iconic moments across nearly 100 years of history. Every four years, billions of fans congregate to watch a tournament that has provided more drama, heartbreak and joy than any other event in sporting history. Football's grandest stage, the World Cup has always offered a platform for legends to be born, but it has also seen reputations destroyed and the downfall of so many famous faces.
Johan Vazquez scored and delivered Mexico's best performance as El Tri edged Australia 1-0 at the Rose Bowl. GOAL rates every player after an uneven display that offered Javier Aguirre valuable World Cup roster clues ahead of his final squad announcement.
A new study reveals the average Airbnb cost in all 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kansas City ranks as the most expensive destination for fans, while Guadalajara offers the best value. Here's how accommodation prices compare across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and what supporters can expect to pay during the tournament.
Guillermo Ochoa spoke to GOAL about his dream of chasing a record sixth World Cup, hoping to add one final chapter to a career defined by iconic saves, resilience, and Mexican pride.
FIFA has confirmed the key dates and squad regulations for the 2026 World Cup. Nations must submit their final player lists by June 1, with strict rules in place regarding injuries, replacements and goalkeeper selections.
Mexico face Australia at the Rose Bowl in a key World Cup tuneup as Javier Aguirre weighs final roster decisions before El Tri unveil their 26-man squad.
Brian Gutierrez’s growing role, Raul Rangel’s No. 1 case, and Edson Alvarez’s fitness are among the key storylines as Mexico face Ghana in Puebla on Friday. GOAL looks at five keys to watch in El Tri’s first pre-World Cup friendly.
World Cup fans could face some of the highest game-day costs at Levi’s Stadium, MetLife Stadium and SoFi Stadium, adding to already expensive tickets. Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., ranked as the most expensive of the 16 venues, with fans spending $34.24 for one beer and one basic meal, according to new research by SeatPick.
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