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9 reasons to watch the 2026 World Cup

From ticket prices to political tensions, some of the biggest stories of this year’s cup are playing out off the field.

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When I was 10, my dearest wish was to become Mia Hamm. Decades have passed, and I write a newsletter, so you can see what all became of that.

Still, when the FIFA World Cup rolls around, I dust off my seldom-used soccer knowledge and check which local bars are streaming matches. The tournament is the largest, most-watched single-sport event in the world — a cultural, economic, and geopolitical phenomenon with ripples far beyond mere athletics. And this year’s tournament, hosted jointly by the US, Mexico, and Canada, has been especially bedeviled by questions of accessibility, safety, and fairness.

This morning, we’re previewing some of the players, teams, issues, and controversies that could define this year’s tournament, which kicks off at 3 pm ET, when Mexico plays South Africa. (The first American game will be tomorrow, June 12, when the US team plays Paraguay in Los Angeles.)

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