The World Cup Starts Next Month. Here's Everything You Need To Know.

The traffic in cities pauses and entire countries hold their breath at the same time. And suddenly, a sport that in America is just another little league alternative becomes the center of the world. That’s the effect of the FIFA World Cup. It's a global phenomenon, and with North America hosting it this summer, it’s about to feel a lot closer to home.

So if you’ve ever felt like soccer (or football, as the rest of the world calls it) just wasn’t your thing, consider this your invitation. Because once you understand it and see its magic, you can’t really unsee it.

To quote Bill Shankly, "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I can assure them it’s much more serious than that."

Why the World Cup Is Unlike Anything Else

Most of the time, the best soccer players in the world are scattered across elite club teams. There’s Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Real Madrid, just to name a few. All composed of the most expensive players and they compete year round to defend their club’s titles. That’s the usual business of soccer, but the World Cup changes everything.

For one month, soccer suddenly operates like the Olympics. Players leave behind their clubs and the loyalties that come with it and return to their home countries to represent something far more personal: their culture and their national pride.

This is what makes the World Cup different. It’s about more than just athleticism and skills. It’s about unity and belonging.

A Brief History

The first World Cup was held in 1930, and since then it has grown into the most watched sporting event on the planet. Back then, it only included 13 teams: 7 South Americans, 2 North Americans, and 4 Europeans. Later, countries started to compete to qualify and the best 32 countries competed at the World Cup. This year, for the first time, it will expand to include 48 countries. 

This expansion has sparked debate.

On one hand, it allows more countries, especially smaller or developing soccer nations, to participate on the global stage. On the other hand, critics argue it could dilute the level of competition. That means, imagine a country like Curaçao (which has approximately 160,000 people) sending their best players to compete against Germany (approx. 84 million people). Their sample of best players comes from a much smaller pool, and therefore might not be as competitive. Nonetheless, this argument has been proven somewhat weak in terms of the World Cup, as countries like Croatia which has about the same population as the city of Houston has dominated the field and proven to be amongst the best national teams in the world, winning silver and bronze medals in 2018 and 2022, respectively. 

What cases like Croatia have proven is that a country’s population is sometimes irrelevant and what matters instead is the country’s soccer culture; which is reflected in the quality of their soccer schools, the funding they receive (public and private), and the overall support they get. I would even say, this creates the aura and that’s a crucial and powerful tool to win. Countries know this, which is why some create their own hype songs that sound more like war cries, rallying soldiers ready to give everything for their country and the people they represent.

Here are France's and Portugal’s official songs in case you’d like to hear for yourself. 

In many ways, this situation actually makes things more exciting for everyone and opens the doors to countries that have never before participated. So could a country like Curaçao beat Germany? We’ll find out on June 14th when these two countries face each other in Houston.

Ultimately, this change from 32 to 48 participant countries means more teams, more stories, more underdogs, and more unexpected moments for the 2026 World Cup. 

The Beauty of the Game

Unlike many elite sports pipelines, soccer is extremely accessible. You often only need a ball, a little space, and a few teammates, but sometimes not even that. As a consequence of this, socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to be a barrier of entry and players from every corner of the world are welcomed.  

Some of the biggest stars in the world came from almost nothing.

Take Luis Díaz, for example. When he first joined a professional team, coaches were concerned not about his talent, but his weight. He had grown up in poverty and was undernourished, unfamiliar with consistent meals. It wasn’t until he was drafted near his hometown in Colombia that he started eating three meals per day. Today, he plays at the highest level and earns millions, a transformation that feels almost impossible until you realize how common stories like his are in this sport.

Or Sadio Mané, who left home at 15 to chase his soccer dreams, which seemed unrealistic at best. He went on to become one of the greatest players of his generation, and then used his success to give back, building schools and hospitals in Senegal and supporting families in his hometown. Mané went viral in 2020 when he was making 100k per week and photos revealed that he had a cracked iPhone. When asked why he didn’t replace it he said: 

"Why would I want ten Ferraris, twenty diamond watches and two jet planes? What would that do for the world?"

And we can’t talk about the World Cup without mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo. The son of a maid and a somewhat absent father who struggled with alcoholism. In an interview, Cristiano mentioned to Piers Morgan that he used to go to McDonald’s during closing hours to beg for food and an employee would feed him. Cristiano recently broke the record of the wealthiest sportsman and the first ever billionaire soccer player. 

Then there’s the Croat Luka Modrić, who spent his childhood as a refugee of the Balkan War. Soccer became an escape from the air raid sirens, the fear of landmines, the sound of bullets, and the grief of having family members murdered. Even after proving his talent, he struggled to join a professional team due to the fact that he is considered somewhat short and skinny, but Luka says that the mental resilience he developed as a kid in a war zone gave him the strength to persist. Now, he is undoubtedly one of the best players of his generation.

Largely due to these backgrounds, it is a common thing to hear soccer players say that their ultimate dream is to buy homes for their mothers. And for many of us, the joy of the World Cup is to witness the dreams of these little kids come true. 

Here is a phone call between Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona and his mother after he won the 1986 World Cup:

But enough about the players for now, here's what you need to know to understand the game.

How the Tournament Actually Works

If you’ve ever tried to watch the World Cup and felt completely lost, you’re not alone. The structure can feel confusing at first, but once you understand it, it becomes part of the fun.

Here’s the simple version:

• Group Stage: Teams are divided into groups and play round-robin matches (everyone in the group plays each other).

• Points System:

• Win = 3 points

• Draw = 1 point

• Loss = 0 points

• The top teams from each group advance.

From there, it becomes a knockout tournament. You either win or go home.

A match lasts 90 minutes, with a halftime and one water break in each 45 minute section of the game, plus added time at the end to make up for time lost due to pauses. If it’s a knockout game and ends in a draw, it goes to extra time, but if time runs out and there’s no winner, penalties come in. This is one of the most nerve-wracking experiences in sports.

The sense of thrill drives everything in the World Cup. Once the ball is rolling it only stops due to a goal, a foul, or if they run out of time. This makes the eyes of the viewer follow the ball as if hypnotized while hoping for a goal. But it’s never that simple. Players are humans and are experiencing an incredible emotional load and if they allow the nerves, the frustration, or the excitement to get to them they can ruin the game. Sometimes the game gets dirty and players intentionally offend other players in order to get to their head and weaken them. 

That’s when yellow and red cards come in and they appear in almost every game. Yellow cards are a warning and red cards mean expulsion from the game. This is not only a punishment for the player, but also for their team who must continue the game outnumbered as the expelled player cannot be replaced. Two yellow cards equal a red card. 

Famously, during the 2006 World Cup Final Zidane (France’s top scorer and undisputed best player of that particular tournament) got a red card for head-butting an Italian player and didn’t get to finish the last game in his career. Many cried watching Zidane walk out the field for the last time with a red card and it’s said that this is the reason Italy won the World Cup in 2006.

Some blame Zidane for letting his emotions get to him. Others sympathize with him as it became clear that the Italian player was verbally provoking him by insulting his sister. Either way, the moment is now commemorated with a bronze statue in Paris. 

The Ronaldo vs. Messi Era And Its Final Chapter

Even if you don’t follow soccer, you’ve probably heard the names: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. For nearly two decades, they’ve defined the sport and inspired a whole new generation. They have different styles, different personalities, but the same relentless pursuit of greatness. Fans have debated them endlessly: Who is better? Who is more capable? Who is the greatest of all time? Discussing this is like discussing what came first, the chicken or the egg. It’s partially pointless but certainly interesting. 

The impact and influence of these two players is so big that many of the players they’ll face in the World Cup are players who grew up watching them. Famously, France’s striker Kylian Mbappé had so many posters of Cristiano in his room that it looked more like wallpaper than posters. Mbappé’s mother even shared that her son used to refer to himself as Portuguese instead of French due to wanting to be everything Cristiano is. Mbappé is still one of Cristiano’s biggest fans even though he led France to a World Cup victory in 2018, an accomplishment Cristiano is still chasing. 

And then there’s Spain’s young and upcoming star Lamine Yamal who won a contest as a baby and had some photos taken of Messi bathing him. There’s a running joke now that he received Messi’s baptism into soccer and that’s what made him so gifted. Did it ever cross Messi’s mind that he would one day play in the same field as this baby? Well, they’ll face each other at the 2026 World Cup. 

Argentina (Messi’s team) won the last World Cup, and that’s the only trophy missing in Cristiano’s large collection. Cristiano has stated that he plans to win the World Cup and retire happily ever after. So, will he? Or will Messi defend his title? We’ll have to watch and see, maybe neither will get to touch the trophy. Anything could happen. 

But regardless of who wins, we are witnessing their final appearances on this stage.

That matters not just because of who they are, but because of what they represent. An era is ending and whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, there’s something meaningful about watching greatness in its final chapter. This World Cup marks the end of many successful careers. In addition to Messi and Ronaldo, we are also saying goodbye to Croatia’s Modrić, Colombia’s James, Mexico’s Ochoa, France's N'Golo Kante, and Egypt's Mohammed Salah, among a few others. 

Rising Stars and New Faces

While legends say goodbye, the World Cup is also where new stars are born.

This year, there’s particular excitement around a new generation including teenagers stepping onto the world stage, some as young as 16. There’s rumors that England’s 16-year-old Max Dowman will join the national team as he recently made headlines for becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history. Could you imagine showing up to school on Monday after breaking this record? And then there’s Bosnia’s 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegović, who, despite his youth, seems to have the full trust of his older teammates. He was designated for the penalty shootout and helped Bosnia, against all odds, eliminate Wales and Italy in the race to the 2026 World Cup. Could they be the next Cristiano and Messi? Only time will tell. 

Underdogs, Miracles, and Who Will Win?

If you want one example of why people love this tournament, look no further than the 2022 FIFA World Cup. That year, Morocco entered as an underdog and few expected them to go far. Yet they went on to become the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals. A historic run that united not just a country, but an entire region. Even though Wales did not qualify to this year's World Cup, their story needs to be told. They’ve only qualified twice, first in 1958 and then 2022. You can only imagine the thrill, emotion, and responsibility those players felt. This moment was beautifully commemorated with a TV commercial featuring Cliff Jones, the last surviving player from the 1958 squad and who in his nineties still works as an ambassador for the Welsh team and attends most games.  

The thing about the World Cup is that anything can happen. We can root for our country, the experts can run their numbers, but none of it guarantees a thing. The laws of physics themselves get put to the test.

Scientists have studied how Cristiano Ronaldo seems to hang in the air long enough to score with his head. They've analyzed how Brazil's Roberto Carlos curved a free kick around the defensive wall and into the goal, a strike that seemed to defy physics. The math doesn't add up, so some think God must've heard the fans' prayers, or that these soccer icons are superhumans. In physics, this kind of seemingly impossible feat is explained by the Magnus Effect, and I can't wait to watch these players bend the rules of nature in front of our eyes again.

Currently France, Portugal, Argentina, and Spain are considered the most likely to win. Portugal is largely fueled by Cristiano’s leadership and his hunger to close his career with a World Cup trophy. It’s a now or never situation. And the Portuguese team already said they are dedicating the tournament to their teammates Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva who died in a car accident last year. And Spain won the 2024 European Cup, which has led many to believe that this continues to be the leading European team.

Why It All Matters

You don’t have to grow up with soccer to feel the pull of the World Cup. Because at its core, it’s not really just about the sport. It’s about hope, opportunity, sportsmanship, and patriotism. All at its best. And the rare, beautiful, and fleeting experience of the world paying attention to the same thing at the same time. More specifically, an estimated 5 billion people engaged in the 2022 World Cup and 1.5 billion watched the final match.

Players are aware of this. That’s why at the 2014 World Cup, the Colombian national team agreed to line up and dance traditional Colombian dances to celebrate every time they scored. They did this because in those brief moments they had the eyes of the world on them and they used the opportunity to showcase their culture and invite others to join in celebration. 

And while the World Cup is all about competition, soccer can bring out the best of humans. Like the time a whole stadium in Liverpool, England sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to Cristiano Ronaldo who had just lost a son at birth. Singing this hymn is something often reserved for the Liverpool players and fans as a sign of union and empathy amongst the club, but Ronaldo was playing for Manchester United, the rival team. Nonetheless, the stadium erupted in unison in the 7th minute of the game. 7 is Cristiano’s jersey number and the reason he is often called CR7. 

Or the time when both sides of the field cheered and consoled Brent Stevens, a young Belgian goalkeeper who debuted in the field only days after his dad passed away. Or the time Neymar, Brazil’s top striker at the time, visited children with cancer at a Brazilian hospital and one of the kids showed him a particular dance he would like him to do after scoring. Neymar scored the goal and the Brazilian team joined in celebration. 

The World Cup is all about moments like this. 

How to Watch it

If you've ever felt like soccer wasn't for you, this is the moment to reconsider. Hopefully by now you have a better grasp of the rules and overall logistics. But even if you don't, I'm telling you to take the leap and let the game pull you in.

I think it's best watched in good company. Some countries even host public viewings and open-air screenings so fans can cheer on their teams together, so if that's available to you, take the opportunity! House parties are ideal too. If you're attending or hosting one, just remember the golden rule: keep the chatter brief while the ball is rolling, and crank the volume way up when someone scores.

On average, you can expect anywhere from zero to three goals over the course of a ninety-minute game, and every single one is the result of extreme speed, skill, and sometimes a little bit of luck. Some of us think the best of these goals belong in a museum. Personally, I'd hang this beauty from England's Harry Kane:

If you'd like to learn more, I highly recommend the Captains of the World documentary on Netflix. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the captains of the teams competing in the 2022 World Cup prepared themselves and their squads. Other than that, just throw on your jersey (or at least your team colors), get ready to feel the energy, and be part of something the whole world shares. Because when billions of people tune in and the first whistle blows, you won't just be watching history. You'll be living it.