The countdown has begun for one of the most anticipated sporting events in the world.
The World Cup is almost here! It will take place this year, 2026, from June 11 to July 19. The World Cup, also known as the FIFA World Cup, is a soccer competition among the men’s national teams from all over the world. The World Cup only takes place every four years, so this is your chance to watch the next one this year!
For a country to partake in the competition, it must qualify through a multi-stage tournament to compete for the limited spots in the final tournament. Think of it as a mini-competition that a country participates in by going against another country before the actual competition. The last World Cup took place in 2022, where the host was Qatar, and the winner was Argentina. France was the runner-up. This year, it will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
As of now, 42 countries have qualified (or are expected to qualify) for the 2026 World Cup, with a few spots still open for other countries to claim. Some of these countries are: Canada, Mexico, United States, Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, Uzbekistan, Korea Republic, Jordan, Australia, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cabo Verde, South Africa, Qatar, England, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Saudi Arabia, France, Croatia, etc.
Some of the eliminated teams include Afghanistan, China PR, Chinese Taipei, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, etc.
The question is, who will you root for when the time comes? Senior Poorvika Sampath says, “I’m excited for the World Cup this year to see who will win! I usually root for France to win, but I also like it when an underdog team wins.”
With the 2026 World Cup approaching, fans around the world are looking ahead to an exciting tournament filled with competition, anticipation, and unforgettable moments.
