Everything You Need to Know About the World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is not just a sporting event—it's a global cultural earthquake, and Tarek Panja, The New York Times' global soccer correspondent, breaks down why this tournament is unlike any other. With 48 teams across three host nations—Mexico, Canada, and the United States—it's the largest World Cup in history, featuring nations like Curaçao and Jordan making their debut. Yet behind the spectacle lies a crisis: ticket prices have skyrocketed to $10,000 for the final, fueled by dynamic pricing and FIFA’s strategy to exploit wealthier U.S. markets. Fans are furious, with some—like an Argentine man who quit his job to attend—demonstrating the near-religious devotion that defines World Cup fandom. But the real drama isn’t just on the pitch. It’s the emotional farewell for legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose final appearances could mark the end of an era. As Panja puts it, the World Cup isn’t just about football—it’s about identity, belonging, and the rare moment when the world becomes one collective 'we'. The episode reveals how the tournament’s expansion, while democratizing access for smaller nations, has also intensified commercialization. The contrast between the ecstatic, communal energy of fans in Buenos Aires and the legal threats from New Jersey and New York attorneys general underscores a deeper tension: can a global celebration of unity survive in an age of profit-driven spectacle? And as the U.S.