The World Cup qualifying playoffs are over and we now know the full 48-team field for this summer's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The FIFA World Cup returns to North America for the first time since 1994. The 48-team event kicks off in Mexico on Thursday and then in Canada and the United States on Friday. All three host countries come into the tournament with high hopes to make a deep run into the knockout round.

Group A has some veteran stars like Raúl Jiménez and Son Heung-min. Can they still lead their respective nations at the World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup finally gets underway this week, and you can follow all of the latest breaking news before Thursday’s opening group-stage game with The Athletic. We’d also love to hear from you before Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday. Get in touch by emailing live@theathletic.com.

Our World Cup betting guide tells you where to bet on the 2026 World Cup, gives odds, rosters, schedule, promo offers, and more

Ivory Coast return to the World Cup after 12 years away, aiming to finally break their long-standing knockout-stage barrier.