We're just three nights of sleep away from kickoff of the 2026 World Cup, with co-host Mexico taking on South Africa in the tournament's opener on Thursday, June 11. Preparations continue as teams continue to arrive in North America and settle into their base camps,

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.

When is the first World Cup game? Here's everything to know about the soccer tournament, including schedule, match locations and teams. (AP photo)

Everything you need to know to watch and follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including start times and TV and streaming information for every game.

The U.S., Mexico and Canada will host the highly anticipated tournament from June 11 to July 19. Here's how to tune in.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 and runs through July 19, 2026, with 104 matches between a record 48 countries taking place across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In the U.S., all World Cup games will be televised across FOX and FS1,

Drawn into Group A with Mexico, South Korea and South Africa, Czechia will spend the opening phase of the tournament crisscrossing North America.

Soccer fans are getting treated to a full buffet on Saturday, June 6, with 13 friendly matches taking place featuring teams qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Get answers to all key questions about the tournament, including schedule, host cities, teams, format, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and where to watch in India.