2026 Sports Calendar Anchored by Expanded FIFA World Cup

The year 2026 promises to be one of the most expansive in global sports history, anchored by the FIFA World Cup's debut as a 48-team tournament hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. This edition, the first to include such a broad field since the tournament's inception, will span 16 host cities and feature group-stage matches in diverse locations, including seven at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Organizers anticipate challenges like high temperatures, extensive travel distances, and varying time zones, but the event is expected to draw record viewership and unite fans worldwide.

The World Cup kicks off amid heightened anticipation for several national teams. England's men's squad, managed by Thomas Tuchel, enters as a top seed with a talented roster, though analysts point to vulnerabilities in defense and heavy dependence on captain Harry Kane's scoring prowess. The team qualified comfortably but has faltered in recent knockout stages, reaching only the quarterfinals in 2018 and 2022. South Korea, under coach Hong Myung-bo since 2024, will play all group games in Mexico against the hosts, South Africa, and a European...