News & Stories
News & Stories
Reporting, profiles and explainers from the road to '26.
Tag
Featuredworld-cup · upsets · history · shocks · knockouts
The 10 Greatest World Cup Upsets Ever
From USA over England in 1950 to Saudi Arabia over Argentina in 2022, the ten results that broke the bracket — with the stakes, the goal-scorers and the why-it-mattered for each.
May 20, 202615 min read
Featuredworld-cup · history · goals · greatest · shotmap
The 32 Greatest World Cup Goals Ever, Mapped
From Pelé's volley in 1958 to Di María in Doha, the 32 greatest World Cup goals plotted on the pitch — with the where, the when, and the why each one matters.
May 20, 202617 min read
Featuredhost-cities · travel · world-cup-2026 · usa · canada · mexico
Every Host City Guide: USA, Canada, Mexico
A complete travel guide to all 16 World Cup 2026 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — what to know about each city, how to move between them, and what makes each one matter.
May 20, 202614 min read
Featuredworld-cup-2026 · injuries · tracker · players · fitness
Injury Watch: Stars in Doubt for Kickoff (as of May 19)
Live injury tracker for World Cup 2026 — the stars who are out, the doubts racing the clock, and the country-by-country impact rating.
May 20, 20267 min read
Featuredworld-cup-2026 · kits · fashion · nike · adidas · puma
Every Kit at WC26: Home, Away, and the Ugliest Third
All 48 World Cup 2026 kits — home, away, and where unveiled, third. Manufacturer breakdown, the retro 80s pulls, and the kit storylines worth following.
May 20, 20267 min read
Featuredworld-cup-2026 · messi · ronaldo · modric · careers · profiles
The Last Dance: Stars Playing Their Final World Cup
Messi, Ronaldo, Modrić, Neymar, Thiago Silva, Pepe — the eight legends taking their final World Cup walk in 2026, with career stats and signature moments.
May 20, 202612 min read
Featuredworld-cup-2026 · referees · officials · var · profiles
Meet the 2026 Referees: Style, Stats, Surprises
FIFA's 52-referee panel for the World Cup 2026: a record six women on the centre-ref list, profiles of the headline names, and what each style means for the matches.
May 20, 202613 min read
Featuredworld-cup-2026 · penalty-shootout · interactive · game · psychology
Penalty Shootout Simulator: Can You Beat the Keeper?
Step up to the spot in our penalty shootout game, then learn the data, the psychology and the rules that decide every World Cup shootout.
May 20, 202613 min read
Featuredworld-cup-2026 · rankings · predictions · tiers · analysis
Power Rankings: All 48 Teams Before A Ball Is Kicked
Pre-tournament power rankings for all 48 World Cup 2026 nations, tiered S to D, with composite FIFA + Elo + form scoring and the surprise placements.
May 20, 20269 min read
world-cup-2026 · records · history · interactive · data
Records That Could Fall in 2026
Twelve all-time World Cup records ranked by how likely they are to be broken in Mexico, USA and Canada — from the Klose career total to the youngest scorer.
May 20, 202610 min read
Featuredworld-cup-2026 · squads · rosters · tracker · players
Final 26-Man Squads: Every Team, Every Pick (Live Tracker)
Live squad tracker for all 48 World Cup 2026 nations — who's locked in, who's still provisional, and who is racing the June 2 FIFA deadline.
May 20, 20268 min read
world-cup-2026 · tickets · prices · hospitality · tracker
Tickets: What's Left and What They Really Cost (as of May 19)
Three weeks from kickoff: a verified snapshot of WC26 ticket availability, FIFA Official Resale prices, On Location hospitality, and the secondary-market reality.
May 20, 202610 min read