By Damilola Ogunsakin

The wait is almost over. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States, is about to kick off. And trust us, this is not your regular World Cup.

For the first time ever, the tournament will feature 48 teams, 104 matches, and three host nations sharing hosting duties across 16 cities, from Vancouver to Mexico City and all the way to Miami. In short, more teams, more drama, more upsets, and definitely more group chat arguments.

The United States will host most of the action, including all knockout games from the quarter-finals onward, while the final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

But football isn’t the only thing making headlines. The weather might also be an unexpected opponent. Reports suggest nearly a quarter of the matches could be played in extreme heat and humidity, especially in cities like Miami, Kansas City and Philadelphia. FIFA is already planning cooling breaks because nobody wants the sun winning the World Cup.

Then come the stars.

Will Lionel Messi lead Argentina to back-to-back titles and add another chapter to his GOAT story? Can Cristiano Ronaldo make history in what is expected to be his record sixth World Cup appearance? Will Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal light up the tournament? Can Kylian Mbappé finally get France back on top? What about Harry Kane’s England, Vinícius Júnior’s Brazil, or Germany, the team that somehow always finds a way into the conversation?

And let’s not forget Morocco, the giant-slayers who shocked the world in 2022 and became the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.

Speaking of Africa, the continent is showing up in style. A record 10 African nations will be at the tournament, giving fans plenty of reasons to tune in. So even if your country didn’t make it, there’s still someone to adopt for six weeks.