World Cup 2026 Comes to L.A.
by Aleks Oganesyan
Get ready because the upcoming 2026 World Cup is about to break the internet! The first game is set for June 11th, and the final match takes place July 19th. This year’s event is being hosted by three countries, which is a first: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Games will be played in many cities across North America, including Los Angeles, which will be one of the centerpiece sites. There are a lot of soccer fans around the globe who are very excited for the upcoming tournament, and many Science Academy families and students are already talking about which team they hope will win the World Cup trophy.
This year, for the first time, the tournament is expanding from 32 teams to 48 teams, meaning more countries will be able to qualify for the competition. This also means smaller or less famous teams will now get an opportunity to play, including countries that haven’t qualified in a very long time or even countries that have never qualified before. Some of the most famous national teams that are widely supported are Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, England, and France. Some of the lesser known national teams are Haiti, Jordan, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, all of which have qualified less than three times in the past, and Curacao, which has never qualified before this year. In order to qualify for the World Cup, teams have to participate in a multi-year, region-specific qualification tournament hosted by their continental confederation as overseen by FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association). The World Cup qualifiers ended on March 31st. There are more teams than ever this year, so whether you call it football, futbol, or soccer, there will lot of exciting matches with thrilling wins and heartbreaking losses. Additionally, there will be the possibility of more upsets and even the formation of new rivalries that can impact soccer in the future. However, there are some people who worry that the tournament may be impacted by being longer than ever before or feel that the schedule could be confusing since it’s a brand new one. There are also concerns about travel issues coming into the U.S. from some other countries as well as the cost of tickets and accommodations. But in spite of these potential problems, anticipation is high.
The World Cup isn’t just about soccer; it’s also about bringing people from different countries, ethnicities, and cultures together. This happens when fans travel from around the world and meet new people because they all like soccer and are watching the tournament together, so during that time they share their traditions. People can meet each other and spread their traditions and cultures at festivals, watch parties, and events in the host cities. For example, check out the FIFA Fan Festival, taking place at the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at Exposition Park. It will feature live match broadcasts on massive screens, music, and food from June 11–14.
For this World Cup, many stadiums have been upgraded and venues have been set aside to help host the games and provide places for international fans to gather. There are expected to be many people attending this World Cup, creating large crowds in stadiums and venues. SoFi Stadium, which will be renamed Los Angeles Stadium for the duration of the games, will be the premiere venue in the region. Expect new technology during the games and even better VAR (Video Assistant Referee) and goal line cameras. This will allow the referees to have their decisions be more accurate. With this new technology, there will also be more cameras with advanced technology for better camera angles for fans watching at home.
Overall, this tournament is expected to make its mark on history and be very exciting. It will be the biggest World Cup ever, with more teams and more games. It will bring countries together through the love of soccer. This tournament also has the potential to inspire a new generation of players and kids to play the sport. If you can’t make it to a match in person, be sure to tune in and watch your favorite teams and players!
For more info on all the World Cup events, check out the FIFA site
To learn more about Los Angeles matches and events, click here