The FIFA World Cup is a famous tournament eagerly awaited by soccer fans worldwide every four years. Many famous countries participate in the World Cup, hoping to achieve their goal at the end of the season.
There is a broad history for the FIFA World Cup, as the first tournament took place in July 1930. The games were held in Uruguay, where the team won the first-ever World Cup. Thirteen nations competed, according to FIFA, and since then the tournament has grown significantly during the 96 years.
The last World Cup was in December 2022, and this year’s starts on June 11, 2026. Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host part of the soccer matches in June and halfway through July. Many fans across Georgia are beyond excited. The other parts of the World Cup will occur in Mexico, Canada and across the United States.
Forty eight teams have qualified to play in the FIFA World Cup, with countries like Iraq, Spain, Portugal, Morocco and more. There are 12 groups, and a group plays together in one day. Each group contains four teams, ranging from letters [A to L].
Iraq’s soccer team made an incredible achievement in the play-offs against Bolivia. On March 31, Iraq won the match with a score of 2-1, qualifying them for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. They sealed the 48th and final place for the team to participate in the tournament. They are going as Group I.
Another highlight for the World Cup is the Spanish League. Spain’s soccer team qualified against three teams: Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria. Spain tied Turkey with a score of 2-2, then won both matches against Bulgaria and Georgia. This popular team, supported by millions around the world, secured its place in Group H for the World Cup.
The World Cup is a worldwide tournament that lasts for only 39 days. This year, the World Cup ends on July 19.
The team of Portugal is also playing in the World Cup in Group K. According to BBC Sport, soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he will play in his final World Cup for the team. He is currently 41 years old and highly motivated to leave a legacy at his sixth and final World Cup.
There have been many discussions over ticket pricing for the live matches. According to SeatPick, the price for one ticket ranges from $1,490 to $10,990 at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. The MetLife stadium is one of the most expensive and best stadiums to watch a game. However, one can find more affordable prices for other matches at other venues, such as Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Hard Rock Stadium in Florida and more, on SeatPick and Ticketmaster.
As for the people in charge of the stadium during matches, they are the FIFA Volunteers and Staff. They keep the day going smoothly through the big crowds of fans. From personal experience, my father volunteered for the Club World Cup, which took place over the summer of 2025 in Atlanta and the process was unlike any other.
“[Volunteering] is a series of applications, online assessments, personal interviews and background checks,” My Dad stated, “It is like a unique opportunity, it doesn’t happen near you, or anytime.”
Knowing that one million people have applied to volunteer for the World Cup is staggering, and knowing that one’s own father got the role is even more jaw-dropping. I, myself, am more than excited to experience these life-changing events this summer as a soccer fan.
