
World Cup 2026: Fans Turn the Tournament Into a Global Mosaic
A look at the vibrant fan culture, historic performances and the growing influence of soccer across North America and beyond.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Jordan across Soccer, Football, Basketball.

A look at the vibrant fan culture, historic performances and the growing influence of soccer across North America and beyond.

Ali Mezher set a new assist record while Jalen Harris lit up the court with a sub‑23‑minute scoring burst, underscoring a tournament of dramatic upsets and standout performances.

A look at how veteran writers, a proprietary algorithm, a dog, a child, and a subscriber community shape the outlook for the tournament's next matches.

Cape Verde will face Argentina in the round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup, with the island nation’s coaching staff confident in their ability to defy expectations while preserving their own tactical identity.

Cape Verde, buoyed by recent draws with Spain and Uruguay, enters the knockout stage with confidence that they can upset Argentina and Lionel Messi, emphasizing collective ambition over statistical analysis.

Despite being heavy underdogs, Cape Verde's coach and players remain confident ahead of their knockout match against Argentina, citing a tactical approach that prioritizes team cohesion over man‑marking Messi.

From airport photo booths to Spanish‑language comedy series, NFL franchises are tapping into World Cup host cities to win over soccer fans and build lasting connections beyond the stadium.

Kylian Mbappé broke a historic tie in knockout‑stage scoring, moving to 17 career World Cup goals while Lionel Messi remains atop the Golden Boot race.

A look at the 2026 World Cup group stage, highlighting surprise performances, early exits, and the emerging favorites.

A look at how England clinched a round‑of‑32 berth, how an algorithm narrowed the gap with pundits, and what to expect from the next set of high‑stakes fixtures.
A tense group‑stage encounter ended level, propelling Algeria and Austria into the next round, while ticket prices soar and only a handful remain.

An exploration of the United States' underdog status in soccer, examining pay‑to‑play hurdles, cultural diversity and historic triumphs.

The latest UN DESA brief explores how the Football for the Goals initiative mobilises football organisations worldwide to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, with concrete examples from Oceania, Jordan and Zimbabwe.

A look at the structural challenges, recent reforms, and grassroots hopes shaping the future of Chinese football.

The Athletic’s interactive Pick’Em feature delivers daily forecasts for the tournament, blending analyst insight, algorithmic models, and even a dog’s intuition to guide fans through the knockout stage.

A dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay highlighted the U.S. men’s national team’s rise under new coach Mauricio Pochettino, setting the stage for a decisive match against Australia that could seal first place in Group D.

The Athletic’s senior editor Will Jeanes designs a daily soccer‑themed puzzle for the 2026 World Cup, grouping 16 words into four categories with a single solution.

Austria clinches a 3‑1 win over Jordan in a dramatic World Cup opener, ending a 28‑year absence and highlighting late‑game heroics.

From France’s showdown with Senegal to Argentina’s final dance with Algeria, today’s predictions mix statistical rigor with whimsical guesses, while recapping a dramatic matchday five that saw surprising draws.

Thirteen World Cup qualifiers have rebuked UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin after he suggested some matches in the 48‑team format could be uninteresting, emphasizing the historic and inspirational value of their participation.

The conflict in Gaza has frozen the Palestinian football league for nearly three years, leaving players like Mahdi Hijazi without income and forcing many to seek low‑paid work, yet grassroots initiatives and the women's national team illustrate a path forward.

A daily brain‑teaser tied to the 2026 World Cup challenges fans to group sixteen words into four color‑coded categories, with today’s clues pointing to debutant nations, award categories, players named Jordan and a letter‑shifting England puzzle.

Despite looming controversies, FIFA envisions a record‑breaking event, but the road to the 48‑team tournament is fraught with geopolitical strain, travel restrictions and skepticism

Mahtomedi survived an eight‑inning battle to defeat Grand Rapids 2‑1, capitalizing on a clutch hit from Cody Loida and a resilient performance from starter Joe Dick.