World Cup 2026 kicks off in Mexico Thursday

NPR | By Eyder Peralta,

Leila Fadel

Published June 11, 2026 at 3:47 AM CDT

The wait is over. The world's biggest sporting spectacle begins Thursday as the 2026 World Cup gets underway across Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.

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Eyder Peralta

Eyder Peralta is NPR's East Africa correspondent based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Leila Fadel

Leila Fadel is a national correspondent for NPR based in Los Angeles, covering issues of culture, diversity, and race.

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