A Columbus fan's guide to the World Cup
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Photo illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios. Photos: Peter Lous/BSR Agency, Aurelien Meunier, Juan Manuel Serrano Arce, Catherine Steenkeste via Getty Images
The world's biggest sporting event begins Thursday, back on American soil for the first time in more than 30 years — and here's what you need to know before it begins.
Why it matters: Columbus isn't hosting, but the men's World Cup is the marquee event of the most popular sport in the world. About 6 million people will attend matches, while billions watch from home.
🗒️ The basics: For the first time, 48 teams will play 104 matches between June 11 and July 19.
- First, 12 groups of four play a round-robin group stage — two or three from each group advance.
- Then, 32 qualifying teams play a bracket-style knockout tournament to decide a winner.
📍 The hosts: The tournament is in North America for the first time since the U.S. hosted in 1994.
- Eleven U.S. cities, three Mexican cities and two Canadian cities host matches — the closest to Columbus is in Toronto.
🏆 The contenders: France and Spain are the favorites, with a tight group of England, Portugal, Argentina and Brazil just behind them.
- Germany and the Netherlands are dark horses, while Belgium, Norway, Colombia and 2022 stunners Morocco could make noise.
- U.S. odds are 50-1 — and even that long shot is probably generous.
⭐️ The stars worth tuning in for:
- 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe
- 🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal
- 🇳🇴 Erling Haaland
- 🇧🇷 Vinicius Junior
- 🏴 Harry Kane
- Plus: Aging legends Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric.
🇺🇸 The home team: The Americans are good but not great, ranked No. 17 in the world.
- They've got some excellent players and can hang with most teams, but they'll be outgunned by tournament favorites.
- Our stars include Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie and the hopefully healthy Chris Richards.
- Expect the U.S. to get out of its group and maybe win a knockout-round game — anything more will be overachieving.
🙌 The Columbus intrigue: Max Arfsten is the first Crew player on a U.S. World Cup team since 2002.
- Defender Steven Moreira will represent Cape Verde.
🗓️ Circle these: Besides the U.S. matches — keep scrolling — here are five to watch in the groups.
- Brazil vs. Morocco, 6pm June 13
- Netherlands vs. Japan, 4pm June 14
- Ecuador vs. Germany, 4pm June 25
- Norway vs. France, 3pm June 26
- Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30pm June 27.

How and where to watch
Columbus may not have local World Cup matches, but soccer lovers will have plenty of ways to watch.
🦅 U.S. watch parties: The Crew host what will likely be the largest parties for U.S. games.
- Bridge Park in Dublin will shut down roads and have three large outdoor screens for the opener vs. Paraguay kicking off at 9pm Friday.
- The Columbus Commons downtown hosts the afternoon matinee against Australia at 3pm June 19.
- Land-Grant Brewing is the home of the final group stage match vs. Türkiye, a late 10pm kickoff June 26.
- ScottsMiracle-Gro Field opens up for the final, 3pm July 19.
- Plus: Expect more official watch parties if the U.S. advances.
🍻 Catch matches with fans at The Crew's "Summer of Soccer Tour," bringing watch parties to a variety of bars and restaurants around town throughout June and July.
📺 Unofficial watch parties: Soccer hot spots and other locations with international backgrounds are promising to show every game of the tournament.
- Catch any game at Land-Grant, Cilantro Latin Fusion, Combustion Brewery, Mi Mexico or Fado, among others.
- Movie theaters Studio 35 and Grandview Theater will show U.S. games.
🛋️ How to watch at home: Games will be broadcast in English on FOX, FS1, and the FOX One app.
