The FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11 and will be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Why it matters: More Americans are tuning into soccer ahead of the sport's most prestigious tournament, with hopes that this summer will spark the kind of breakthrough interest the 1994 World Cup did the last time it was played on American soil.

State of play: 37% of people anticipate their interest in soccer will increase over the next 18 months, according to Nielsen data.

Context: Soccer was still foreign to many Americans in 1994. Now, people have local teams they support or they've started watching leagues in other countries.

• "People are willing to pay to see soccer," Wake Forest economics professor Todd McFall tells Axios. "They've made soccer a part of their life."

By the numbers: Participation in the sport has also increased.

• Of the 5.6 million high school athletes who played sports in 1993-1994, 7.5% of them played soccer, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
• As of 2024-2025, 10.6% of high school students played the game.

Zoom out: Much has changed in the U.S. since the tournament took place here 32 years ago.

• Now there are several professional leagues for both men and women, more people playing the game overall, and more ways to watch the sport than ever before.

For one glorious month, fans around the world stop to watch the same thing.

• Add in Lionel Messi's likely last dance and a tournament playing out in your backyard, and even the most casual fan has reason to tune in.

By the numbers: The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities.

• 48 teams (up from 32).
• 104 matches over 39 days.
• Three host countries, a first for the men's tournament.

The favorites: Spain, France and England headline the sportsbooks, with five-time winner Brazil and reigning champ Argentina right behind. Norway is the buzzy dark horse, back on the World Cup stage after a 28-year absence, with lethal striker Erling Haaland.

State of play: The U.S. Men's National Team drew Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Turkey, opening June 12 in Los Angeles. Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino runs the show.

• BetMGM gives the U.S. roughly a 2.4% chance of winning the trophy.

How to watch: Fox and FS1 will have every match in English, and Fox One will stream them all.

• Telemundo and Universo will carry the Spanish broadcast, with Peacock streaming that feed.

World Cup fans can still score tickets to matches in U.S. host cities ahead of next month's kickoff — but many are balking at the prices.

The big picture: FIFA is officially in its "last-minute sales" phase, with some matches showing limited availability and some prices reaching beyond $11,000, per an Axios review.

• The federation is facing backlash for steep ticket costs and its new "dynamic" pricing system, which lets prices fluctuate with demand.

What they're saying: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended World Cup ticket prices, saying they're charging "market rates" in the U.S. entertainment market.

By the numbers: FIFA has sold more than 5 million tickets for the tournament.

• Between 6 million and 6.5 million tickets were expected to be available in total.
• A FIFA spokesperson declined to comment to Axios about prices and how many tickets remain.

Zoom in: Nosebleed resale seats for Spain vs. Cabo Verde, Atlanta's first game, are starting at just under $600 on Ticketmaster.

How it works: After releasing more tickets on May 7, FIFA will continue to drop tickets in batches through its online portal.

• Tickets to individual matches are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
• StubHub and other resale sites also list tickets, though FIFA has cautioned against purchasing through non-FIFA sites.

The U.S. hospitality industry hopes the World Cup can make up for last year's decline in foreign tourism, but travel restrictions and steep prices may keep visitors away.

The big picture: An estimated 1.2 million international fans are coming to the U.S. for the tournament, according to the New York Times.

Zoom in: About 65%–70% of hotel owners in World Cup host cities surveyed said visa barriers and geopolitical concerns are "significantly suppressing international demand," according to a recent survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

• About 80% of respondents say hotel bookings are tracking below initial forecasts.
• Atlanta and Miami appear to be bucking that trend, according to those cities' survey respondents. AHLA said Atlanta's bookings have been fueled by "team base camps, strong air connectivity and diversified demand sources."

Friction point: The Trump administration's Visa Bond Pilot Program requires visitors from certain countries — including World Cup nations like Senegal, Tunisia and Côte d'Ivoire — to deposit $5,000–$15,000 per person to receive a tourist visa.

Yes, but: The State Department announced World Cup ticket holders who registered through FIFA's priority scheduling system are exempt from the visa bond requirement.

• Meanwhile, visitors from 19 other countries, including Haiti and Iran, are banned from coming to the U.S. under expanded Trump travel restrictions.

What they're saying: "Even with global anticipation building, the path to the U.S. for many World Cup travelers feels increasingly less like a red-carpet welcome," the American Hotel & Lodging Association report says.

• High prices for airfare and gas also make the U.S. a more expensive destination compared to past World Cups.

🏙️ Portman Holdings has reacquired and will fix up Downtown's Westin Peachtree Plaza, one of the developer's most famous buildings and Atlanta's tallest hotel. (AJC)

🚊 In an AJC op-ed, Cox Enterprises chairman and CEO Alex Taylor said city leaders should "put to bed" the arguments for the Atlanta Beltline's "antiquated" rail transit program. (Urbanize)

Note: Cox Enterprises is the AJC and Axios' parent company.

🐟 Atlanta officials say the drought, heat and recent heavy storms played a role in a massive fish kill in the Chattahoochee River. The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper thinks stormwater and sewer discharge also played a role. (CNN)