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.

The intrigue: This World Cup looks different from the ones you remember. The larger field means a brand new round of 32 before the bracket reaches the round of 16.

Stunning stat: The prize pool totals $727 million, with $50 million going to the winner. Every team pockets at least $10.5 million just for booking the trip.

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.

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.

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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.

Yes, but: 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.

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.

The other side: The U.S. Travel Association, which surveyed international soccer fans, said last month that many concerns are due to "misperceptions" over safety and proposed changes to the tourist visa process.

The United States plays Germany today in Chicago in their final sendoff match ahead of the World Cup. Queen City Outlaws (USMNT fans) will gather at Dilworth Grille for the game.

If you go: The match kicks off at 2:30pm and Dilworth Grille is at 911 E Morehead St.

• It's a doubleheader with the USWNT taking on Brazil at 5:30pm.

What's next: USMNT plays Paraguay on June 12 at 9pm in their first match of the tournament.