World Cup 2026 kicks off in Mexico Thursday

NPR | By Eyder Peralta,

Leila Fadel

Published June 11, 2026 at 4:47 AM EDT

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.

Eyder Peralta

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

See stories by Eyder Peralta

Leila Fadel

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

See stories by Leila Fadel

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