2026 FIFA World Cup Program

PHILADELPHIA, PA JUNE 12th–23rd GROUP B

Collect all eight FIFA World Cup Group Stage covers across the country, or order them online at FIFAWorldCup.comPROGRAMS

COLOMBUS, OH JUNE 11th–22nd GROUP A PHILADELPHIA, PA JUNE 12th–23rd GROUP B LOS ANGELES, CA JUNE 12th–23rd GROUP C BOSTON, MA JUNE 13th–23rd GROUP D

SEATTLE, WA JUNE 14th–24th GROUP E PHOENIX, AZ JUNE 13th–23rd GROUP F INDIANAPOLIS, IN JUNE 15th–25th GROUP G MIAMI, FL JUNE 16th–26th GROUP H

Group AColombus, OH

Group BPhiladelphia, PA

Group CLos Angeles, CA

Group DBoston, MA

Group ESeattle, WA

Group FPhoenix, AZ

Group GIndianapolis, IN

Group HMiami, FL

IMAGE CREDITS:Steve EvansJohn PosadzidesChothia (FLICKR)adidas ItalyJoscarfas (FLICKR)Rich ArdenRob TringaliBrian HubbardSteve Rodgers

HISTORY A Look

back

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup brings together the world’s best sport-ing countries every four years in a global celebration of everything the game of soccer stands for. According to their mission statement, authenticity, unity, performance, and integrity lie at the heart of each tournament that FIFA puts together in hopes of building a better future. The champion-ship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of World War II. In the tournaments between 1934 and 1978, just 16 teams competed. Most of the participating nations were from Eu-rope and South America, with a small minority from North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. These teams were usu-ally defeated easily by the European and South American teams. The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in 1982, and then to 32 in 1998, allowing more teams from Africa, Asia and North America to take part. The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation over a period of one month – this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament including the host nation, which qualifies automatically. From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the World Cup winner. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who set up the first tournament. In 1970, Brazil’s third victory in the tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup Trophy, was designed. This new trophy is not awarded to the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the trophy until the next tournament and are awarded a gold-plated replica rather than the solid gold original. At present, all members of the top three teams receive medals with an insignia of the World Cup Trophy; winners (gold), runner-ups (silver), and third-place (bronze). In the 2002 edition, fourth-place medals were awarded to hosts South Korea. Prior to the 1978 tournament, medals were only awarded to the eleven players on the pitch at the end of the final and the third-place match. In November 2007, FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively awarded winners medals. The FIFA World Cup host countries and results, listed on the following pages, honor each country receiving a medal,

Diego Maradona, arguably the greatest player of all time, celebrates Argentina’s victory in the 1986 World Cup.

6FIFA World Cup 2026 History

as well as the individual player who was selected as Most Valuable during the tournament. This award, known as the Golden Boot, was initially given to the player who scored the most goals in tournament play, but was altered before the 1986 World Cup to make considerations for all around play – much to the liking of those players who fill supporting roles, and goaltenders. Lionel Messi became the first player to receive the Golden Boot Award twice, after breaking the great Ronaldo’s record of goals scored in World Cup Finals history, with 16. Brazil currently holds the record for most World Cup titles, with 5, followed closely by Italy and Germany. The host coun-try has won the tournament six times, most recently France in 1998. The United States squad is hoping to become the seventh, as they call upon a very small, but dedicated fan base to cheer them on to victory in their second time as the host country. Continue on for a recap of past World Cup’s, as well as the logos and artwork that came to represent them.

Background info on the players, coaches, and events that have shaped our chances in the 2026 World Cup. HISTORY


–1930 –Uruguay

UruguayArgentina

United States

Golden Boot: Guillermo Stábile (URU)

–1934 –Italy

ItalyCzechoslovakia

Germany

Golden Boot: Oldrich Nejedlý (CZK)

–1938 –France

ItalyHungary

Brazil

Golden Boot: Leônidas (BRA)

–1962 –Chile

BrazilCzechoslovakia

Chile

Golden Boot: Garrincha (BRA)

–1966 –England

EnglandGermanyPortugal

Golden Boot: Eusébio (POR)

–1970 –Mexico

BrazilItaly

Germany

Golden Boot: Gerd Müller (GER)

–1950 –Brazil

UruguayBrazil

Sweden

Golden Boot: Ademir (BRA)

–1954 –Switzerland

GermanyHungaryAustria

Golden Boot: Sandor Kocsis (HUN)

–1958 –Sweden

BrazilSwedenFrance

Golden Boot: Just Fontaine (FRA)


–1974 –Germany

GermanyNetherlands

Poland

Golden Boot: Grzegorz Lato (POL)

–1978 –Argentina

ArgentinaNetherlands

Brazil

Golden Boot: Mario Kempes (ARG)

–1982 –Spain

ItalyGermanyPoland

Golden Boot: Paolo Rossi (ITA)


–2010 –South Africa

SpainNetherlands

Germany

Golden Boot: Thomas Müller (GER)

– 2014 –Brazil

PortugalBrazilSpain

Golden Boot: Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

–2018 –Russia

NetherlandsArgentinaEngland

Golden Boot: Lionel Messi (ARG)

–1986 –Mexico

ArgentinaGermanyFrance

Golden Boot: Gary Lineker (ENG)

–1990 –Italy

GermanyArgentina

Italy

Golden Boot: Salvatore Schillaci (ITA)

–1994 –United States

BrazilItaly

Sweden

Golden Boot: Oleg Salenko (RUS)

–1998 –France

FranceBrazil

Croatia

Golden Boot: Davor Šuker (CRO)

–2002 –South Korea & Japan

BrazilGermanyTurkey

Golden Boot: Ronaldo (BRA)

–2006 –Germany

ItalyFrance

Germany

Golden Boot: Miroslav Klose (GER)


–2022 –Qatar

ArgentinaGermanyPortugal

Golden Boot: Lionel Messi (ARG)

USUALLY WHEN THIS MANY COUNTRIES GET TOGETHER, IT’S FOR SOMETHING BORING. DON’T MISS A SECOND.

RE-DEMPTION

It has been a long four years for the United States National Team, as their last World Cup was nothing short of an em-barrassment. The team was unceremoniously bounced from the first round of competition without registering a single point in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The American squad began the tournament with high hopes, which were quickly dashed in a 7-0 loss to Portugal, the worst American loss in 40 years of international play. Tempers flared towards the end of the game, resulting in a red card for the 18 year old phenom Steven Aguire, causing him to miss the following match. Without their star striker, the U.S. team was put down 3-1 by Sweden. The loss meant they would not advance from group stage, and put the team

at each others throats for their final match against lowly host-nation Qatar – who struggled to put a team together in the country’s first foray into international competition. In the days leading up to the matchup, you’ll recall much talk about the United States squad passing the blame from one member to the next, there were even rumors of Coach Juergen Klinsmann being released during the tournament, an unprecedented move. With a swirl of turmoil around the team, the United States squad found themselves distracted heading into their final match, but still, no one could have predicted the outcome. Host-nation Qatar defeated the United States, and the soc-cer world was turned on its head. Forced to play with 10 men after an early red card from hot-headed defenseman Christian

13FIFA World Cup 2026 Team USA

Schenn, the United States squad backed themselves into a corner, and was re-quired to play much more conservatively than they had hoped to. A lack of com-munication between the United States defenders lead to several open chances for the young Qatar team, and they finally broke through in the 78th minute with the goal that shocked fans across the world. A final minute push from United States attackers was deflected by Qatar, and as stoppage-time expired the celebra-tion in the host-nation began. That final whistle also marked the end of Coach Juergen Klinsmann’s handling of team USA, and sent the entire United States soccer community searching for answers. They wouldn’t have to go far to find their solutions. In what could become the defining move for United States soccer for years

to come, they turned to a familiar face to help provide answers – former captain Landon Donovan. Donovan was named head coach after Qatar, and immediately went to work trying to solve the prob-lems that caused team USA to turn on itself. He began his tenure by controver-sially cutting some of the team’s most experienced players due to character issues, as Donovan set out to create a more cohesive and comfortable environ-ment for the players in the locker room. “The attitude of this team had to change. No team can be successful when they’re not on the same page with one-another. You cannot hope to defeat another squad if you can’t trust the man next to you to do their job. I made the decision to give some younger players an opportu-nity to prove themselves at the cost of the experience the veterans had. These

younger guys are a lot hungrier – they want it more. Some of the veteran play-ers had gotten too comfortable here, not working as hard in practice. When a few of these younger, faster, more determined twenty-somethings showed up it was a real wake up call for them. I made it clear from the beginning that no one’s roster spot was guaranteed, that each player would have to earn his playing time no matter who it was. After that, practices became much more intense, and the team hasn’t stopped working since.” One of the most surprising moves by Landon Donovan was the removal of Captain Clint Dempsey, who had been with the team for over fifteen years. “There was no character issue there, I want to make that clear. Clint has always been one of the most well respected

Hardcore United States soccer fans may be few and far between, but as the host country, this years tournament is sure to bring out spectators in droves to cheer on their squad. With arenas throughout the country preparing for the influx of

patrons, both foreign and domestic, Team USA fans are sure to make their voices heard throughout the tournament.


Background info on the players, coaches, and events that have shaped our chances in the 2026 World Cup. TEAM USA

members of the team. The first thing I did when I took over was talk to Clint about his future. Together we decided that he was best suited to stay with the team in an advising capacity, and later I asked if he’d become my assistant. This being my first head-coaching job, it was great to have someone like Clint as my assistant head coach. We’ve worked well together as players in the past, and I’m looking forward to rebuilding the reputation of United States soccer together.” Donovan and Dempsey were team-mates with team USA for ten years, from 2004 through 20014. Two of the most popular United States players of all-time, they now hope that their game translates into coaching. “Land-on was always a coach in the making when we were playing together, he was probably the smartest player I’ve ever played with.” Dempsey revealed, “He wasn’t great because he was a freak athlete, or had the best footwork in the game, he was a great player because he always knew where to be on the field, and had great awareness for where his teammates were – these are the fundamentals we’re trying to reinforce with our squad. If we could get eleven men out there who understand their personal roles and responsibilities, then that’s when we’ll be successful.” If one thing can be said for the United States squad entering the tour-nament as the host country for the first time since 1995, it’s that this is not the same team that left the field with their heads hanging in Qatar. Surprising showings in the 2024 CONCACAF International tournament as well as the FIFA World Cup qualifier has renewed faith in Team USA, and inspired a certain level of pride and excitement in it’s fans. In route to a bronze medal in the CONCACAF tournament two years ago, team USA

managed to defeat perennial powerhouse Argentina 2-1 on an 80th minute goal by their youngest member Luke Allen. Only 18 at the time, that goal, combined with his relentless style of play, has propelled him to a level of international stardom that few US born players ever achieve. His success with Liverpool of the Barclay’s Premiere League, arguably the best league in the world, has given team USA fans something to get excited about for the first time in years. Carrying this momentum into the qualifying rounds of the World Cup, Allen became the first American player to score a goal in each of the teams qualifying matches. Riding their star, team USA went undefeated in the qualifier – including wins over Greece, Cameroon, and heavily favored Spain, but showed inconsistency as well, failing to score a goal in draws with Eng-land and Denmark. Although it has been predicted before, this truly should be the year that the game of soccer makes its mark on the American fanbase. The most popular game in the world currently ranks fifth in popularity within the United States,

Donovan scored one of the most memorable goals in United States history, with his dramatic 90th minute goal versus Ghana in the 2010 World Cup of South Africa.


5:3

3:2

7:1

12:1

LUCK OF THE DRAWBelow are the MGM Vegas odds for each team within Group D to advance past the Group Stage.

behind football, baseball, hockey, and basketball. Major League Soccer is struggling for TV ratings and sponsors, and the league is in dire need of excitement for the game that only the World Cup tournament can provide. More importantly, the game returns to the United States at its highest level for the first time since the 1995 tournament. Being the host nation should inspire a certain level of excitement for even the most causal of fans, as well as instill a sense of nationalism for the red, white and blue. This was the hope of the United States when they secured the hosting bid from the FIFA selection committee in 2019. This selection began a series of renovations on many major US stadiums, as well as their surrounding areas in order to handle the influx of world travelers, who are expected to number in the millions, and provide a boost to the well-documented struggles of the American economy. It’s ironic that a game which has been largely ignored, even ridiculed by Americans for years could end up providing the largest tourism boom in history, greatly helping their economy. With the US dollar at its weakest in over ten years, many Europeans are expected to make the flight across the pond in order to cheer on their squads. These Europeans are not only wanted for their economic boost, but also for their passion for the game. Love them or not, it cannot be argued that Europeans love their ‘football’ in a way that Americans do not, and many within the United States Soccer community are hoping that their passion be-comes contagious. If this World Cup provides Americans with

half the interest in soccer that they have in football, it could very well save Major League Soccer, and create a new genera-tion of soccer loving youth. However, all the hopes and aspirations of a country lay on the shoulders of the twenty-one men in uniform and their coaches. If the American team can make a run in this tour-nament then World Cup fever is sure to catch in the States. Anything less than the Round of 16 should be considered a failure for this squad. They have shown the work-ethic and dedication required to beat the giants of the soccer world, but have also shown signs of immaturity and a lack of cohesiveness in some matches. New Head Coach Landon Donovan, former captain of team USA, knows what’s at stake for his squad, and his country, “These players realize the importance of making a good showing in this tournament as the host country, but it’s much more than that to them. They realize how much the game of soccer has needed a bit of a jolt here at home, and they realize the opportunity they have in front of them. This is huge for us, but we’re trying not to look at the big picture – just taking going to take it one match at a time and see where we are at the end.” Ideally on a podium in Texas, with gold around their necks.


Background info on the players, coaches, and events that have shaped our chances in the 2026 World Cup. TEAM USA

GROUPSWhoWHenWHERE

The group drawings by the FIFA Selection Committee can shape a squad’s chances before they even take the field

20FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups

Group AGermany, Peru, Ivory Coast, SpainTeam to Watch Ivory CoastPlayer to Watch Miroslav Klimt (GER)

Our first draw of the 2026 World Cup brings us the infa-mous “Group of Death” – or the group that experts believe to be the toughest of all draws in the tournament. This is thanks to perennial powerhouses Spain and Germany, and the up and coming Ivory Coast squad. Peru is in for a tough run, but do have talented goaltender Nèstor Guevara to help balance the playing field. This is an offensive oriented matching, as three of the four teams tend to score goals in bunches, while Spain, as tradition, plays a more conservative style of play. Although they may not advance due to their lack of experience, Ivory Coast is one of the more entertain-ing teams to watch thanks to their wide open style of play. German midfielder Miroslav Klimt is without a doubt the key to the German offense – he is the facilitator of the team, as each offensive possession is run through him and a great number of goals are set up by his famous left boot.

Group BPortugal, China, Ghana, UruguayTeam to Watch PortugalPlayer to Watch Emmanuel Kwarasey (GHA)

Portugal advancing from this grouping is as sure of a bet as there is in this years edition of the World Cup, however, games aren’t won on paper. Uruguay is historically next best, however their struggles to find the net in qualifying is some-thing of a concern for coach Diego Forlán. The young squad from Ghana is sure to excite the crowds with their style of play, however all but three of their members will be making their World Cup debut, so experience is a huge concern. Wu Lei, the midfielder from China makes his mark as one of the more experienced players in the tournament, competing in his fourth World Cup since age 17. Speaking of youngsters, Emmanuel Kwarasey makes his World Cup debut at age 20. The Manchester United star became the first African born player to win the Barclay’s Premiere League’s scoring title this past season, although individual talent can only take a team so far, and Ghana does not match up favorably.

Group ENetherlands, Slovakia, Sweden, ChileTeam to Watch NetherlandsPlayer to Watch Marek Jež (SVK)

Qualifying for its second World Cup in their history, Chile was the surprise team that snuck up on their opponents in the early stages of qualifying. They are one of the fastest teams seen in quite some time, and their style of play caters to that strength. The Netherlands should be able to run with them however, as the powerhouse Dutch team is heavily favored to win Group E. Le Oranje, champions of the 2018 World Cup, look to make another run in this years version of the tournament. Sweden returns to the World Cup after failing to qualify for the previous two. Historically strong, Swedish teams have failed to advance from the group stage of the tournament since the 1978 World Cup. Striker Marek Jež lead the squad from Slovakia through qualifying with his great size and body control. At 6’5” tall, Jež is an extremely non-traditional striker who provides matchup problems for most defenses.

Group FItaly, Paraguay, South Korea, DenmarkTeam to Watch ItalyPlayer to Watch Luca del Piero (ITA)

Entering the World Cup sitting at 2nd in the FIFA rank-ings, Gli Azzurri of Italy are one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. Lead by talented midfielder Luca del Piero, son of former Italian fan-favorite Alessandro del Piero, the Italian squad blends experience with youth like no other squad this year. Although their style of play has been called boring by some, the traditional Italian style of play has lead the country to four World Cup titles, most recently at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Paraguay, South Ko-rea, and Denmark face tough matchups against the Italian squad, but should make for good competition against each other. Paraguay has been an up and coming team the past several years, and although Denmark failed to qualify last tournament in Qatar, they have looked strong in this year’s qualifying round. South Korea is hoping to leave its mark in the group stage, and has an outside chance to advance.

GrouPS

21FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups

Group DUnited States, Japan, France, Cameroon Team to Watch United StatesPlayer to Watch Luke Allen (USA)

The stars of the show take the stage with the hopes of a nation and an entire sport on their shoulders. No pressure. Team USA’s success, or lack there of, will shape the future of the sport within the country for years to come. A run in this year’s tournament will surely lead to a rise in popular-ity of the game in a country which has largely ignored it. At the center of it all is youngster Luke Allen, who burst onto the scene at the University of North Carolina, and continues to show he is a world talent with Liverpool in the Barclay’s Premiere League. Japan, France, and Cameroon are aim-ing to spoil the party. An experienced French squad is the biggest challenge to Team USA, as shown in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup, when they played to a 2-2 draw. A rematch of this game needs to go in the United States’ favor in order to garner any type of momentum to carry through the tournament.

Group CEngland, Greece, Mexico, SwitzerlandTeam to Watch MexicoPlayer to Watch Gerald Green (ENG)

Switzerland makes their return to World Cup competi-tion, qualifying for the event for the first time in over forty years. They face a very tough test, with experienced squads from England and Mexico standing in their way. A hungry Greece team is most likely to pull an upset, as the youth movement is on for the blue and white – the team with the youngest average age in the tournament at only 26. They’re too young and arrogant to know they shouldn’t compete with the other teams in their group, and that makes them a dangerous draw. Gerald Green anchors an experienced English team – the Manchester City star is making his third World Cup appearance for the national team, with six goals to his credit in the previous two tournaments combined. The star-powered English team, ranked 3rd in the FIFA rank-ings, are a team that many are looking to avoid as the World Cup moves forward.

Group HBrazil, New Zealand, Serbia, ColombiaTeam to Watch SerbiaPlayer to Watch Tantó (BRA)

Famous for its one-named stars, Brazil headlines Group H, along with another South American squad – Colombia. The Brazilian team is always among the favorites each tourna-ment, and this year is no exception. Their high powered attack is only out-shown by their stellar goalkeeper Tantó, who most experts say is the best in the world. The Colom-bian team comes in as the oldest team in the World Cup, with an average age of 31. Trading speed for experience, the Colombian squad will have a tough time keeping up with the teams in their group. Although more famous for their play in the Rugby World Cup, New Zealand qualifies for their third straight World Cup of soccer – hopefully setting a trend for their international soccer program. The Serbians are a team on the rise, as they turned a few heads in qualify-ing when they played to a 2-2 draw with a much more expe-rienced Portugal team. They hope to carry this momentum through the group stage and into the Round of 16.

Group GArgentina, Turkey, Russia, AustraliaTeam to Watch ArgentinaPlayer to Watch Miroslav Klimt (GER)

Finally we reach the reigning champions of the World Cup – Argentina. The overall favorite in the tournament enters play as 1st in the FIFA rankings, but also enters without the man who carried their team to the gold medal in Qatar, Lionel Messi. The only two-time Golden Boot winner in tournament history, Messi retired from international competition after bringing the World Cup Trophy back to Argentina four years ago, and then retired from club play just last year after his FC Barcelona squad brought home its sixth La Liga championship during Messi’s time with the team. Before his retirement from club play, there were ru-mors of Messi returning to play in this years World Cup, but much to the fan’s disappointment, Lionel Messi will not be coming out of retirement. Turkey, Russia, and Australia will be fighting for the runner-up spot in Group G. Each team plays a very different style of play, and it should be interest-ing to see these styles blend on the playing field.

June 14 - 24Seattle, WA

Netherlands

Slovakia

Sweden

Chile

June 14 - 24Phoenix, AZ

Italy

Paraguay

South Korea

Denmark

GROUP A

June 11 – 22Columbus, OH

Germany

Peru

Ivory Coast

Spain

GROUP B

June 12 – 23Philadelphia, PA

Portugal

China

Ghana

Uruguay

GROUP E GROUP F

Round of 16

Match 1Winner Group A VSRunner-Up Group E

Match 2Winner Group B VSRunner-Up Group F

Match 3Winner Group E VSRunner-Up Group A

Match 4Winner Group F VSRunner-Up Group B

June 26 – 27Phoenix, AZ

June 26 – 27Indianapolis, IN

Group Stage

Quarterfinals Semifinals

Quarterfinal 2Winner Match 3 VS

Winner Match 4


Winner Match 2

Semifinal 1Winner Quarterfinal 1 VS

Winner Quarterfinal 2

Gold Medal MatchWinner Semifinal 1 VS

Winner Semifinal 2

Gold Medal Game

July 2ndEast Rutherford, NJ

July 3rdEast Rutherford, NJ

July 6thArlington, TX


QuarterfinalsSemifinals


Winner Match 8


Winner Match 6

Semifinal 2Winner Quarterfinal 3 VS

Winner Quarterfinal 4

Bronze Medal MatchRunner-Up Semifinal 1 VS

Runner-Up Semifinal 2

Bronze Medal Game

July 3rdEast Rutherford, NJ

July 2ndEast Rutherford, NJ



June 12 – 23Los Angeles, CA

England

Greece

Mexico

Switzerland

June 13 – 23Boston, MA

United States

France

Cameroon

Japan

GROUP C

GROUP G

June 15 - 25Indianapolis, IN

Argentina

Turkey

Russia

Australia

GROUP D

GROUP H

June 16 - 26Miami, FL

Brazil

New Zealand

Serbia

Colombia

Round of 16

Match 5Winner Group C VSRunner-Up Group G

Match 6Winner Group D VSRunner-Up Group H

Match 7Winner Group G VSRunner-Up Group C

Match 8Winner Group H VSRunner-Up Group D

June 27 – 28Miami, FL

June 27 – 28Seattle, WA

Group Stage

2026 UNIFORM PREVIEWfashionistas

23FIFA World Cup 2026 Uniforms

Since their first unofficial game against Canada, the uniforms have frequently featured white tops with blue shorts. In 1950, the US adopted a “Peru” style kit by putting a diagonal stripe across their shirts. The stripe has been featured on third kits for 2003, 2004, and 2006, as well as on the 2010 home, away and third uniforms. This sash-style has been used frequently throughout international play, unfortunately with very little success. Soccer being one of the more superstitious sports on the planet, the team decided to move away from the sash-style uniform after their lackluster performance in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and move forward with the more traditional striped white top for this years tournament. The white uniform plays off the aforementioned stripe that has been prevalent in many United States uniforms throughout history, this time including a gold accent – commonly incorporated into the uniform of every host country. The black uniform was created based on the National anthem of the USA, “…and the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night, that our flag was still there.” Of course written by Francis Scott Key during the American Revolution.

United States // Team USA

The United States squad from the 2010 World Cup of South Africa with the traditional sash-style uniforms. This year’s model is a break from

tradition in an attempt to change the team’s fortunes.

fashionistas

Green, white, and red – these colors have represented Italy for over one-hundred years. So why is it then that their uniforms are blue? In fact, the name “Gli Azzurri” given to the Italian National Soccer team means “The Blues” in their home language. The use of the blue color in the uniforms dates back to 1861 and the unification of Italy. The Italian Royal Family, the House of Savoy, used this color blue within their family seal during their dynasty – a time period which included unification. As tribute to the House of Savoy bringing the Italian people together under one flag, Italian athletes often include blue in their uniforms during international play. It is said that to this day Italy is only truly unified when watching their National Team play, as a separation has been made over the years between a wealthy, industrial Northern Italy, and an agriculturally centered South. No matter the ongoing disagreements, or political situations between Northern and Southern Italy, when Gli Azzurri take the field the country of Italy is unified, and is heard cheering in a single voice. This year’s uniforms honor the “Azzurro Savoia” tradition with their blue home uniforms, and present a strikingly simplistic single-logo design on their away kit.

Italy // Gli Azzurri


In the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, the USA faced a very big and intimidating opponent – England, the “Kings of Football” at the time. On game day, the USA took the field wearing a white jersey with a blue sash across the front. England set an intimidating tone with their all blue uniform, a standard for most of England’s matches. History tells us that the USA prevailed with a 1-0 victory. After this shocking defeat, England officially stopped wearing blue jerseys on the pitch. They have never worn a blue uniform since their match against the USA in the 1950 World Cup. This years jersey features a shoulder cross, which is a reference to the English flag, not to be confused with the British flag – an important point, since England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are separate teams in international soccer, as opposed to the Olympics, where Great Britain competes as a whole. The nickname “The Three Lions” is born from the team’s crest – a symbol which has long represented the mighty Kings of England on their armor for centuries, beginning with the aptly named King Richard I the Lionheart in 1118. Each heir since then has modified this mark on their crests, and it made its way onto the pitch in 1920.

England // The Three Lions

UNIFORMS Tradition and superstition reign supreme in the multi-million dollar world of kit design.


Meaning “The Team” in their native language, Die Mannshaft always seems to be Adidas’ banner team, which is no surprise as Adidas is a German company. Adidas is the long-standing kit provider to the national team, a sponsorship that began in 1954 and is contracted to continue until at least 2030. Nike, Inc. had been courting the team, and in August 2007 reportedly offered as much as €500 million to outfit the team for an eight-year period – a figure that is six times what Adidas currently pays – but the federation decided to remain loyal to the Germany-based Adidas. The national team’s home kit has always been a white shirt and black shorts. The colors are derived from the 19th century flag of the north German State of Prussia. A change, from black to red, came in 2006 on the request of Jürgen Klinsmann, citing that teams in red are statistically more successful, and perceived as more intimidating. He hoped to use the red away shirt as first choice for the 2006 World Cup despite less than impressive results when playing in these colors, but Germany played every game at the 2006 World Cup in its home white colors. In 2010, the away colors then changed back to a black shirt and white shorts, and haven’t changed since. Why mess with success?

Germany // Die MannschaftMeaning “Little Canary” in Portuguese, the Brazilian National team provides one of the most classical looks in the tournament when wearing either of their famous kits. Brazil’s first team colors were white with blue collars, but following defeat in the 1950 World Cup, the colors were criticized for lacking patriotism. With permission from the Brazilian Sports Confederation, the newspaper Correio da Manhã held a competition to design a kit incorporating the four colors of the Brazilian flag. The winning design was a yellow jersey with green trim and blue shorts with white trim drawn by Aldyr Garcia Schlee, a nineteen year old from Pelotas. The new colors were first used in March 1954 in a match against Chile, and have been used ever since. The use of blue as the away kit color dates from the 30s, but it became the permanent second choice accidentally in the 1958 World Cup Final. Brazil’s opponents were Sweden, who also wear yellow, and a draw gave the home team, Sweden, the right to play in yellow. Brazil, who travelled with no spare kit, hurriedly purchased a set of blue shirts and sewed on emblems cut from their yellow shirts. This happy accident has become a trademark of Brazilian soccer, and will be on display yet again in this year’s World Cup.

Brazil // Canarinho

Red, white, and blue can be seen on the Dutch National Flag, yet the color orange has become synonymous with Dutch Soccer across the globe. Orange is the color of the Dutch Royal Family. The lineage of the current dynasty – the House of Oranje-Nassau – dates back to Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). While the color orange has royal roots in The Netherlands, today it symbolizes a broader pride in the country and in being Dutch. Fans of the Dutch National team are easily spotted, as the support for their team is vibrantly broadcast across any stadium they enter, as seen below. The Dutch do honor their national flag in their alternate uniforms, although seldom used – the fans love the oranje.

Netherlands // Oranje

UNIFORMS Tradition and superstitions reign supreme in the multi-million dollar world of kit design.



“The White and Sky Blue” of Argentina provide the most classic kit of the entire World Cup with their signature jersey and black shorts. This look has withstood the test of time, debuting in 1911. Although minor changes are seen over time, when opponents see this kit take the field it brings with it thoughts of some of the greatest players in World Cup history in Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. Worn during one of the most famous moments, or infamous depending on the team you support, Maradona donned the white and sky blue while scoring a goal on a hand-ball in the 1986 World Cup Semi-finals against England. It has become known as the ‘Hand of God’ due to Maradona’s explanation that the goal was scored, “a little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” The kit is among the best selling in the world, which could have to do with the players and moment mentioned previously, along with the classical look. Derived from the flag of Argentina, this color combination will always be respected among the game’s elite. The rarely used alternate jersey has seen many changes over the years, including a time when it was solid black in the 1990’s. Adidas has been the sponsor of the Argentina National Team since 1962.

Argentina // La AlbicelesteNicknamed “The Navigators” in honor of its adventurous seafaring history and famous explorers, Portugal has enjoyed much success in recent years, yet have continued to renew their uniform design each tournament. Always among the most adventurous of designs, this years Portugal uniforms bring with them non-traditional collar shapes and patterns. Sporting the gold, red, and green colors found in their national flag, the Portuguese kit for this year’s World Cup Final find themselves among the fan favorites due to the success of the team as well as the vibrant design. The national crest, seen in the team emblem, has been used by the Portugeuse kingdom since the Middle Ages, outdated only by the seal used on the English kits. Nike has been the sponsor of the Portuguese National Team since 1986, and has become known for their use of multiple fabrics in their uniform designs. Always cutting edge on their use of materials, Nike has produced the most state of the art uniforms for each of their sponsored squads, including the Portuguese. Regardless of what they’re wearing, Os Navegadores will surely be among the fan favorites as a team that always travels well. The Portuguese squad will begin their quest in Philadelphia, PA.

Portugal // Os Navegadores

Metlife Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium

The Rose Bowl

University of Phoenix stadium

Gillette Stadium

Lincoln Financial Field

Sun Life Stadium

Ohio Stadium

CenturyLink Field

Cowboys Stadium

VENUES Larger

Than Life

The United States of America boasts some of the largest capacity, most state of the art sports arenas in the world, and the time has come for them to be acknowledged on the world stage. Almost all of the stadiums that will host the World Cup were initially designed for the National Football League, but have since been renovated to accommodate the wider field of play that is required to host a soccer match. Renovations to major stadiums across the United States began in 2020, a year after the country was chosen as host nation by the FIFA Selection Committee. At a total cost of $758 million to renovate existing facilities, the host cities of each venue are sure to reap the benefits of the investment thanks to an influx of world travelers as well as Team USA fans.

Last time the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994 the country lived up to the hype as host nation, breaking every existing World Cup attendance record for every round of the tournament. These records have withstood the test of time, but are expected to be eclipsed this year thanks to the widespread modern-ization of sporting venues through-out the United States, and a growing enthusiasm for the game of soccer within the United States. The World Cup will visit 10 venues from the group stage through the medal round, each bringing something different to the table. While the host cities are officially Dallas, Boston, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Phila-delphia, fans of all nationalities are sure to explore everything that our beautiful country has to offer as they follow the beautiful game.

$65 BILLIONAmount spent creating and renovat-

ing the venues and infrastructure for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in

Qatar, which required eleven new stadiums to be built in eight years.

Roughly $41,000 per citizen.

VENUES A breakdown of each stadium and arena on display for the 2026 FIFA World Cup – some old, some new, but all like you’ve never seen them before.

30FIFA World Cup 2026 Venues


MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, New Jersey

Opened: 2010

Nickname: Giants Stadium

Capacity: 82,500

Cost: $1.6 Billion

Quarterfinals

No trip to the United States would be complete without a journey to the city that never sleeps. Located just outside New York City, MetLife Stadium got the nod for as the host stadium of the region over Red Bull Arena due to its far superior seating capacity. Full time home of the New York Giants and New York Jets NFL franchises, MetLife Stadium was host to Super Bowl XVLIII in 2014 and is famous for hosting concerts when football is out of season. The Meadowlands is also famously the home to American Dream Meadowlands – a state of

the art entertainment facility featuring an indoor ski-jump, an amusement park, a live performing arts theatre, a water park, and the Zeytinia gourmet food centre. This billion dollar project is sure to pay dividends with the influx of world travellers who are following their teams throughout tournament play.

Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana

Opened: 2008

Nickname: The Luke

Capacity: 70,000

Cost: $720 Million

Group Stage, Round of 16

A different brand of football makes its mark in Indianapolis, thanks to two-million dollars in renovations to theseating areas to allow for the wider playing field. These renovations also allowed for an MLS expansion team to be centered in Indiana, as FC Indianapolis joined the league in 2020. Lucas Oil Sta-dium, full time home of the Indianapolis Colts, will host the Round of 16 and the quarterfinal rounds of the World Cup due to its fairly centralized location in the northern United States. Also nicknamed “The House that Peyton Built” after

the success of the Indianapolis Colts and their quarterback Peyton Manning, the building has seen troubled days since he was cut from the team in 2012 and signed with the Denver Broncos. The World Cup is sure to bring in great revenue to the building, and the Indianapolis metropolitan area, much like Super Bowl XLIV did to popularize the region.


The Rose Bowl Pasadena, California

Opened: 1922

Nickname: The Rose

Capacity: 94,542

Cost: $273,000

Group Stage

The grand-daddy of them all plays host to the Group Stage of the World Cup. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California is one of two stadiums in the world to play host to both a men’s and women’s World Cup championship match. The site of the 1994 World Cup Final between Brazil and Italy, the Rose Bowl holds a special place in the hearts of many fans for many different reasons. The shear number of historic sporting events that have been played within its walls are staggering. From Superbowls, to Olympic games, the National Historic Landmark is the full time

home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, the UCLA Bruins, and the college football BCS National Championship Game. When the BCS National Championship was adapted to the current tournament format in 2018, the Rose Bowl returned to its grandeur, and will once again return to its rightful place as the world’s game takes center stage.

Gillette Stadium Foxborough, Massachusetts

Opened: 2002

Nickname: The Edge

Capacity: 68,000

Cost: $325 Million

Group Stage

Long gone are the dynasty days of Tom Brady and Bill Belicheck, but the success of the New England Patriots football team is the main reason for the financial success and improvements made on Gillette Stadium over the past decade. The New England Revolution of the MLS also have called Gillette Stadium home since its inception in 2002. Although it has hosted several CONCA-CAF matchups in the past, Gillette Stadium has never hosted a soccer match of this magnitude, and has been outfitted with additional seating to accommodate the fans. Gillette Stadium

will be the first stop for Team USA on their path to the gold medal, as this will be the home of Group D throughout the group stage of the tournament. Expectations are high for the squad, but one thing that is sure not to disappoint is this stadium, with Patriot Place entertainment center just across the parking lot.


University of Phoenix Stadium Glendale, Arizona

Opened: 2006

Nickname: The Bird’s Nest

Capacity: 78,600

Cost: $455 Million


Full time home of the Arizona Cardinals NFL team, University of Phoenix Stadium is truly a diamond in the rough – or desert, more appropriately. World famous for its innovative retractable field surface, the pitch inside this dome is one-hundred-percent real grass, which is grown outside and is pulled inside for events. Home of the Tostito’s Fiesta Bowl since its opening, the building has also played host to the Super Bowl, the Final Four, and countless other spectator events such as WWE’s WrestleMania. Located in an area of the country with high

average summer temperatures, players and fans within this stadium will be treated to a closure of the retractable roof, and provided with an air conditioned atmosphere to enjoy. University of Phoenix Stadium will play host to the Group Stage, as well of the Round of 16 of the World Cup, and would be the Team USA’s second stop, should they advance.

Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Opened: 2003

Nickname: The Linc

Capacity: 70,000

Cost: $512 Million

Group Stage

Lincoln Financial Field has been home of the Philadelphia Eagles since its con-struction in 2003. Home of many football games and concerts, it’s also one of thefew United States stadiums to have exper-ience hosting international soccer matches – making it an ideal candidate to host the Group Stage of the 2026 World Cup. Philadelphia sports faithful have garnered a reputation across all major sports platforms as being some of the most passion-ate, if not volatile fans of any city in the United States, and this passion will be on display for the first time on the world

stage. The stadium opened on August 3, 2003 with a preseason friendly match between European soccer giants Manchester United and FC Barcelona. 68,396 people watched Manchester United win 3-1. Having hosted other European powerhouse clubs such as AC Milan, Celtic, and Chelsea in the past, world soccer fans should feel quite at home at ‘The Linc’.


Sun Life Stadium Miami Gardens, Florida

Opened: 1987

Nickname: The Orange Bowl

Capacity: 75,000

Cost: $115 Million


Since its creation, Sun Life Stadium has hosted five Super Bowls, two World Series, four BCS National Championship games, and has been home to the Miami Dolphins, Florida Marlins, and the Miami Hurricanes. Although the naming rights of the stadium have changed hands several times over the past decades, the nickname “The Orange Bowl” has withstood the test of time. Easily identifiable by its bright orange bleachers and its tall winding pillars, Sun Life Stadium is the premiere sports stadium of the South Eastern United States. Although the

stadium was initially built to accommodate football, it was designed to be easily renovated, and was so when the Florida Marlins expansion team joined Major League Baseball in 1993. This anticipated renovation called for a wider playing surface than most other NFL stadiums had at the time, allowing Sun Life stadium to easily host soccer.

CenturyLink Field Seattle, Washington

Opened: 2002

Nickname: The 12th Man

Capacity: 67,000

Cost: $430 Million


Full time home of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, and the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer, CenutryLink Field has garnered a reputa-tion as one of the loudest stadiums in the United States. Since its opening in 2002, Seahawk opponents have more false start penalties than any other stadium in the league, a statistic largely attributed to crowd noise, and thus the nickname ‘The 12th Man’. Although Seattle has not been the most successful location for professional sports organiza-tions, see the Seattle Supersonics for proof, it is one of the few

hot beds for soccer in the United States – the Seattle Sounders have lead the MLS in attendance for the last seven years, and has hosted the MLS Cup five times in the past ten years. The first sell-out in field history came during an exhibition match played between Manchester United and Celtic, evidence that it should prove to be quite profitable as a World Cup location.


Ohio Stadium Columbus, Ohio

Opened: 1922

Nickname: The Horseshoe

Capacity: 102,000

Cost: $1.2 Million

Group Stage

Home of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Ohio Stadium is one of the highest capacity stadiums in the world. Located on the campus of Ohio State University, Ohio Stadium has hosted countless college football games but never a soccer match. Thanks to renovations, Ohio Stadium will host its first soccer match in its one-hundred year history when the Round of 16 matches move to the building this summer. These renovations will continue to benefit sports in the Ohio area, as both men’s and women’s college soccer teams will move into the building,

as well as select home games of the Columbus Crew of the MLS. It is hoped that the World Cup will increase the games popularity within the United States, and that the increased seating capacity of Ohio Stadium will be a necessity for the Columbus Crew moving forward as one of the top teams in Major League Soccer, winning three of the past four titles.

Cowboys Stadium Arlington, Texas

Opened: 2009

Nickname: Jerry’s World

Capacity: 111,000

Cost: $1.3 Billion

Semifinals, Medal Round

When Cowboys Stadium was commis-sioned back in 2005 to replace one of the most iconic stadiums in the NFL, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones aimed to create one of the most extravagant and expensive sporting venues in history. The result stands at 1 Legends Way in Arlington. Cowboys stadium was created as a multi-sport complex with the dreams of hosting just about every sporting event imaginable, having Super Bowls, the NCAA Final Four, boxing matches, and NBA All-Star games to its credit already. This summer it will add FIFA World Cup

to its impressive resumé. The stadium is the largest domed stadium in the world, and contains an impressive center-hung 160 foot wide high-definition video board suspended from the roof. Cowboys Stadium will be host to the Semifinals and the Medal Round of the World Cup, making it the goal for all competitors in this year’s tournament.

Born into a family of four boys, Luke Allen’s life growing up in the small town of Kirkwood, Delaware revolved around sports. Every day when the weather was nice, and most days when it wasn’t, he and his brothers would be outside running around playing whichever sport was in season until dark. As the youngest, he would constantly be playing and competing against the older, stronger, bigger kids around the neighbor-hood. It was within this atmosphere that Allen’s fiery spirit and competitive drive manifested itself, as he would never allow himself to be outdone by his brothers or their friends. It was this competitive spirit that has turned him into the athlete we all know today as one of the best in the world, and who could go down as one of the best U.S. born international soccer stars of all time. Allen’s high school career was one for the history books, averaging a staggering three goals per game his freshman year as a Varsity starter. As the accomplishments and recogni-tions piled up, so did the attention from scouts and coaches from across the U.S., as well as internationally. By his junior year of high school, Allen had invitations to join some of the most prestigious international soccer schools in the world, including the AC Milan Primavera, the Academy of Football at West Ham, and FC Barcelona B at La Masia. This was the path that was laid out before him, to take his talents abroad at a young age the way all young soccer phenoms had before

him. However, much to the surprise of the soccer community, Allen announced before his senior year of high school that he intended to go to college, and the recruiters began kicking down his door. “To see letters and invitations from world famous soccer clubs to join their youth programs as a sixteen year old kid was pretty overwhelming. I knew that it was something that merited serious considerations, and it was something that I discussed at length with my coaches, and advisors, but most importantly with my family. In the end I knew that I would always have a chance for those things later in life, but only this one chance to play in college and get an education. I prom-ised my mom before all of the letters started to roll in that I would get a college education, and those letters did nothing to change that promise. After that decision I was faced with another, choosing a school. I wanted to stay relatively close to home, so anything on the West coast was out, and after much consideration for my future and my family, I decided to play with my older brother Matt at the University of North Caro-lina in Chapel Hill.” While at UNC, a night out with his older brother and teammates turned into a pact. They decided, as a team, to go out and get tattoos – the University of North Carolina logo on their right forearms. Though a rather juvenile move, he admits, Allen was hooked. “In every sport you always see these

36FIFA World Cup 2026 A Marked Man

A markedmaN

A marked

A MARKED MAN

38FIFA World Cup 2026 A Marked Man

guys with ink, I feel more so in Ameri-can sports, but especially in soccer. Guys are always trying to stand out from the crowd, whether through tattoos, flashy cleats, or wild hair. After getting my first tattoo with my teammates I was hooked, I’m pretty sure I was back in that same chair for another within a month.”Like many international stars before him, Da-vid Beckham, Gregory van der Wiel, and Kevin Prince Boateng Allen has become known for his inked look. Fitting, as the ‘marked man’ for the United States will surely be the center of attention for opp-posing defenses. Unfortunately for Allen and his family, he returned to the artists chair in May of 2020 – this time in memoriam. While Luke had been the talk of the national and international soccer worlds, his brother Greg had decided to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Greg was killed in action on April 30th, 2020.

“I didn’t know what to do. My brother and I took a long break from soccer after that, and my teammates and coaches were very supportive of us and our family, our bond to them and to UNC became stronger because of that.” Allen recalls, “Losing my brother was the toughest thing I’ve had to go through in my life, but in the end, it was a very grounding experience. I realized that no matter what I did in the sports world, no matter how good other people said I was, no matter how much money they could offer me, I was still just playing a game, and that I was lucky enough to do exactly what I loved to do for a living while others, like my brother, make unimaginable sacrifices everyday that allow me to do what I do.” Luke carries his brother’s memory with him into every game – both figura-tively and literally. The ink on the back of his right shoulder was marked in tribute of his brother Greg. Luke has dedicated the rest of his career to honoring Greg’s

memory, including setting up a scholar-ship foundation in his name in their hometown of Kirkwood. Allen’s path to international stardom is a rare one, filled with many tests, but his continued success could impact U.S. soc-cer for generations. By choosing to play soccer in college instead of going abroad, those within the U.S. soccer community are hoping he sets an example for future players to follow. For years, the United States has been losing some of their best and most promising soccer players to the international ranks and development in-stitutions of Europe. The game of soccer at home has suffered as a result. Without the country’s most talented players, the NCAA Soccer world has failed to reach the eye of the public. Major League Soccer has also struggled in recent years due to a lack of star-power. Allen is the first true American superstar, and any hope of reversing this trend lies on his marked shoulders.

A look into the rise and success of star U.S. strikerLuke Allen, and how he became the athlete he is today.

WRITETHE FUTURE

Documents

2026 FIFA World Cup Program