Evergreen reads for World Cup fans: history, the great upsets, and how to play along with friends.
The World Cup is more than the 104 matches played in any single summer. It is almost a century of stories: dynasties built and broken, tiny nations toppling giants, and the slow growth of a small tournament into the most watched event on the planet. The pieces below are written to stand on their own, whether you are a lifelong fan brushing up on the history or a newcomer trying to understand what all the fuss is about. If you are here to follow World Cup 2026 specifically, our beginner's guide covers the new format, the host cities, and how to follow along.