The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — and the tournament is already delivering drama, history, and unforgettable storylines. Here’s your essential guide to the biggest talking points right now.
Miroslav Klose’s Retirement — And Why His Record Still Stands
Germany’s all-time World Cup top scorer, Miroslav Klose, retired from professional football in 2016 at the age of 38, joining Joachim Löw’s coaching staff with the German national team. He will forever be remembered as the player who holds the all-time record of 16 World Cup goals across four tournaments (2002–2014) — a mark that no one, not even Messi or Ronaldo, has yet matched. Click Here for Details
How Old Was Messi When He Played His First World Cup?
Lionel Messi made his World Cup debut on June 16, 2006, at just 18 years and 358 days old, coming off the bench in Argentina’s 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro at Germany 2006. He scored his first World Cup goal that same day, becoming Argentina’s youngest-ever World Cup goalscorer. Two decades later, Messi is now 38 years old and playing in his sixth World Cup — and he is still scoring. Click Here for Details
The Oldest Player at World Cup 2026
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon holds the extraordinary distinction of being the oldest player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, at 43 years of age. He is followed closely by other veterans including Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, and Manuel Neuer, all of whom are 40 or older. Ronaldo, if he takes the field, will become one of a tiny group of players to appear at a World Cup aged 41 or above. Click Here for Details
The Youngest Player at World Cup 2026
Mexico’s Gilberto Mora, born on October 14, 2008, is the youngest player at the 2026 World Cup — just 17 years and 240 days old when the tournament kicked off on June 11. He has already broken records as the youngest scorer in Liga MX history and the youngest player to win a senior international trophy (surpassing Pelé and Lamine Yamal). Spain’s Lamine Yamal, 18, is another teenage sensation to watch after his historic Euro 2024 triumph. Click Here for Details
Algeria’s Goalkeeper — Yes, He Is Related to Zinedine Zidane
Algeria’s starting goalkeeper at the 2026 World Cup is Luca Zidane, 28 — the son of French legend Zinedine Zidane. Born just outside Marseille, Luca came through Real Madrid’s academy (during his father’s time as coach there) and now plays for Granada in Spain’s second division. He switched international eligibility from France to Algeria in 2025 through his Algerian family roots, and he is now guarding the net as Algeria faces none other than Argentina — and Lionel Messi — in Group J. Quite a storyline. Click Here for Details
Riyad Mahrez’s Position — The Winger Leading Algeria
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez plays as a right winger and attacking midfielder. The 35-year-old, formerly of Leicester City and Manchester City and now at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, is Algeria’s creative heartbeat and second-most-capped player with 112 appearances. He describes this as his last World Cup, making his performances all the more emotional to watch. Click Here for Details
Most Goals in a World Cup Game by One Player
The record for the most goals scored by a single player in one World Cup match is five — held by Russia’s Oleg Salenko, who netted a stunning quintet against Cameroon on June 28, 1994 in a 6-1 group-stage win in San Francisco. Remarkably, those six tournament goals represent the only international goals Salenko ever scored for Russia. The record has stood for over 30 years and remains one of the most extraordinary individual feats in World Cup history. Click Here for Details
Is Algeria a Good Soccer Team?
Absolutely. Algeria are a legitimate and dangerous side. Ranked 27th in the FIFA World Rankings, they qualified for 2026 by winning eight of ten matches in CAF qualifying — finishing seven points clear of Uganda. Their best World Cup result was reaching the Round of 16 in 2014, where they took eventual champions Germany to extra time. They have also won the Africa Cup of Nations twice (1990 and 2019). With a squad full of Ligue 1 talent, the dynamic Mahrez leading the line, and a fiercely motivated group, they are not a team anyone wants to face. Click Here for Details
Argentina’s National Anthem — A Battle Cry for Freedom
Argentina’s national anthem, the Himno Nacional Argentino, was officially adopted on May 11, 1813 — three years after Argentina’s May Revolution. Its lyrics were written by Vicente López y Planes and set to music by Spanish composer Blas Parera. The anthem is a call to freedom, opening with the cry “¡Libertad, libertad, libertad!” (“Freedom, freedom, freedom!”) and closing with the famous vow “Coronados de gloria vivamos, o juremos con gloria morir” — “Let us live crowned with glory, or swear to die with glory.” The version sung today is a shortened 1900 edit; the full original contained vivid verses about Argentina’s struggle for independence from Spain. Click Here for Details
Is Di María Playing at the 2026 World Cup?
No. Ángel Di María retired from international football on July 14, 2024, following Argentina’s Copa América triumph — choosing to end his national team career on the ultimate high. He has won everything possible with the Albiceleste: the 2022 World Cup (scoring the iconic second goal in the final), two Copa América titles, an Olympic gold, and more. He continues playing club football at his boyhood club Rosario Central. Argentina’s squad moves forward without him, though as coach Lionel Scaloni noted, Di María is truly irreplaceable. Click Here for Details
Where to Watch World Cup 2026 for Free
In the United States, FOX and FS1 hold the exclusive English-language rights to all 104 matches. You can stream every game on the FOX One app (which offers a 3-day free trial) and through FOXSports.com. For Spanish-language coverage, all 104 matches stream on Peacock, with games also airing on Telemundo and Universo. A traditional TV antenna will get you FOX broadcast games completely free. Live TV streaming services including Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV also carry the full package and offer free trials for new users.
In the UK, every single match is free-to-air across BBC iPlayer and ITVX with no subscription needed. In Australia, SBS On Demand streams every match free of charge. Click Here for Details
The 2026 World Cup is the biggest in history — 48 teams, 104 matches, three host nations. Buckle up.