When it comes to the sporting world, one topic dominates the narrative more than any other this year: The 2026 FIFA World Cup. Less than three months from now, Mexico will kick off the greatest sporting spectacle on earth when they welcome South Africa to the stunning Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for the tournament's opening game. Over the course of the five weeks that follow, just two of the planet's 48 finest footballing nations will remain, battling it out in MetLife Stadium on July 19th for the honor of being crowned world champions.
Argentina head into the tournament as the defending champions after Lionel Messi's date with destiny four years ago. Online betting sites make them a contender to defend their crown, but they aren't the outright favorites. That is an honor that goes to reigning European Champions Spain, with Lucky Rebel Sportsbook listing them as 9/2 frontrunners to lift the famous gold trophy for the second time, 16 years on from the first.
But with the tournament fast approaching, what are some of the biggest storylines the more casual fan needs to look out for this summer? Let's take a look.
Messi vs Ronaldo
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will go down in history as two of the very best players to have ever played the beautiful game, right up there with the likes of Diego Maradona and Pelé. The two storied rivals have battled it out the world over, with those memorable El Clásico clashes throughout the 2010s delivering some of the finest moments in the history of both Barcelona and Real Madrid. However, the two all-time greats have never faced off against each other on the global stage... until now.
Messi's Argentina is expected to top Group J ahead of Austria, Algeria, and debutants Jordan. Ronaldo's Portugal, meanwhile, is similarly expected to win Group K ahead of Colombia, fellow debutants Uzbekistan, and an intercontinental qualifier, either DR Congo or Jamaica. Should they both live up to the billing, then the Albiceleste and the Seleção das Quinas will be penned in for a collision course in the quarterfinals.
Many consider Messi to be ahead of Ronaldo—and Pele and Maradona, for that matter—with his sensational exploits in Argentina's run to the title four years ago too much to overlook. However, with the upcoming World Cup set to be the last that either feature in—Messi will turn 39 during the tournament and Ronaldo is already 41—what better way for CR7 to prove that he is the man that should be remembered as the greatest than by ending Messi's hopes of defending the title and catapulting his beloved Portugal to the semifinals?
Think you’re a World Cup expert?
— Lucky Rebel (@LuckyRebel__) January 1, 2026
Get into the Discord trivia tonight at 7pm ET to take your shot.
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The Fate of the Co-hosts
For the first time, the World Cup will feature no fewer than three co-hosts this summer, with Mexico, Canada, and the United States all opening their doors to the world. The latter of that trio will be hosting the vast majority of the whopping 104 games, 78 of them to be exact, with their neighbors hosting 13 apiece. But which of the three co-hosts will venture deeper into the tournament than the others?
Being the host nation often brings with it a wave of raucous support that transforms a team. Unheralded Russia was the lowest-ranked team to enter back in 2018, but they came within a penalty shootout of reaching the semifinals. South Korea would reach the final-four back in 2002, knocking off heavyweights Italy and Spain—albeit in controversial fashion—before ultimately falling to Germany.
The United States looks like the best-positioned of the three to make a splash. Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic are both in peak form in Serie A. Striker Folarin Balogun is on absolute fire with Monaco. If Mauricio Pochettino can get the best of them, there is a very real possibility that a run to the quarterfinals lies in wait. However, with their likely opponents at that stage being the favorites Spain, it's unlikely a miraculous trip to a maiden final appearance is on the cards.
Miroslav Klose's Goals Record
German legend Miroslav Klose is currently the World Cup's all-time top scorer, netting 16 goals across four separate tournaments. Legendary Brazilian Ronaldo was the previous record holder, but Klose snatched that from him in devastating fashion, netting Germany's opener in that famous 7-1 drubbing against hosts Brazil in the 2014 semifinals. Fast forward 12 years, however, and his record is now in jeopardy.
Lionel Messi currently sits just three goals behind Klose in the all-time ranking, having scored 13 goals across five tournaments. He will step onto this storied stage for a record-breaking sixth and final time this summer, and considering the fact he scored seven goals en route to the title four years ago, chances are he will find at least three goals to match the record.
But Messi isn't the only one in contention. French hitman Kylian Mbappe has already amassed 12 goals in just two World Cup visits. He netted a blistering eight-goal haul in Qatar, and a similar display here will see him claim the record.
