Welcome to The Athletic’s 2026 World Cup tactical group guides, walking you through the key battles on the pitch, the players to look out for, and the fun facts to impress your friends ahead of the tournament.

Three friends from Argentina arrive in Missouri in Kansas after cycling 10,500 miles from their home in Gualeguaychu to the venue of their team's opening game of the World Cup.

Argentina forward Lionel Messi, sitting, takes a break with teammates during practice for the FIFA World Cup soccer Wednesday, June 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/)

Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez has told Argentina fans that he will recover from a finger injury in time for the national team's World Cup opener against Algeria on June 16.

World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.