The 2026 FIFA World Cup Has Begun!

The biggest football event of the four-year cycle is finally underway. From June 11 to July 19, the world's best national teams will compete for the title of world champions at stadiums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

This tournament has already made history: for the first time, the World Cup is being hosted by three countries, while the number of participants has increased from 32 to 48 teams. Fans can look forward to 104 matches, dozens of remarkable stories, and more than a month of almost non-stop football.

No Ukraine This Time

Unfortunately, Ukraine are not among the participants this time. The Blue and Yellows finished second in their qualifying group behind France and continued their fight for a World Cup place in the play-offs. However, the team suffered a 1 : 3 defeat against Sweden in the qualifying semi-final and failed to reach the tournament.

Naturally, the absence of the national team significantly reduces the level of personal involvement. However, the World Cup takes place only once every four years, so an event of this scale is still not to be missed. This is where new stars emerge, favourites unexpectedly drop points, and teams nobody expected anything from make the entire world support them.

Who Are the Favourites?

Reigning world champions Argentina remain one of the main contenders for the title. The team have retained the core of the squad that achieved historic success four years ago and remain excellent at handling the pressure of major matches. Argentina confirmed their status in the opening round with a convincing 3 : 0 victory over Algeria.

France look just as formidable. The team can call upon Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, and a whole group of players capable of deciding a match with a single moment of brilliance. France began their campaign with a 3 : 1 victory over Senegal, once again demonstrating just how dangerous their attack can be.

Brazil are traditionally among the favourites as well. The five-time world champions possess one of the most talented squads at the tournament, particularly in attack. However, their start was far from straightforward, as the match against Morocco ended in a 1 : 1 draw. That result only adds to the intrigue, as Brazil can no longer afford to lose focus.

Expectations are also high for Spain. This young, technically gifted, and well-organised team are capable of controlling possession against almost any opponent. However, their opening match proved that famous names guarantee nothing: Spain failed to score against World Cup debutants Cape Verde and were held to a 0 : 0 draw.

England and Portugal should not be overlooked either. England have one of the most valuable and deepest squads at the tournament, while Portugal combine extensive international experience with a new generation of stars. The opening matches of both teams will be among the biggest events of the coming days.

This Week's Match Schedule

June 17

20:00 — Portugal — DR Congo

23:00 — England — Croatia

June 18

02:00 — Ghana — Panama

05:00 — Uzbekistan — Colombia

19:00 — Czechia — South Africa

22:00 — Switzerland — Bosnia and Herzegovina

June 19

01:00 — Canada — Qatar

04:00 — Mexico — Korea Republic

22:00 — United States — Australia

June 20

01:00 — Scotland — Morocco

03:30 — Brazil — Haiti

06:00 — Türkiye — Paraguay

20:00 — Netherlands — Sweden

23:00 — Germany — Côte d'Ivoire

June 21

03:00 — Ecuador — Curaçao

07:00 — Tunisia — Japan

19:00 — Spain — Saudi Arabia

22:00 — Belgium — Iran

The Uruguay — Cape Verde match will kick off in the early hours of June 22 at 01:00 Kyiv time.

A World Cup Where You Can Become a Star in Minutes

The World Cup attracts hundreds of millions of viewers, meaning that even a player who is largely unknown to the wider public can become a global celebrity in a single evening. Sometimes, they do not even need to score the winning goal.

Shortly before the tournament began, Argentine blogger Valen Scarsini, known as El Scarso, decided to find the least popular player taking part in the World Cup. He discovered New Zealand defender Tim Payne, who had around 4,700 Instagram followers at the time.

The blogger encouraged his audience to turn the little-known player into one of the tournament's main characters. The campaign quickly went viral, and Payne's follower count grew to almost six million. The defender not only became an internet star before playing his first match but also soon agreed to join Paraguayan club Olimpia.

An even more incredible story unfolded after the match between Spain and Cape Verde. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper of the World Cup debutants, made several crucial saves, helped his team secure a sensational 0 : 0 draw, and was named Player of the Match.

During the broadcast, popular Brazilian streamer Casimiro Miguel noticed that the hero of the match had only around 50,000 followers. He encouraged his audience to support the goalkeeper, and Vozinha's follower count began rising during the game itself. It first passed one million and then approached ten million in less than 24 hours.

These are exactly the kinds of stories that make us love the World Cup. One match, one save, or even a single social media post can completely change a person's life.

Watch with Ninja Pizza

The biggest football event of the year is best enjoyed with friends. Watching it alone works too, as long as Ninja Pizza is by your side.

Place your orders, choose the team you will be supporting, and be sure to share your predictions in the comments!