1 of 5 | Argentina's Lionel Messi is set to participate in a record sixth World Cup. File Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI | License Photo
June 11 (UPI) -- A record 48-team field, complex logistics and the likely farewells of soccer icons are among key storylines for the 2026 World Cup, which starts Thursday.
Tournament coverage will air through July 19 on Fox, FS1, Telemundo and Universo and stream on the Fox Sports App and Fox One. A full schedule of tournament openers is listed below.
Spain is favored to win the title. France, England, Portugal, Brazil and reigning champion Argentina are among the other Top 5 expected contenders. The United States is outside of the Top 10 World Cup favorites.
"This group deserves everything that's happening to us," Argentina's Lionel Messi told reporters Tuesday. "We're going to give it our all, just as we always have. Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind that we'll give it our all, just as we all did and just as we've been doing all this time. Just as we always did whenever I was part of the national team.
