The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing millions of English-speaking Americans to Spanish-language broadcasts, as many fans discover that the emotion, energy and uninterrupted storytelling of Telemundo's coverage transcend language barriers.
Ashleigh Hallam never expected football to become part of her Spanish lessons.
An English-as-a-second-language teacher at her local library in Indiana, Hallam has found herself learning Spanish through the very sport she fell in love with. Although she understands only fragments of Telemundo's Spanish-language commentary, she has no plans to return to English broadcasts anytime soon.
"I can't really understand everything they're saying on Telemundo because they're speaking in Spanish," Hallam said. "But you understand what's going on."
She is far from alone.
