Sports Illustrated US
THE ART OF THE GAME
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S World Cup preview covers through the years have featured some of the biggest names in soccer: Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappé.
2 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
HOME COOKING
The heat will be turned up to high on the United States as it hosts the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.With a trendy coach and a strong nucleus of players, the opportunity to make a deep run-and take soccer to the next level-is here
9 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
AUSTRIA
A PRESSING POWER MAKES ITS COMEBACK
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
BRAZIL
BRAZIL MIGHT be the most successful team in World Cup history, but it has only one semifinal appearance since 2002.
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
CZECHIA
CONTAINING THIS BIG LINEUP WILL BE A TALL ORDER
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
PORTUGAL
RONALDO'S FINAL CHANCE AT WINNING IT ALL
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
COLOMBIA
LOS CAFETEROS ARE BUZZING FOR REDEMPTION
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
CROATIA
CAN LIGHTNING STRIKE THRICE FOR THE BLAZERS?
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
A TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES
A fan's attitude toward the World Cup—as well as their nation's hopes—depends on where they live
9 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
CARRY THAT WEIGHT
ASIDE FROM happy-to-be-here upstarts like Curaçao and Cabo Verde, every country in the 2026 World Cup brings its emotional baggage into the tournament. And no team carries a heavier load than England. The birthplace of the modern game has famously (or infamously) won soccer's greatest prize only once, and that was 60 years ago.
2 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
KICKIN' IT OLD SCHOOL
Better nutrition. Improved training methods. Fewer cigarettes. Put it all together and soccer's elder statesmen aren't just prolonging their careers-they're continuing to dominate
10 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
A STEP AHEAD
Accomplished beyond his years, Barça's 18-year-old sensation has helped lift Spain into a favorite's role as he continues his march toward a seemingly limitless future
9 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
URUGUAY
LA CELESTE WON'T ADD A STAR TO THE CREST
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
BELGIUM
THE RED DEVILS WANT TO ATONE FOR 2022
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
EGYPT
A WIN WOULD BE DIVINE FOR THE PHARAOHS
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
NORWAY
HAVING THE BEST SCORER IN THE WORLD HELPS
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
LES ÉLÉPHANTS WILL BE UP TO THE TUSK. ER, TASK
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
SWITZERLAND
DON'T SLEEP ON THE HUMBLE SWISS
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
QATAR
THE HOSTS WITH THE MOST (LOSSES) CAN ONLY GET BETTER
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
BRANDING EXERCISE
What's in a name? Not a sponsor, if you're a FIFA-approved host site
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
SHIRT STORIES
Sure, a national team could throw a flag and some stripes on a jersey and call it a day. But a World Cup uniform is more than a way to distinguish one team from another on the pitch. It's a canvas for celebrating cultural heritage, boasting of native natural wonders— and for a lucky few, flexing over past success. Here are the details behind some of this year's most intriguing kits
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
ALGERIA
THESE DESERT FOXES COULD SLYLY SURPRISE
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
JORDAN
THE CHIVALROUS ONES ARE THE ULTIMATE GUESTS
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
UZBEKISTAN
THE WHITE WOLVES ARE MORE PREY THAN PREDATORS
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
CABO VERDE
THE BLUE SHARKS ARE CHOMPING AT THEIR FIRST BID
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
DR CONGO
THE LEOPARDS ARE BACK AFTER A 52-YEAR EXILE
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
FRANCE
EXPECTATIONS ARE SKY-HIGH FOR LES BLEUS
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
ECUADOR
LA TRICOLOR WILL RELY ON A PAIR OF BLUES
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
CURAÇAO
THE BLUE WAVE ARE THE ULTIMATE UNDERDOGS
1 min |
June 2026 - World Cup Preview / WNBA Preview
Sports Illustrated US
RIP, GROUP OF DEATH
In light of the new 48-team field, here's an elegy for actually good group games
1 min |