The World Cup: Players Vie for Goals and Countries for Influence

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is now well underway, bringing 48 countries’ teams to compete in a soccer tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. With teams from every continent except Antarctica, the 2026 tournament is a truly global event. The World Cup is often hailed as an opportunity for the world to come together and celebrate a shared passion for “the beautiful game” — creating an opportunity every four years for countries to gain attention, shape their reputation, and build influence.Although the joint U.S.-Mexican-Canadian bid intended to demonstrate North American connections, relations have deteriorated since the

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