48 teams in 2026 World Cup
The 2026 World Cup is the largest ever, featuring 48 national teams.
Where this was said
Teams in Small-Town America: Base Camps and Local Magic
At 5:13 · chapter starts 5:02
One of Tarek Panja's favourite aspects of the expanded 48-team World Cup is where the teams end up: not in major cities, but in college towns and mid-sized cities that have never hosted anything like a global event. Spain is in Chattanooga — home to 'Lamine watching,' as locals follow the teenage superstar around a Walmart. Erling Haaland is in Greensboro. But the most heartwarming story belongs to Lawrence, Kansas, a University of Kansas college town, which prepared for Algeria's arrival by having its marching band learn the Algerian national anthem. Locals showed up in Algeria jerseys. A town that had never experienced anything remotely global suddenly found itself at the centre of the world.
Lamine Yamal Goes to Walmart
Spain's Lamine Yamal, one of the most famous athletes on the planet, is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee for the tournament. There he is — walking into a Walmart. The World Cup has a way of turning ordinary American towns into improbable global stages.
Lawrence, Kansas Learns the Algerian National Anthem
The University of Kansas marching band learned the Algerian national anthem to welcome Team Algeria to Lawrence, Kansas. Local fans showed up in Algeria jerseys. A college town that had never experienced anything like a global event suddenly became one.
The Norwegian Viking Row Takes New York
Norwegian World Cup fans arrived in New York and New Jersey, performed their famous Viking rowing chant on a subway escalator, and then got bused by the city of Dallas to Buc-ee's — the giant American gas station that became an unlikely pilgrimage site. International fans encountering America at full volume is the essence of this World Cup.
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15 years of boxing training
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75+ kickboxing fights in career
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