The arena roars as nations from all over the world come together. Flags rise, chants echo through the stands, and anticipation builds after four long years of waiting; the FIFA World Cup has finally arrived.
Every four years, soccer (its football) nations compete with each other in different hosted countries to see who will win the FIFA World Cup Trophy. The FIFA World Cup is the most widely viewed and followed sporting event on the planet, with billions of viewers tuning in globally. Whether you root for Portugal or Argentina, everyone across the globe comes together to enjoy football. In Richmond Hill High School: students, staff, and teachers, all come together waiting for the games to begin.
This year marks the 23rd edition of the FIFA Men’s World Cup, expanding its horizons compared to Qatar 2022 by featuring 48 teams this year. The games kicked off on June 11, 2026 with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City where Mexico defeated South Africa by a 2-0 victory. The other games are hosted jointly across Northern America, including places like Mexico, the United States, and for the first time in history, Canada.
“It feels nice knowing it’s taking place in North and South America, given how global it is for most watchers and sports fans,” said senior Casandra Merino. She added that one place she’d love to see the World Cup hosted would be the MET Studio, connecting the excitement of the tournament to a familiar local setting.
This year marks the last and farewell for many all-time players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Both players were known for special presences on the field, with the outstanding playing skills to winning several football trophies. It is finally time to lay down their legacy in football history. Though many fans are saddened by the news, it still erupts the new beginning for uplifting new players like Lamine Yamal as he will be playing for team Spain. This year is also special because it has introduced for the first time appearances for more countries, such as Jordan, Cape Verde, Curaçao ( the smallest country to ever play in the world cup), and Uzbekistan.
In Richmond Hill, as the excitement vibrates throughout the hallways, door to door, every student represents the country they are supporting, from various cultural backgrounds unite. The community and shared joy are a type of beauty that most people aren’t able to see, but students and staff at Richmond are able.
The world cup is not only just a soccer game, but an opportunity for people to come together and make memories. For some, it is even tradition to watch the games with their family. “My favorite memory of the World Cup was when it was Fathers Day, Mexico beat Germany, I got to spend it with my father and I became really emotional,” recalls Senior Kelvin Merino from an early childhood memory during the World Cup.
Now that the games have begun, whether you’re staying up late debating with friends and family over who will win, Richmond Hill High School is ready for the excitement to unfold. So grab your jerseys, set your alarms, and get ready; the biggest sporting event in the world has arrived. Which country are you cheering for?
