The 2026 World Cup kicks off Thursday afternoon with the first group play contests as teams from around the globe look to set the tone for their pursuit of the most prestigious prize in soccer.

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The biggest, longest, mostest World Cup in history kicks off Thursday, with Mexico facing South Africa in an Azteca opener, the start to a mountain of clashes that’s going to keep a lot of us from getting anything done over the next six weeks.

We all remember, nearly four years ago, when Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy high into the sky in Qatar. A crowning moment for one of the game's legends. Now, it's time once again to clear the calendars.