PHILADELPHIA, PA JUNE 12TH –23RD GROUP B Collect all eight FIFA World Cup Group Stage covers across PROGRAMS the country, or order them online at FIFAWorldCup.com COLOMBUS, OH JUNE 11TH –22ND GROUP A PHILADELPHIA, PA JUNE 12TH –23RD GROUP B LOS ANGELES, CA JUNE 12TH –23RD GROUP C BOSTON, MA JUNE 13TH –23RD GROUP D Group A Group B Group C Group D Colombus, OH Philadelphia, PA Los Angeles, CA Boston, MA SEATTLE, WA JUNE 14TH –24TH GROUP E PHOENIX, AZ JUNE 13TH –23RD GROUP F INDIANAPOLIS, IN JUNE 15TH –25TH GROUP G MIAMI, FL JUNE 16TH –26TH GROUP H Group E Group F Group G Group H Seattle, WA Phoenix, AZ Indianapolis, IN Miami, FL IMAGE CREDITS: Steve Evans John Posadzides Chothia (FLICKR) adidas Italy Joscarfas (FLICKR) Rich Arden Rob Tringali Brian Hubbard Steve Rodgers HISTORY A Look back Background info on the players, coaches, and events HISTORY that have shaped our chances in the 2026 World Cup. – 1930 – – 1934 – – 1938 – – 1950 – – 1954 – – 1958 – Uruguay Italy France Brazil Switzerland Sweden The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup brings together the world’s best sport- ing countries every four years in a global celebration of everything the game of soccer stands for. According to their mission statement, authenticity, unity, performance, and integrity lie at the heart of each tournament that FIFA puts together in hopes of building a better future. The champion- ship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of World War II. In the tournaments between 1934 and 1978, just 16 teams competed. Most of the participating nations were from Eu- rope and South America, with a small minority from North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. These teams were usu- Uruguay Italy Italy Uruguay Germany Brazil ally defeated easily by the European and South American Argentina Czechoslovakia Hungary Brazil Hungary Sweden teams. The tournament was expanded to 24 teams in 1982, and then to 32 in 1998, allowing more teams from Africa, United States Germany Brazil Sweden Austria France Asia and North America to take part. Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams Guillermo Stábile (URU) Oldrich Nejedlý (CZK) Leônidas (BRA) Ademir (BRA) Sandor Kocsis (HUN) Just Fontaine (FRA) competing for the title at venues within the host nation over a period of one month – this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament including the host – 1962 – – 1966 – – 1970 – – 1974 – – 1978 – – 1982 – nation, which qualifies automatically. Chile England Mexico Germany Argentina Spain From 1930 to 1970, the Jules Rimet Trophy was awarded to the World Cup winner. It was originally simply known as the World Cup or Coupe du Monde, but in 1946 it was renamed after the FIFA president Jules Rimet who set up Diego Maradona, arguably the greatest player of all time, the first tournament. In 1970, Brazil’s third victory in the celebrates Argentina’s victory in the 1986 World Cup. tournament entitled them to keep the trophy permanently. After 1970, a new trophy, known as the FIFA World Cup as well as the individual player who was selected as Most Trophy, was designed. This new trophy is not awarded to the Valuable during the tournament. This award, known as the winning nation permanently. World Cup winners retain the Golden Boot, was initially given to the player who scored the trophy until the next tournament and are awarded a gold- most goals in tournament play, but was altered before the 1986 plated replica rather than the solid gold original. World Cup to make considerations for all around play – much At present, all members of the top three teams receive to the liking of those players who fill supporting roles, and medals with an insignia of the World Cup Trophy; winners goaltenders. Lionel Messi became the first player to receive the (gold), runner-ups (silver), and third-place (bronze). In the Golden Boot Award twice, after breaking the great Ronaldo’s 2002 edition, fourth-place medals were awarded to hosts record of goals scored in World Cup Finals history, with 16. Brazil England Brazil Germany Argentina Italy South Korea. Prior to the 1978 tournament, medals were Brazil currently holds the record for most World Cup titles, Czechoslovakia Germany Italy Netherlands Netherlands Germany only awarded to the eleven players on the pitch at the end with 5, followed closely by Italy and Germany. The host coun- Chile Portugal Germany Poland Brazil Poland of the final and the third-place match. In November 2007, try has won the tournament six times, most recently France FIFA announced that all members of World Cup-winning in 1998. The United States squad is hoping to become the Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: squads between 1930 and 1974 were to be retroactively seventh, as they call upon a very small, but dedicated fan base Garrincha (BRA) Eusébio (POR) Gerd Müller (GER) Grzegorz Lato (POL) Mario Kempes (ARG) Paolo Rossi (ITA) awarded winners medals. to cheer them on to victory in their second time as the host The FIFA World Cup host countries and results, listed on country. Continue on for a recap of past World Cup’s, as well the following pages, honor each country receiving a medal, as the logos and artwork that came to represent them. FIFA World Cup 2026 6 History FIFA World Cup 2026 7 History FIFA World Cup 2026 8 History USUALLY WHEN THIS MANY COUNTRIES GET TOGETHER, – 1986 – – 1990 – – 1994 – – 1998 – – 2002 – – 2006 – IT’S FOR SOMETHING BORING. DON’T MISS A SECOND. Mexico Italy United States France South Korea & Japan Germany Argentina Germany Brazil France Brazil Italy Germany Argentina Italy Brazil Germany France France Italy Sweden Croatia Turkey Germany Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Gary Lineker (ENG) Salvatore Schillaci (ITA) Oleg Salenko (RUS) Davor Šuker (CRO) Ronaldo (BRA) Miroslav Klose (GER) – 2010 – – 2014 – – 2018 – – 2022 – South Africa Brazil Russia Qatar Spain Portugal Netherlands Argentina Netherlands Brazil Argentina Germany Germany Spain England Portugal Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Golden Boot: Thomas Müller (GER) Cristiano Ronaldo (POR) Lionel Messi (ARG) Lionel Messi (ARG) FIFA World Cup 2026 9 History FIFA World Cup 2026 10 History RE- DEMP It has been a long four years for the United States National at each others throats for their final match against lowly host- Team, as their last World Cup was nothing short of an em- nation Qatar – who struggled to put a team together in the barrassment. The team was unceremoniously bounced from country’s first foray into international competition. In the days the first round of competition without registering a single leading up to the matchup, you’ll recall much talk about the point in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in United States squad passing the blame from one member to Qatar. The American squad began the tournament with high the next, there were even rumors of Coach Juergen Klinsmann hopes, which were quickly dashed in a 7-0 loss to Portugal, being released during the tournament, an unprecedented move. the worst American loss in 40 years of international play. With a swirl of turmoil around the team, the United States Tempers flared towards the end of the game, resulting in a squad found themselves distracted heading into their final red card for the 18 year old phenom Steven Aguire, causing match, but still, no one could have predicted the outcome. him to miss the following match. Without their star striker, Host-nation Qatar defeated the United States, and the soc- the U.S. team was put down 3-1 by Sweden. The loss meant cer world was turned on its head. Forced to play with 10 men TION they would not advance from group stage, and put the team after an early red card from hot-headed defenseman Christian FIFA World Cup 2026 13 Team USA Background info on the players, coaches, and events TEAM USA that have shaped our chances in the 2026 World Cup. Schenn, the United States squad backed to come, they turned to a familiar face to younger guys are a lot hungrier – they members of the team. The first thing I themselves into a corner, and was re- help provide answers – former captain want it more. Some of the veteran play- did when I took over was talk to Clint quired to play much more conservatively Landon Donovan. Donovan was named ers had gotten too comfortable here, about his future. Together we decided than they had hoped to. A lack of com- head coach after Qatar, and immediately not working as hard in practice. When that he was best suited to stay with the munication between the United States went to work trying to solve the prob- a few of these younger, faster, more team in an advising capacity, and later defenders lead to several open chances lems that caused team USA to turn on determined twenty-somethings showed I asked if he’d become my assistant. for the young Qatar team, and they itself. He began his tenure by controver- up it was a real wake up call for them. This being my first head-coaching finally broke through in the 78th minute sially cutting some of the team’s most I made it clear from the beginning that job, it was great to have someone like with the goal that shocked fans across the experienced players due to character no one’s roster spot was guaranteed, Clint as my assistant head coach.