During the summer of 2026, soccer fans worldwide will watch to see if Argentina can defend its 2022 World Cup title or if top contenders Brazil, France, England, or Spain will rise to claim soccer’s ultimate prize. For the first time ever, three countries—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—will welcome soccer’s top international athletes as they host the FIFA World Cup. Matches will take place across North America, with coast-to-coast venues in the U.S. and host cities in Canada and Mexico, including Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Using Gale In Context: Biography, invite your students to learn about the lives and legacies of the athletes whose dreams, expectations, and legacies shape the World Cup. Explore interviews, photos from past matches, and news coverage to learn more about the sport and its stars.
When the U.S. last hosted the World Cup in 1994, it not only broke attendance records, it also sparked a soccer revolution that led to the launch of Major League Soccer in 1996. What will be its impact this time around? We’ll have to wait to find out. But let’s take a look at the stories of some of the players who are helping tell this next chapter.
Lionel Messi
Argentinian legend Lionel Messi is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the game. As a child, Messi showcased incredible talent, but he wasn’t growing like other kids. He was diagnosed with a growth deficiency. His parents, however, couldn’t afford treatment. That changed at 17, when Messi began his professional career as a reserve for FC Barcelona, and the team agreed to pay for his treatments.
Messi quickly made headlines after becoming the youngest player to ever score in a league game. Although Messi has collected many individual honors throughout his storied career, his greatest success was leading Argentina to a World Cup in 2022, after losing in the finals of the 2014 World Cup. Today, Messi plays at Inter Miami, where he’s helped fill stadiums and bring international attention to U.S. soccer.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Born to a blue-collar family in Madeira, Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo is another one of soccer’s all-time greats, celebrated for his incredible athleticism and goal-scoring abilities. Elite teams started showing an interest from the age of 10.
Ronaldo rose to global stardom at Manchester United, where he broke the goal-scoring record for this tradition-rich English team in 2008. A year later, he secured an £80-million contract at Real Madrid, where he played for a decade. While playing for Portugal’s national side, including World Cup matches, Ronaldo became Europe’s all-time leading scorer with 143 goals. Now playing for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo has announced that the 2026 World Cup will be his last international tournament.
Kylian Mbappé
French superstar Kylian Mbappé burst onto the global stage in 2018 at age 19 when he led France to a World Cup victory, scoring four goals in the tournament—including one in the final. Since then, Mbappé has become one of soccer’s most electrifying talents, thanks to his blistering speed, sharp finishing, and fearless play.
Early in his career, he declined opportunities to play for some of Europe’s most elite clubs, opting to stay closer to home as he began his career in Monaco on the French Riviera. Since 2024, he’s played for Real Madrid. Off the field, Mbappé serves as a global ambassador for the sport, with his Inspired by KM Foundation helping young people achieve their goals by supporting their personal, educational, and social development.
Christian Pulisic
Known as Captain America, Pennsylvania native Christian Pulisic will lead the U.S. Men’s National Team in the World Cup this summer. A force in the wing and midfield, Pulisic is best known for his dynamic dribbling and playmaking abilities.
He gained international recognition playing for Germany’s Borussia Dortmund as a teenager, where he became the club’s youngest player to ever play, and later for Chelsea FC, where his team won the UEFA Champions League in 2021. This summer, Pulisic will drive the U.S. effort, striving to prove that the country belongs among the world’s best.
Jonathan David
Born in New York but raised in Canada, Jonathan David represents the rising power of Canadian soccer. Recognized internationally, he played for KAA Gent in Belgium, where he became the league’s top scorer. He later played for Lille OSC in France’s Ligue 1, and most recently for Juventus—Italy’s most successful club. David uses his speed to deftly maneuver through defenses, making him a constant threat in front of the goal.
Edson Álvarez
Midfielder Edson Álvarez is the captain of the 2026 Mexican National Team. He began his professional career with Club America in 2016 and, just a year later, made his debut with the Mexican National Team. In 2020, Álvarez signed with Ajax in the Netherlands, where he played until 2023, and then he moved to the Premier League’s West Ham United. In 2025, Álvarez led Mexico over the U.S. to its tenth CONCACAF Gold Cup—his third title—and hopes to find similar success on the world stage this summer.
Prepare for North America’s Moment on Soccer’s Biggest Stage
The World Cup unites fans across the globe every four years, transforming even casual fans into passionate supporters. With Gale In Context: Biography, students can explore the backstories of the soccer world’s biggest stars and rising talents, from Messi and Ronaldo to Pulisic and David. Text-to-speech features, translation tools, and adjustable font sizes make Gale’s resources accessible for everyone. Gain insight into the lives, careers, and achievements of the athletes who will shape the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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