As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, billions of fans around the world are tuning in to watch the world’s most popular sporting event. The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, likely will be the largest and most watched in history, with over 6.5 million fans filling stadiums across all three countries, according to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport’s global governing body. The 39-day tournament began on June 11 in Mexico City and concludes with the final in New Jersey on July 19. A record 48 countries are playing this year, a 50% increase from the 32 teams usually competing. To mark the occasion, the Library’s Hispanic Reading Room is showcasing a colorful display, “For the Love of the Game,” that explains the evolution and appeal of a sport that has become one of the world’s most influential cultural forces. The display complements a new World Cup LibGuide developed by the Library’s Latin American, Caribbean and European collections specialists. Among the 15 items featured in the display are a rare photo album documenting the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, memorabilia from later tournaments, a book titled “1283” about Brazilian global soccer…
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The World Cup at the Library
Source: Library of Congress Blogs — US Government, Public Domain