The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and after a busy opening weekend, the world’s biggest sporting event is finally starting to take shape.
The tournament opened June 11 and will run through July 19, with 48 nations competing across North America. While Columbus isn’t hosting any matches, local soccer fans have plenty of reasons to tune in over the next month.
Whether you’ve been watching every game or are just now realizing the World Cup has started, here’s a quick guide to where things stand.
The U.S. Got Off To A Strong Start
The biggest story for American fans so far is a convincing opening win.
The United States opened the tournament with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, putting itself in a strong position to advance from Group D. Australia also picked up three points in the group’s other match, setting up a key showdown between the Americans and Australians on June 19.
The expanded tournament means more teams advance than in previous World Cups, but getting points early is still critical. For now, the U.S. is exactly where it wants to be.
A Crew Connection Is Playing Out On The World Stage
For Columbus soccer fans, there are a couple of local storylines worth following.
Max Arfsten became the first Columbus Crew player named to a U.S. World Cup roster since 2002. Arfsten’s rise from MLS prospect to World Cup participant has been one of the more remarkable soccer stories in Columbus over the past few years.
Crew defender Steven Moreira is also representing Cape Verde, giving local fans another reason to keep an eye on Group H.
Matches Worth Watching This Week
You don’t need to watch all 104 matches to enjoy the tournament.
A few games over the next several days stand out:
- Spain vs. Cape Verde (June 15)
- France vs. Senegal (June 16)
- Argentina vs. Algeria (June 16)
- England vs. Croatia (June 17)
- United States vs. Australia (June 19)
- Germany vs. Ivory Coast (June 20)
The knockout rounds don’t begin until later this month, but several groups could already start taking shape over the next week.
Where To Watch In Columbus
The Columbus Crew are again leaning into their annual World Cup programming with a series of “Soccer Celebration” events across the city.
The largest local gathering this week will be Friday, June 19 at Columbus Commons, where fans can watch the United States face Australia on the big LED screens. The event runs from 1 to 5 p.m., with kickoff at 3 p.m., and is free and open to the public.
Additional Soccer Celebration events are scheduled throughout the tournament, including:
- June 25 at Land-Grant Brewing Company for the USA group finale
- July 19 at Scotts Miracle-Gro Field for the World Cup Final
All events include match broadcasts and a fan-focused atmosphere, with food and drink available from local vendors and rotating activities tied to each watch party. The Crew will also continue to announce additional viewing events as the tournament progresses.
Outside of official programming, Columbus soccer bars and breweries are expected to show matches throughout the tournament, including Land-Grant Brewing, Endeavor Brewing, Fadó Irish Pub, and Pointe Tavern.
Get out there and have some fun, Columbus!
