FIFA World Cup fever has hit

Can you feel it?

World Cup fever has hit.

One-hundred and four matches, 48 teams and three countries make this the largest ever tournament.

Even before those numbers some feel the World Cup is bigger than the Olympics.

Soccer, or football as it’s called by most countries outside of North America, fans certainly do.

It all begins Thursday when Mexico takes on South Africa from Mexico City at 3 pm EST.

Canada’s first match is Friday at 3 pm against Bosnia-Herzegovina from Toronto Stadium (BMO Field for non-World Cup events)

The tournament is being held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, and is the first since FIFA expanded the field from 32 teams to 48, adding four more groups in the initial stage and a new round of 32 in the knockout portion.

Vancouver is the other Canadian city hosting games.

Canada will be looking for its first ever win at the World Cup.

“This is what I know about Canada: it’s a football nation,” Canada manager Jesse Marsch. “It’s a country that cares, cares about the game, loves the European game, loves its national teams, men’s and women’s. This opportunity at this moment in time, as a team, right now our main focus is we want to capture it. We want to capture it by performances, by wins, by success. We want to give our country something to be really proud of.

“This team is full of incredible men with incredible stories, backstories, and incredible talent, and an impeccable character. I know Canada loves a winner, and also they love good people, and I think we can show that we can be both.”

Canada also plays Qatar next Thursday June 18 at 6 pm EST and Switzerland Wednesday June 24 at 3 pm EST – both games will take place in Vancouver.

If the Canadians can somehow win their group they’ll stay in Vancouver to play in the Round of 32 and potentially Round of 16 matches.

If they finish second in their group they’ll head to the United States for Round of 32 action.

Here’s some interesting factoids and numbers from the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

A total of 1,248 rostered players are featured in this year’s event made up of 449 club teams in 71 different countries.

The Premier League out of England leads the way with 200 players on rosters who are based there at club level.

Manchester City of the Premier League has the most players of any club with a record of 19, followed by Bayern Munich in Germany with 18, Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal have 16 and Barcelona with 15.

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo leads all players in the tournament with 226 caps — the most ever by a single men’s player — as he is set to join Argentina’s Lionel Messi as the only players to appear in six World Cups.

Only eight countries have won the World Cup with six of those teams winning multiple titles led by Brazil’s five. Brazil is also the only country to appear in 23 different World Cup’s.

Making their World Cup debuts in 2026 are Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

Only two countries have repeated as champions with Pele leading Brazil to titles in 1958 and 1962, and Italy winning it in 1934 and ’38. Argentina will try to join them here in 2026 after hoisting the cup in 2022.

France will try to become the third country to make it to three straight finals after winning it in 2018 and losing in 2022.

As for the oldest and youngest players in the tournament, Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will be 43 years and 162 days old on the first day of the tournament, while Mexico’s Gilbert Mora will be 17 years, 240 days young at kickoff.

And if you weren’t lucky enough to score World Cup tickets, or pay an exorbitant amount to attend a game, Niagara Falls is hosting the “Fan Zone by the Falls” at Queen Victoria Park from June 11 through July 19. This free, daily festival runs from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM and features two giant outdoor screens broadcasting the matches, a licensed covered patio, mobile kitchens, and nightly Falls illuminations timed to the tournament.