Providence will not host a single game during the 2026 World Cup. However, this small Rhode Island city hopes to become a major hub for fans attending matches at the nearby Boston stadium, less than an hour away. While host cities like New York grapple with the high costs of security, transportation, and infrastructure associated with the tournament, Providence is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors drawn by a much more affordable option. The choice was no accident. “Providence was closer to the stadium and much cheaper,” explains Gregor, one of the organizers of the Tartan Army, the traveling Scottish fan group. What began as a plan to bring together “300 or 400 people” ended up growing unexpectedly. “It just got huge,” he sums up.

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Only 24 hours remain before the World Cup kicks off in Mexico and the country is going though its final dress rehearsals. Preventing demonstrations on opening day is already a pipe dream: negotiations with teachers have stalled and search groups will march to make their missing relatives visible. With everyone in position and the cards on the table, attention is focused on avoiding the worst-case scenario for the government of Claudia Sheinbaum — an image of a police officer striking a teacher circling the globe on the day the country is playing for its international image. The concern is not unfounded: on the first day of protests a teacher lost an eye in clashes with police. The past two weeks have tested containment measures, and Wednesday will be the last chance to fine-tune the public staging. To ease the pressure, authorities have canceled classes for Thursday and ordered remote work for public servants.

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As the start of the World Cup draws near, the United States government has set its sights on foreign influencers. Immigration authorities have warned that individuals entering the country on a tourist visa may not use their stay to produce content intended to generate income on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook or other online platforms — a practice that for years has been common among digital creators worldwide.

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The World Cup circus begins and David Beckham will unveil his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this Friday. It is the entertainment industry’s nod to the World Cup, and almost the only one. On the Oscar boulevard, among parties and hustlers imitating Michael Jackson, you have to look hard to find references to the big soccer event, even though 20 miles away the United States opens its campaign against Paraguay on Friday afternoon.

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Teachers in Mexico have launched a nationwide strike that is bringing mounting pressure on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government ahead of the start of the soccer World Cup.

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