Table of Contents
The 2026 World Cup draw is done. Argentina is the current champion. Spain is the champion in Europe. Both teams will play in easy groups.
The drawing was in Washington, D.C. The U.S. President got a new prize from FIFA at the event.
The games start in six months. This World Cup has 48 teams. The 2022 World Cup had 32 teams. The games will be in the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina is in Group J. They play Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.
England plays in Group L which has Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
France has hard matches. They play Senegal and Norway.
The four best teams—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—cannot play each other until the semifinals.
Mexico plays South Africa in Mexico City in the first game. Canada plays Qatar and Switzerland.
There will be 104 matches. The FIFA President said it will be “the greatest World Cup ever.”
Vocabulary
- Draw – a way to choose teams for games; the process of picking names from a hat.
- Current – happening now; right now; at this time.
- Champion – the best player or team; the winner of a competition 🏆; the one with the highest score.
- Group – many people or teams together; a small set of things; a collection.
- President – the leader of a country or a big company; the main boss.
- Prize – something you win for being the best; an award; a reward.
- Event – something important that happens; a planned meeting or show; a special time or happening.
- Game – a sports competition or activity; what players do for fun or points ⚽.
- Match – a sports contest between two teams or players; a specific game.
- Semifinal – a very important game before the final game; the next to last game.
- Play – to be in a game or match; to take part in sports; to compete.
- Ever – at any time; always; at any point in the past or future.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it is fair that Argentina and Spain got easy groups? Why or why not?
- The World Cup has more teams (48 teams) now. Is this a good idea or a bad idea for the tournament?
- Do you think the FIFA President is right? Will this really be the “greatest World Cup ever”? Why?
- The four best teams (Spain, Argentina, France, England) cannot play each other early in the tournament. Do you think this makes the games more exciting?
- Which team do you think will win the World Cup? Why do you choose that team?
- The games are in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Do you think having three host countries is a good idea?
- English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
- English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.
Original Story
Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice
The 2026 World Cup _____ is done. Argentina is the current champion. _____ is the champion in Europe. Both teams will play in easy _____ .
The drawing was in Washington, D.C. _____ U.S. President got a new prize from FIFA at the _____ .
The games start in six _____ . This World Cup has 48 teams. The _____ World Cup had 32 teams. The games will be in the United States, _____ , and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
Lionel Messi’s _____ is in Group J. They play Algeria, Austria, and _____ .
England plays in Group _____ which has Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
_____ has hard matches. They play Senegal and Norway.
The four best teams—_____ , Argentina, France, and England—cannot play each _____ until the semifinals.
Mexico plays South Africa in _____ in the first game. Canada plays Qatar and Switzerland.
There will be _____ matches. The FIFA President said it will be “the greatest World Cup _____ .”
