The moment has arrived.
On Thursday, the FIFA 2026 World Cup officially kicked off, spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the inaugural match taking place in Mexico.
Now, it’s time for the United States to shine! The U.S. is set to host its first tournament match, with the national men’s team making their debut against Paraguay in a Group D clash, scheduled for Friday night in Los Angeles.
In other sporting news, earlier this week, the Republicans and Democrats engaged in their annual friendly rivalry at the charity Congressional Baseball Game held Wednesday night at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. My colleague Nick Arama reported on the unsurprising outcome, as the GOP swiftly defeated the Democrats with a score of 11-2. If you missed Deputy Managing Editor Susie Moore’s coverage of Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) making an impressive outfield catch, be sure to check out the linked story below.
Returning to soccer, as I mentioned earlier, the Department of Homeland Security has been diligently preparing for months to ensure the safety and security of all FIFA event venues, ensuring a smooth experience for fans and players alike until the international soccer tournament concludes on July 19.
Back to soccer. As I previously wrote, the Department of Homeland Security has been prepping for months to make sure that every game venue for the FIFA event is safe and secure for guests and participants, between now and July 19 when the international soccer competition ends.