Juliana Kim

A sticker enthusiast shows off some of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Panini stickers bought at the Soccer Locker on June 2 in Miami.

The hunt for stickers, produced by the Italian company Panini, is a decades-old World Cup tradition that's especially popular in Latin America and Europe. In the U.S., interest has been building steadily over the years, but this summer, the buzz is bigger than ever.

The following was originally published in the Up First newsletter as part of the NPR Network's coverage of the World Cup, Soccer Edition.

This summer, 48 men's national teams will compete in the World Cup's biggest tournament ever. You can find all of NPR's World Cup coverage over the next six weeks in our series Soccer Edition . But here are a few of the basics to get you started.

With a record 48 teams and a whopping 1,248 players, there's an endless number of facts and figures about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But don't worry. We've gathered some of the top stats to know before you start watching the games.

With a record 48 teams and 1,248 players, there's an endless number of stats about the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Here are a few to get you started.

As we head into week two of the World Cup, the action inside the stadiums isn't the only thing capturing the attention of international visitors. Turns out, they're discovering the delights of Buc-ee's, Waffle House, Wawa and free soda refills.

The entrance to a Waffle House is seen on February 05, 2025 in Austin, Texas.

Juliana Kim | June 17, 2026 LOS ANGELES — Best friends Fernando Delgado and Josh Lee are still riding the high of seeing both their homelands — Mexico and South Korea — win their opening matches at the 2026 World Cup.

It's all love between the fans Topline: For all of the rivalries and bad blood that sports can foster, something different is in the air ahead of the Mexico vs.