What it takes to be chosen as a World Cup referee – and how to ref the final

As 48 nations battle for World Cup glory, another group has endured a similarly grueling path to soccer’s biggest stage: the referees.
CNN

Introducing The Beautiful Game by CNN Sports, CNN’s daily 2026 FIFA World Cup newsletter

It may be cliché, but it doesn’t make it untrue – there’s nothing quite like the World Cup. As is true for over a billion fans around the world, my life has been punctuated every four years by the ...
KEYT

5 things to know for June 1: ICE protests, ‘The Claw,’ Iran war, cave rescue, World Cup

Happy 46th birthday, CNN. On June 1, 1980, the Cable News Network launched its first broadcast at 5 p.m. Our great founder, Ted Turner, marked the moment with a bold promise: “Barring satellite ...
KEYT

5 things to know for May 14: Historic summit, opioid crisis, nuclear weapons, Supreme Court, unruly tourists

The 2026 World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is already expected to draw millions of viewers worldwide. Now, with a celebrity-packed halftime show, FIFA is turning the championship match ...
Yahoo! Sports

Make your 2026 World Cup predictions with CNN’s bracket

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is upon us and fans around the world are set for more than a month of soccer action. Hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, this will be the first edition with 48 ...