There are still several weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, and there is already a lot of excitement building at Northside. The Cup runs from June 11-June 18, and it is the world’s largest soccer tournament, occurring once every four years. This year, it will feature 48 countries and will be hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada.
For junior John Diaz, the World Cup is more than a tournament – it’s a great memory. He recalls how during the 2022 World Cup, “it felt like everyone was watching at the same time, even the people who didn’t care about soccer.”
Diaz, who has Spanish roots, is very excited to see how Spain’s team will perform, and especially his favorite player: Lamine Yamal. Diaz believes that Yamal will change the future of football, saying, “You can see the hunger in his eyes, Yamal is going to carry Spain.”
For sophomore Belle Blocher, the 2026 World Cup means something different. While she doesn’t play soccer competitively, she said the sport still finds its way into her life through friends and family: “I’m around it more than I actually play it!” She added that while she doesn’t follow every match closely, she notices that the World Cup brings people together.
Junior Brian Quevedo is a proud supporter of Chivas, one of Mexico’s soccer clubs, and is highly involved in the ongoing World Cup discussions at Northside. He has watched international soccer his whole life, saying, “During the World Cup, everyone suddenly becomes an expert.” He added that despite the draw of overlapping sports seasons like the NBA finals, “Most people will want to be tuned in to watch the greatest soccer player of all time: Lionel Messi.”
Senior Leilani Nunez, though she is not the most invested soccer fan, admits that her interest is piqued when the tournament comes along. She said, “I don’t actually watch everything but my family does so I know when it’s going on.”
She particularly hopes Mexico will perform well. “When Mexico hosts, they get to the quarter finals, they’re hosting this year so maybe they’ll lift the trophy for la raza,” she said. Although she may not be a fan or see all the games, she claimed that the tournament always gets her more in touch with her roots each time it rolls around.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, one thing is apparent at Northside: the tournament proves to be bigger than just the games played on the pitch. From family traditions to old classroom memories to future predictions, each student connects to the event in a unique way.
