Teams Prepare for the 2026 World Cup

May 12, 2026, 13:22
InternationalSports

Introduction

The USA, Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup. National teams are now choosing their players.

Main Body

The USA team has a new coach. He wants players from Europe and the USA. The team is good, but they lost games to Belgium and Portugal. They want to win more games in 2026. Argentina has a big star. Lionel Messi is 38 years old, but he is still on the list. One young player, Gianluca Prestianni, cannot play for six games. He spoke badly during a game. Qatar has an old player. SebastiΓ‘n Soria is 42 years old. If he plays, he will be the oldest player in the history of the World Cup.

Conclusion

The tournament starts on June 11 and ends on July 19. Teams are choosing their final 26 players.

Learning

πŸ•’ Talking About Age

In English, we use the word is to talk about age. We do not use "have".

  • Wrong: Messi has 38 years. ❌
  • Right: Messi is 38 years old. βœ…

Pattern: Person β†’\rightarrow is β†’\rightarrow number β†’\rightarrow years old.

🌍 People and Places

Look at how we describe where people come from using the article:

  1. The USA (Country) β†’\rightarrow USA players (People from there)
  2. Europe (Continent) β†’\rightarrow Europe players (People from there)

If you want to say where you are from, just use: "I am from [Place]."

πŸ“‰ Simple Contrasts

Notice the word but. It connects two opposite ideas:

  • The team is good β†’\rightarrow but β†’\rightarrow they lost games.
  • Messi is 38 β†’\rightarrow but β†’\rightarrow he is still on the list.

Use but when you want to show a surprise or a change in the story.

Vocabulary Learning

host (v.)
to organize or hold an event
Example:The USA will host the 2026 World Cup.
national (adj.)
belonging to a country
Example:National teams are choosing their players.
team (n.)
a group of people working together
Example:The USA team has a new coach.
coach (n.)
a person who trains a sports team
Example:The USA team has a new coach.
choose (v.)
to pick or select
Example:National teams are choosing their players.
player (n.)
a person who plays a sport
Example:The USA team has a new coach.
game (n.)
a sports match
Example:The team lost games to Belgium.
win (v.)
to be victorious
Example:They want to win more games.
star (n.)
a famous or very good person
Example:Argentina has a big star.
old (adj.)
having lived for many years
Example:Qatar has an old player.
young (adj.)
not yet old
Example:One young player cannot play.
play (v.)
to participate in a game
Example:He cannot play for six games.
history (n.)
the record of past events
Example:the oldest player in the history of the World Cup.
tournament (n.)
a series of games to decide a winner
Example:The tournament starts on June 11.
start (v.)
to begin
Example:The tournament starts on June 11.
end (v.)
to finish
Example:The tournament ends on July 19.
final (adj.)
last or concluding
Example:Teams are choosing their final 26 players.