This June, The 2026 World Cup kicks off, uniting 48 countries around the world. The FIFA World Cup is the largest soccer tournament there is. Every four years, teams from different countries compete to see who will become the world champion. Fans wear jerseys, wave flags, sing songs, and cheer for their favorite teams. When the winner is named, they get a big trophy!
We love the World Cup because it highlights important classroom themes: friendship, teamwork, practice and perseverance, and learning more about the countries of the world. Here are some more cool facts and activities that you can add to your classroom programming and home learning plan.
What is soccer?
Soccer is a sport that is played with:
- Two teams
- Eleven players on each team
- One soccer ball
- Two goals
Players pass, kick, and dribble the ball down the field. The goal is to score by kicking the ball into the other team’s net! Players cannot touch the ball with their hands, but they can use their head, shoulders, knees and toes! 😉
The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use their hands, but only inside the goal area, also known as the goal box.
Around the world
Almost every country in the world calls soccer “football”. It is called “fútbol” in Spanish and “futebol” in Portuguese.
The United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland call soccer “soccer”, because there is another sport called “football” that is very popular and has different rules.
Does your family say “soccer” or “football”?
Which countries are participating in 2026’s World Cup Soccer? Here is a list:
- Canada
- Mexico
- United States
- Australia
- Iraq
- IR Iran
- Japan
- Jordan
- Korea Republic
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Uzbekistan
- Algeria
- Cabo Verde
- Congo DR
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Morocco
- Senegal
- South Africa
- Tunisia
- Curaçao
- Haiti
- Panama
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Ecuador
- Paraguay
- Uruguay
- New Zealand
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Croatia
- Czechia
- England
- France
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Portugal
- Scotland
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Türkiye
That’s 48 countries, wow!
DIY Soccer Field Craft
Make this super cool tabletop soccer game that you can play with your hands! It’s perfect for the classroom or a rainy day at home in between matches.
⚽️ DIY Soccer Field Craft
Sports! Song
Join The Roundabouts for the Super Simple Song called “Sports”! This song reviews some super fun action words and is sure to get stuck in your head.
Soccer Worksheets
Dive into the fun with these free printable soccer-themed worksheets!
These activities are a perfect way to engage young learners.
⚽️ Soccer Coloring Pages
✏️ Soccer Worksheet – Word Search
✏️ Soccer Worksheet – Matching
✏️ Soccer Worksheet – Count And Circle
✏️ Soccer Worksheet – Count And Write
✏️ Soccer Worksheet – Design Your Own Kit
✏️ Soccer Worksheet – Trace
Round Sports Game
Have you tried Round Sports on the Super Simple App? This fun game includes a carousel of many main sports, including soccer. See if you can win!
