Everything you need to know to talk about the World Cup – even if you don't like football BBC With the World Cup approaching, you're probably hearing a lot more football talk than usual. But, if you're not a big football fan, how do you follow the tournament? Check out seven conversation topics below that will make you look like an expert on the subject. 1) It will be the biggest of World Cups It will be the biggest of World Cups Getty Images The 2026 edition takes place in the USA, Canada and Mexico — marking the first time that the world's premier football competition has been co-hosted by three nations. There will also be more matches than ever before — as the tournament has expanded from 32 to 48 teams. Critics accuse FIFA organizers of watering down the tournament, but fans in Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan are happy to see their countries debut. The final will be held in New Jersey and will include, for the first time, a halftime show, very similar to what happens at the Super Bowl — the biggest game in American football. Madonna, Shakira and BTS will be among the attractions. Now on g1 2) The expected retirement of two stars Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 during the tournament, will captain Portugal and Argentina, respectively. Getty Images Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, and Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 during the tournament, will captain Portugal and Argentina, respectively. Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that this will be his last performance on the global stage. Many think it could also be the last tournament for Messi, who won the competition in 2022 with Argentina. The two living legends could make history as the first male players to appear in six World Cups. Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, 40, was also selected for the sixth tournament, although he did not take the field in all tournaments. 3) Hosts are under pressure Since the first World Cup in 1930, around one in four tournaments has been won by a country that hosted the competition. Getty Images Historically, hosting gives a country an advantage — and since the first World Cup in 1930, around one in four tournaments has been won by a country that hosted the competition. But recent editions have not been kind to the host countries: South Africa (in 2010) and Qatar (in 2022) were eliminated early in the tournament, and Brazil (in 2014) suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-finals. Mexico reached the round of 16 both times it hosted, in 1970 and 1986, and the USA reached the round of 16 in 1994. The Canadians are hosting the tournament for the first time. 4) Latin American vibes Fans of world champions Argentina are special, says BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty Getty Images Fans of world champions Argentina are special, says BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty. The Argentines' excitement was one of the main attractions at the Qatar tournament. But, according to Phil, Brazil fans manage to create a carnival atmosphere in every city the team plays in — literally. The combination of samba beats and the World Cup is a Brazilian trademark. And Mexico's games at Mexico City's magnificent Estadio Azteca will bring back memories of Brazil's 1970 World Cup final victory against Italy, as well as Diego Maradona's infamous “Hand of God” against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, followed by his spectacular second goal. England could end up returning to the stadium in the round of 16 of this year's tournament. 5) Prizes for players The 2014 German team was the great champion of the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil Getty Images As if the incentive of winning football's top prize wasn't enough, players also receive financial bonuses from their national associations. This varies significantly between countries — with prizes for those who participate, for those who pass the stages, or combining these two modalities, says professor Rob Wilson, from the University Campus of Football Business, in London. Some countries offer each of their players hundreds of thousands of dollars — but little information is disclosed. Germany has one of the most transparent associations. Each member of the 2014 German team received a prize of 300 thousand euros (around R$1.7 million at current prices). But not all associations can offer bonuses at the same level. In 2014, players from three African nations — Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria — ended up in dispute with national authorities over bonus payments. 6) Champion coaches France coach Didier Deschamps is part of an all-time elite group of just three men to have won the World Cup as a player and coach Getty Images France coach Didier Deschamps is part of an all-time elite group of just three men to have won the World Cup as a player and coach — alongside Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer. But he's not the only former player we'll see leading his country from the bench. More than a dozen coaches present have played in a World Cup. And most of them will lead the same nations they represented — with a few exceptions, like Mauricio Pochettino, who is in charge of the USA, but played for Argentina. 7) An unlikely 'star' Tim Payne, a New Zealand defender, was recently dubbed the “least known” footballer at the tournament, with fewer than 5,000 followers. Getty Images Ronaldo and Messi are the most popular World Cup players on Instagram, with more than half a billion followers each. On the other hand, Tim Payne, a defender from New Zealand, was recently dubbed the “least known” football player at the tournament, with less than 5,000 followers. That was until the intervention of Argentine influencer Valen Scarsini, also known on the internet as elscarso, who created a campaign to garner "love" for Payne. The result? Payne now has more than four million followers. We use artificial intelligence to translate this report, originally written in English. The text was reviewed by a BBC journalist before publication. Find out more here about how the BBC is using artificial intelligence (link to English text). 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