Behind the Pitch: How The Athletic is Covering the World Cup 2026

This summer, the World Cup returns to the United States for just the second time in tournament history — and the first time in more than 30 years. As the world gets ready to watch the beautiful game on the biggest stage, The Athletic’s editor-in-chief, international, Laura Williamson, is preparing her team for full-pitch coverage. We wanted to see how she’s been thinking about the upcoming tournament and The Athletic’s opportunity to serve millions of fans this summer.