The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being defined by more than the matches. During the tournament’s opening week, Japanese supporters stayed behind to clean the stands after their match against the Netherlands. Tens of thousands of Scottish supporters transformed parts of Boston and Providence into temporary extensions of the Tartan Army. Norwegian fans brought a coordinated “Viking Row” into stadiums, public spaces, and viral videos. A fan-led Qatari supporters’ group expanded its tr

Sports participation rarely begins with a registration form. For many young people, it begins with a moment of exposure: a game on television, a highlight on a phone, an athlete they admire, a replay that makes a difficult play easier to understand, or a national-team performance that makes a sport feel larger than it did before.