If you just typed "who is playing today in the world cup" into your phone, you probably expected a list of kickoff times and a channel guide for Fox or FS1.
The short answer? Nobody. Well, nobody in the FIFA World Cup anyway. At least, not the one you're likely thinking of.
The massive, 48-team party across North America—the 2026 FIFA World Cup—doesn't actually start until June 11, 2026. Right now, we're in the middle of January. It's cold, the NFL playoffs are in full swing, and soccer fans are mostly keeping their eyes on the Premier League or the transfer window.
But there is a catch. If you’re seeing headlines about "World Cup" scores today, you’ve likely stumbled into the world of cricket or perhaps some specific para-alpine skiing events.
The Confusion Around Who Is Playing Today in the World Cup
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess for casual fans. Today, January 17, 2026, the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is very much alive and kicking. India just came off a massive performance against Bangladesh. These kids are the future of the sport, and if you're in India or the UK, your news feed is probably blowing up with it.
Then there’s the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup prep. Teams like Nepal are currently finalizing their squads and heading out for training sessions in Sri Lanka. It’s a busy time for cricket, but it’s a far cry from Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé duking it out in a stadium in New Jersey.
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What about the "Real" World Cup?
When people talk about the "World Cup" without a prefix, they mean the FIFA Men's tournament. That one is still months away. We are currently 145 days out from the opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
If you’re looking for the schedule for that today, you’re looking for a ghost.
The qualifying rounds are the only thing happening in the FIFA world right now, and even those are on a bit of a winter break for many regions. Most of the 48 teams have been decided, but we still have a few playoff spots that won't be settled until March.
What the 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule Actually Looks Like
When June finally rolls around, the schedule is going to be absolutely relentless. Because FIFA expanded the tournament to 48 teams, we’re looking at 104 matches. It's basically a soccer marathon.
For the sake of your future calendar, here is how the opening week looks once we actually get to June:
- June 11, 2026: Mexico opens the tournament against South Africa in Mexico City.
- June 12, 2026: The USMNT takes on Paraguay in Los Angeles. Canada plays their opener in Toronto.
- June 13, 2026: A massive triple-header including Brazil vs. Morocco at MetLife Stadium.
But today? Today is for the youth cricketers and the winter sports athletes.
Why the January Date Tricked You
The search algorithms sometimes get a bit twitchy. If you saw a "Live" badge on a sports site, it’s almost certainly the FIS Para Alpine World Cup.
Canadian racers like Mollie Jepsen and Kurt Oatway are actually dominating the slopes in Saalbach right now. It's a "World Cup" in the sense that it's the highest level of international competition, but it doesn't involve a round ball or a goalie.
It's easy to get these mixed up because "World Cup" has become a bit of a generic term for "the biggest event in this specific sport."
Actionable Tips for World Cup Fans
If you were hoping to watch some high-stakes soccer today, don't be too disappointed. While the World Cup is dormant, you can still get your fix and prepare for the summer:
- Check the U19 Cricket Scores: If you want to see a "World Cup" in action right now, the India vs. Bangladesh highlights are genuinely thrilling.
- Mark March on Your Calendar: That is when the final FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs happen. That’s the next time you’ll see teams playing specifically to get into the 2026 bracket.
- Book Your Travel Now: If you plan on being in cities like Seattle, Miami, or Toronto in June, prices are already starting to spike.
- Watch the Alpine Highlights: The Para Alpine World Cup in Saalbach is featuring some of the most technical skiing of the year today.
Basically, the "World Cup" is always happening somewhere, it just might not be the sport you were expecting. Keep an eye on those qualifying playoffs in March to see who fills the final slots for the big show in June.