For the U.S. men's national soccer team, this day has been circled on the calendar for almost a decade: The most talented generation in team history is in its prime for a FIFA World Cup on home soil. Can they pull off the unthinkable?

Irish ultra-cyclist Joe Barr is riding the entirety of Route 66 by bike, in honor of the highway's centennial. He's expected to complete his journey Friday.

A soccer game eight years in the making finally kicks off on Friday night in Los Angeles.

Canada is taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. In Los Angeles, it is Team USA versus Paraguay.

The World Cup is drawing attention to soccer's growing popularity in Canada. Soccer has surpassed hockey and all other sports in youth participation, according to a recent report by Jumpstart, a Canadian charity. Canada coach Jesse Marsch said Thursday he has "felt a real momentum behind this team and behind this moment."

Moira Brown, perhaps the oldest of Scotland's Tartan Army of soccer fans, will be in Boston when Scotland's team plays against Haiti on June 13. "I'm the luckiest person in this world," she says.

The U.S. is opening its 2026 World Cup on Friday evening against Paraguay. For the 26 Americans on the team, this match is the culmination of years of hard work and training.

FIFA has introduced several changes to the laws of soccer for the World Cup. These include efforts to eliminate time-wasting and to ensure potentially game-changing officiating mistakes are corrected.

Striker Folarin Balogun knocked in two goals, the second a one-on-two stunner to the upper corner of the net to end the first half. For the Americans, it was an impressive start to a home World Cup.

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Trent Simonian, creator of the Sidetalk social media account, about Knicks fandom as they approach Game 5 of the NBA Finals, which, if they win, would make them champs.