Every four years, the FIFA World Cup does something no textbook can replicate— it puts the entire world on display at the same time.
This summer, that display comes to our own backyard since Men’s FIFA 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico! Furthermore, for the first time, it features an expanded field of 48 teams from six confederations across the globe. That means 48 countries, 48 national anthems, 48 flags, and an abundance of cultural entry points just waiting to be explored.
Whether you’re using the tournament as a classroom springboard this fall or simply letting it fuel your own cultural curiosity this summer, the World Cup offers a remarkably natural way to connect language to the cultures that speak it. Here’s how to make the most of it.
Start with the Map
To start, pull up a world map that highlights the 48 qualified nations and just observe it. Be sure to take note of the following: which regions are well-represented, and which have only a handful of teams? Notice the debut nations — Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cabo Verde, and Curaçao are all appearing in a Men’s World Cup for the very first time in 2026. How many nations are there with deep football traditions? For example, did you know that Brazil has never missed a World Cup! Lastly, are there teams that are returning after decades of not qualifying?
For language teachers, this map is already a lesson. Where are your target languages spoken? Which qualified nations are places your students might never have thought about? Are there countries that share a language but have completely different cultural identities?
Use Team Pages as Cultural Texts
Most national football federation websites, as well as FIFA’s official team profiles publish rich background content on every World Cup team, which are more than just great trivia facts. For example, think about what a team’s profile reveals: the nickname (Why is Morocco called Les Lions de l’Atlas? What does that tell us about how they see themselves?), the team colors, the symbols on the crest, the history of their World Cup appearances, the name of their coach, the languages spoken in their locker room.
For classroom use, team profiles make excellent interpretive reading tasks. Ask students to read a team’s FIFA profile in the target language (many are available in Spanish, French, Arabic, and Portuguese) and identify three things they learned about the country.
Explore the Food Culture Around Each Match
Every nation that shows up at the World Cup brings with it a culinary identity — street food traditions, special dishes, ingredients tied to geography and history.
This summer, when a match catches your attention, look up a traditional dish from one of the competing nations and make it (or seek it out at a local restaurant). It’s research, immersion, and a great dinner!
Additionally, food is one of the most accessible and joyful entry points into culture for students. A unit built around World Cup teams and their signature dishes connects geography, language, history, and culture in a way that sticks with students.
Watch and Listen in the Target Language
This may seem obvious, but it’s still worth emphasizing: whenever possible, watch matches in the target language.
Spanish-language broadcasts are widely available, and listening to the Spanish-speaking announcers can be a cultural experience in itself—the extended GOOOOOL, the intense play-by-play, the emotional commentary! Fortunately, French, Portuguese, German, and Arabic broadcasts are also accessible through many streaming platforms and international channels.
Even if you only catch half a game, pay attention to the idioms, the expressions of excitement and disappointment, the ways commentators describe players and plays. You’ll come back to school in August with phrases your students have never heard — and a story about where you learned them.
The Bigger Picture
The World Cup, at its best, provides windows into dozens of cultures at once — through sport, music, food, language, and the electricity of collective human emotion.
This summer, take advantage of this rare opportunity to have the world at your doorstep. Follow a team you’ve never heard of. Listen to an anthem in a language you don’t speak. Cook a dish you can’t pronounce yet. And when school starts again, bring these experiences with you and use them as an entry point to a larger cultural lesson.
By Kelli Drummer-Avendano
Also read:
20 Spanish Words and Phrases to Use to Talk about FIFA World Cup Soccer
How the World Cup 2026 on US Soil Connects Sports, Language, and Culture
