Welcome to the GQ Sports Cheat Sheet: your just-deep-enough guide to the biggest sports events on the planet.
The particulars
It’s the World Cup, that huge tournament that decides which country is currently the best at soccer. There’s one of these every four years. Surely you’ve heard of it. This summer, it’s the women’s turn. The tournament gets going on Thursday, July 20, with host nations New Zealand and Australia playing the first games, as is tradition. The final is on August 20 in Sydney.
How to watch
Fox has the rights for the World Cup, meaning every single game will be on Fox or FS1. YouTube TV and Sling carry both of those channels. You can also use their websites or streaming apps to watch live games, and if you have access to Telemundo, you can tune in to the Spanish broadcasts there.
Should I try to go to this in person at some point?
Absolutely! Any version of the World Cup—in any sport, really—is going to be a hoot and a half. It’s a little late to get to Australia and/or New Zealand, but you can start planning now for the 2026 men’s World Cup, which will be in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
While the 2027 women’s location hasn’t been decided on yet, the US and Mexico have put in a bid. They’ll compete with South Africa, Brazil, and a joint bid between Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. Each of those would be incredibly sick to attend.
The favorite
Entering play as the two-time defending champion and top-ranked team in the world, the United States is still the overwhelming favorite to win the whole thing. But injuries have taken a toll, opening the door for challengers like France, Germany, and Brazil.
Still, even without Mallory Swanson—one of the stars of the qualification rounds—and previous World Cup regulars like Tobin Heath, Christen Press, and Becky Sauerbrunn, the USWNT has more than enough firepower to three-peat. First-time World Cup participants like Trinity Rodman, Andi Sullivan, and Sophia Smith inject some youth onto the team, while holdovers like Alex Morgan, Kelley O’Hara, and Crystal Dunn provide the steady veteran hands (feet?).
