Ahead of the next World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, multiple accounts compare the 2026 tournament with the last American-hosted World Cup in 1994 (“USA94”). They point to major changes in how the competition is structured and played. One recurring theme is the tournament’s expanded scale: more matches and a larger field of competing teams are expected to reshape the pace and coverage of the event compared with 1994. The articles also describe football’s broader global evolution since the mid-1990s, including the increased competitiveness of a wider range of nations rather than only a small set of traditional contenders. In addition, they highlight that the laws and regulations of the game have continued to evolve over time, meaning the on-field experience in 2026 will not mirror the 1994 tournament. While the exact details vary by outlet, all sources agree that the World Cup in 2026 represents a step change in size and in the modern game, reflecting both organizational expansion and rule and style developments since USA94.