This week, the FIFA World Cup begins, with 48 teams competing across North America in 104 matches. According to the sources, the tournament runs from the start of this week through July 19, turning multiple host cities into a major global event center. The coverage frames the World Cup as one of the largest sporting spectacles, highlighting its scale and the breadth of participation. With games scheduled across many locations, the tournament is expected to drive significant attention and activity in host cities for the duration of the competition. The sources emphasize the event’s cultural reach, suggesting that the World Cup’s presence will be widely felt beyond the sports arena. While neither source provides additional details on specific fixtures, venues, or matchups in the provided text, both agree on the key facts: the tournament’s timing, number of teams, and total matches, along with the idea of a continent-wide stage for the competition.