Jules Rimet's legacy Meets When Does The World Cup Start on June 11

when does the world cup start? The answer is June 11, when the 2026 tournament kicks off in Canada, Mexico and the USA. LiveScore says there are 33 days left in the countdown, and that gives fans a firm date to plan around.

Jules Rimet and FIFA

The modern tournament sits on a long line that began with FIFA’s establishment in 1904. Jules Rimet, a founding member of FIFA, was elected president in 1921 and held the job for 33 years until 1954, turning the World Cup from a dream into a reality.

The first World Cup followed nine years after his election, when Uruguay staged the 1930 edition. That event became the first step in a competition that later produced Italy’s first title in 1934 and its first successful defense in 1938 under Vittorio Pozzo, the only manager to win the World Cup more than once.

Italy and the Jules Rimet Trophy

Italy’s early run also tied into one of the tournament’s stranger episodes. The original trophy was first called the Jules Rimet Trophy, and it was stolen shortly before the 1966 tournament before a dog named Pickles found it.

Louis Monti added another line to the history books by playing in two World Cup finals for two different nations. He lost with Argentina in 1930, then won with Italy four years later, a reminder that the event’s early years already carried transfer stories, title defenses and political swings inside the same competition.

France, Russia and 2026

The 2026 edition arrives with a different kind of backdrop. Didier Deschamps failed to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where France lost the final to Argentina on penalties, and he will leave his role as France boss after the 2026 showpiece.

Russia have missed both World Cups since hosting the tournament in 2018 after being suspended from FIFA competition in 2022 following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. For fans tracking the countdown, the practical date is already set: June 11 opens the next World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA.