Sport
For all its problematic elements, the Fifa World Cup remains the greatest show on Earth
The politics and the missteps surrounding the Fifa World Cup 2026 are well publicised. But the pure joy and international goodwill that the tournament produces is second to none.
Opinion
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Tacky? Yes. Patriotic? Often. But the World Cup needs its anthems
Beyond the Fifa World Cup’s well-documented hospitality woes, there’s more that feels out of tune. For starters, where is all the music?
A sticky World Cup tradition: Tracking down Panini football stickers
To complete Panini’s 2026 Fifa World Cup album, which commemorates the biggest edition yet of the global tournament, collectors must find a total of 980 stickers.
Mark Carney is the gaffer to get behind as World Cup co-host Canada readies for kick-off
In the spirit of a football manager devising strategies to secure a late winner, here are some last-minute plays that Canada should make to ensure that it gets a kick out of the competition.
As the Fifa World Cup 2026 begins, the grass is about to get greener in Vancouver
Preparations for an event the size of the Fifa World Cup can take many forms. None are quite as tedious as this.
‘The challenge is to never let hubris overtake your team’: F1 technical director James Allison on what it takes to win
We speak to James Allison, senior engineer and technical director for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, about navigating regulation changes and the craft of automotive engineering.
Brand France makes its LA 2028 Olympics play with sun, sport and savoir-faire
By planting its Olympic clubhouse on Santa Monica’s shoreline, France is turning the 2028 Games into a stage for cultural influence as much as sporting success.
An inside look at Carlo Ratti’s minimalist Olympic torches for Milano Cortina
The 2026 torches were created to withstand the rigours of a multi-stage relay and winter weather. We ask the designer about how he landed the coveted job and what makes this year’s torches unique.
‘Figure skating is art’: Italy’s Valentina Marchei on the Olympic spirit and taking life lessons from the ice
The figure skater discusses the demands of a long career on the ice and the ‘compromise with yourself’ that comes with switching from singles to pairs skating.
The Winter Olympics are a hit. Not even climate change can stop them
It’s January 1964. The hosts of Austria’s first Winter Olympics are facing a dire prospect as the Alps surrounding Innsbruck lack their white winter coat. The culprit? A warm, dry Foehn wind, known in…
From the Olympic Village to student housing: Manfredi Catella on building Milan’s future
The Coima CEO was a driving force behind the regeneration of Porta Nuova and now, Porta Romana. Monocle spoke to Catella about how he hopes to create sustainable communities at a national level.
