With the 2026 World Cup scheduled for June 11 to July 19, educators are already assembling a ready-to-use learning kit—pulling proven lesson ideas from past tournaments and pairing them with English-learning materials, interactive explainers, and classroom act
For many teachers, the build-up starts long before the first whistle. The 2026 World Cup is set to run from June 11 to July 19 this year, and one educator is already gathering resources to help classrooms turn the tournament into something students can learn from—not just watch.
The plan is not to reinvent everything from scratch. Instead. the educator says they’ll start with material drawn from previous World Cup “Best” lists. including “The Best Sites For Learning About The 2022 World Cup In Qatar. ” “The Best Sites For Learning About The 2018 World Cup In Russia. ” “The Best Sites For Learning About The 2014 World Cup In Brazil. ” and “The Best Sites For Learning About The World Cup.” As the tournament approaches. they add. more links will be added over time.
What makes the collection practical for teaching is how quickly it can support different classroom goals—language learning, background knowledge, media literacy, and discussion prompts.
For English language learners. the educator points to two New York Times posts focused on soccer: one on Lionel Messi and another on a Mexican girls soccer team. They also direct readers to a third New York Times post for English language learners about soccer. built around learning synonyms and the World Cup.
The list doesn’t stop at reading materials. It brings in video and interactive options that can work for both group lessons and independent study. Among the embedded YouTube links shared are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjEmjqXDS2M and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2TeU3JnZAc. along with additional video options later in the same set. including https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIPO3W081Hw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_J67MtOgG0. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-oeoYP5Urw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCB4tyQrhIo. and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv4LX_UyQEM. More embedded videos appear after other items as well. including https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4iU79U7gaA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLt4n1bBnVk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbJZLjf7hIU. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNtQ83buNVg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0TDcTFK8JI. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OKagE2ZIRA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGkMjoHqqJE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJpZ1EEnlpk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nE193oqf_w. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOko7bHhfsE. and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlqopbdERiE.
Beyond language practice, the educator includes places where students can learn the sport’s history and culture. The official World Cup site is included. and “A Brief History Of The World Cup” is listed as a TIME Slideshow. The Guardian is referenced for three interactives: “The World Cup’s top 100 footballers of all time – interactive. ” “World Cup kits through the ages – interactive guide. ” and “How to teach … the World Cup 2014. ” described as a treasure trove of resources and ideas that can be applied to this year’s event.
They also recommend a spread of other classroom-friendly explainers and interactive experiences from major outlets. The list includes “Photos: The World’s Game” from the New York Times; “10 things non-soccer fans need to know about the World Cup” from Vox; “HOW WE PLAY THE GAME” from the New York Times; “Stop the Ball” from the New York Times; “Battle Cries” from the New York Times; “The split-second psychology of football” from the BBC; “The Clubs That Connect The World Cup” from the New York Times; and “Watch the Most Beautiful Free Kicks in World Cup History” from Slate. More New York Times interactives are also named, including “How We Play The Game.”.
For visual learning and younger engagement, the educator includes “Photos: Soccer Fields Around the World” from The Atlantic. They also bring in classroom-facing questions and themes that can spark discussion. including why television shaped the black-and-white pentagonal pattern on classic soccer balls. referenced through a Vox tweet: “Why do classic soccer balls have those black and white pentagonal panels?. Television.” The educator also includes a quiz on the history of football/soccer. “in particular. on the sport’s impact off the field. ” and notes it is via @nytopinion.
Several items in the collection are framed as teaching resources that translate across tournaments. even if they were built for earlier World Cups. “Though these lessons were designed for the last World Cup. most of the ideas can be applied to this one. too. ” the educator writes. pointing readers to a roundup of resources for teaching English during the World Cup from @ShellTerrell. shared by Ellii (formerly ESL Library) on June 13. 2018. They also include a BBC Ideas post about the benefits of chanting a favourite footballer’s name during the #WorldCup. shared on June 26. 2018.
The list carries a broader education feel as well, reaching beyond match days into how students process sport and media. It includes “Why the World Cup Needs Music” from the New York Times, embedded videos linked to that theme, and a photo gallery, “All Eyes On the World Cup,” from The Boston Globe.
Then there are science and design angles that can help teachers build cross-curricular lessons. The educator points to infographics at Statista, and adds “The making of a World Cup kit” from The Washington Post. They also include two infographics from Visual Capitalist, linked by embedded video URLs.
Two classroom lesson-specific items appear near the end of the list: “The World Cup as Teachable Moment? How One Teacher Approached It” from Ed Week, and “For Teachers: Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 Lesson Plan” alongside “FIFA Football for Schools.”
Even outside the typical “what happened on the pitch” scope, the educator expands the teaching toolkit. “In Miami, soccer balls are turned into one-of-a-kind art as World Cup nears” is included from The Associated Press. A Vox tweet about a modern soccer ball being recognized by billions around the globe also connects students to how equipment changes over time. with the tweet referencing the 1966 World Cup and describing a hint to think of an orange volleyball. Another Vox post referenced in the list addresses “Flopping” and its effects. including the idea that it “infuriates loyalists and reinforces soccer skeptics. ” shared on June 24. 2018.
The collection even reaches into health and environment—an angle that feels especially relevant when schools consider attendance. outdoor activities. and student wellbeing. NPR is cited for work that “crunched the numbers to see which matches are most at risk” due to dangerously hot. humid weather at many 2026 World Cup venues. with the item dated June 6. 2026 at 2:26 PM. Politico is included for “The disease detectives suiting up for the World Cup,” dated June 6, 2026 at 1:04 PM.
Taken together, the resources read like a fast-moving classroom response to a tournament that schools can’t wait for. The World Cup becomes a doorway—language practice. historical context. interactive learning. design and music. even weather and public-health questions—wrapped into links educators can open immediately as June 11 approaches and lesson planning tightens.
With the tournament set to run from June 11 to July 19 this year. the educator’s message is simple: start early. use what already works. and keep building. The list begins with proven World Cup learning resources from Qatar 2022. Russia 2018. and Brazil 2014. and then expands into a broader set of videos. interactive explainers. and classroom activity ideas designed to keep students engaged long after kickoff schedules are printed.
World Cup 2026 education resources lesson plans English language learners soccer in the classroom interactive learning World Cup teaching FIFA Football for Schools Ed Week BBC Ideas New York Times learning
So they’re teaching World Cup stuff now? About time I guess.
Not sure why this is a “lesson kit” when kids are already on their phones all day. Like do they really need links to learn English from soccer?
Wait so the World Cup is June 11 to July 19 but they’re already starting lessons? That sounds like they’re gonna have kids practice passing in the classroom or something… Also Qatar 2022 links?? sounds like it’s just propaganda dressed up as education.
I read like 2 lines and thought it said “World Cup lessons built fast” like they’re rushing the tournament schedule 😂 Teachers always doing extra stuff though. If it’s for English learning that’s cool I guess, but why not just use regular websites instead of all those “best sites” lists from other years. Also isn’t the kit just links? Seems kinda lazy but hey, if it works for them.