It’s been 31 years since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup. In 1993, the Montreal Canadiens managed it, but the country has been shut out ever since. Starting Saturday, Canada is pinning its hopes for redemption on the Edmonton Oilers, who are set to face the Florida Panthers.
The Oilers last won the Cup in 1990, while the Panthers have never managed a championship despite two shots at the title, including last year.
Ticket prices for finals are selling for a small fortune in Edmonton, with resale prices reaching as high as CA$4,000. Of course, most will take in the series from outside the arena. The 2024 playoffs have been the most-watched in nearly three decades. And with a Canadian team in the finals, a lot of eyeballs north of the US border will be glued to television sets, computers, and mobile screens in the days to come.
There are 48 countries involved in this year’s World Cup, but that only tells part of the story of just how global the “global game” has become.
The World Cup is the planet's biggest sporting event, and the most political one. This year, it will also be the most profitable spectacle of all time.
Various groups march along Calzada de Tlalpan to the Estadio Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico, on June 11, 2026.
Mexico cruised past South Africa 2-0 on Thursday in opening 2026 World Cup game at the majestic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Some Mexican citizens used the occasion to highlight issues that the country faces.
Cuba has faced severe fuel shortages since the US imposed a de facto blockade earlier this year, and the halted shipment could have powered the island for about 11 days.