(Black PR Wire) The 2026 FIFA World Cup is showcasing Black excellence on a global stage. Hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, the 39-day tournament officially kicked off June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with a historic opening match between Mexico and South Africa.

This year's World Cup includes a record number of African nations, including Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal and South Africa. Their participation reflects the growing impact of African talent and achievement in international soccer.

Black excellence is also represented through the participation of Afro-Caribbean nations such as Haiti, Jamaica and Curaçao, as well as Black athletes competing for teams around the world. The United States Men's National Team reflects this representation, with 13 players of African descent on its roster:  Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Miles Robinson, Auston Trusty, Alex Freeman, Malik Tillman, Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah and Mark McKenzie.

At Black PR Wire, we proudly celebrate the global impact of Black athletes and salute the excellence, resilience and leadership they bring to the world's most-watched sporting event.