2026 World Cup teams based on family history

FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off shortly, with forty-eight teams competing across venues in Canada, Mexico and the US starting 11 June and running through 19 July. While we'll be cheering on Team USA, I thought it would be fun to see what other teams I might cheer for during the tournament based on family history connections. I'm not alone in this, based on this FOX5 NY article from 21 May 2026.

Group A features Mexico, which will definitely get some support from our deep roots in Sonora. Group B has Canada and Switzerland. My 4th-great-grandfather Asa Putnam Smith was supposedly born in Nova Scotia in 1783 (I'd love to confirm this with records). We have a Swiss connection through my Dad's side, descending from the Felmey/Völlmi and Imhoff lines of my 5th-great-grandparents.

Group C has Scotland, ancestral home of my 5th-great-grandfather John McIntosh. The group also has Brazil, a surprise landing place for a branch of Allison's Halter line, and Morocco, where we have ancestral origins links to North Africa and the Sephardic community of North Africa on Mom's side of the tree.

Group D features Team USA and Türkiye, where we may have a connection through the Sephardic community of the Eastern Mediterranean. I also have friends and colleagues from Türkiye and hope the team makes it to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Group E has Germany, ancestral home to many branches on both my side and Allison's side of the tree. Group F has Netherlands, and we do have a Dutch connection back to Amsterdam.

Group G features Belgium, and in addition to Brussels being a frequent location for my travel, we have a Belgian connection through the family of Philippe du Trieux.

Group H has Spain (and honorable mention Uruguay). Group I has France, ancestral home to several lines on Dad's side and Allison's side.

Group J includes Algeria, where Allison's 5th-great-grandfather Jean Pierre Halter settled after departing Bas Rhin, France. Defending champs Argentina are also in Group J, and although we don't have a family history connection there (as far as I know), they will be a fun team to watch.

Group K has Portugal, where we have ancestral links on Mom's side to the Azores, Madeira and Portugal. The final group, L, has England, and we have many family history connections on both sides of the tree. This gives quite a few teams for us to cheer along for World Cup 2026.