The 2026 FIFA World Cup features a record 48 teams from six continents, with matches held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Billions of viewers from around the world will tune in as passionate fans cheer on their national teams, all hoping to lift the coveted World Cup trophy after the final match is played.

The winner, of course, is not known in advance. That’s the magic of the World Cup — and investing, where the same uncertainty applies. Diversification is important because the future is impossible to predict.

After more than a decade of U.S. dominance, it’s tempting to bench international exposure entirely but complacency is often a late-game mistake. The strongest World Cup teams aren’t built around a single country’s stars; they rely on depth across positions and playing styles. A resilient portfolio is built the same way, with the right mix of complementary exposures positioned to perform across a range of conditions. That’s the case we make throughout this commentary.