Strap yourselves in, everybody, we're not going to forget this tournament quickly...
1. More teams!
Yes, we always said 32-team World Cups simply weren't massive enough – thankfully, FIFA overlord Gianni Infantino and his pals have obliged and given us 48. Hooray! Italy still didn't make it...
2. More games!
The 2022 World Cup had 64 matches – this time there are 104, running from June 11 to July 19. Some days have six games – hours and hours of football, each more climactic than the last. You're going to need a wall chart!
3. Three hosts!
Japan and South Korea were co-hosts in 2002, but we've never had three countries divvy up the burden. USA (78 matches) and Mexico (13 matches) have hosted World Cups before, but it's a first time for Canada (13 matches).
4. Crazy distances!
Every stadium at Qatar 2022 was within 34 miles of each other. This time, it's the most spread-out World Cup ever – there are 2,800 miles between Vancouver and Miami. Logistical nightmare…
4. Mascot wars!
Three co-hosts means three mascots – so it's welcome Maple the Moose, Zayu the Jaguar and Clutch the Bald Eagle. Our money is on the jaguar in a fight.
6. Mad kick-off times!
At USA 94, no game started later than 12.30am UK time. This year we have 17 different kick-off times, from 5pm to 5am (full guide here). If you stay up until 7am to see all of Austria vs Jordan on June 17, the fourth game in the space of 11 hours, we salute you.
7. The battle for third
Infantino abandoned an idea to have 16 groups of three – it's 12 groups of four, with the top two moving into the round of 32 (head-to-head record will now separate teams on equal points). The eight best third-placed teams also go through – at recent Euros with a similar format, teams have needed three points and a decent goal difference to make progress. Great potential for late drama.
8. New ball, please!
Every World Cup, a new sphere is released, usually said to be ‘rounder than ever before'. Were they kicking a cube about in 1930? This time, all hail the Trionda, a nod to the three host countries, which also contains a chip that transmits data over to VAR. Expect the 2030 World Cup ball to be sentient.
9. Famous rematches!
When South Africa hosted in 2010, Siphiwe Tshabalala sent Peter Drury berserk with a stunning goal in the opening game against Mexico. This time, Mexico host the World Cup's opening game. Their opponents? South Africa. There's also a replay of Senegal's famous opener against France in 2002.
10. Debutants
Only Qatar made a World Cup debut in 2022. This time we have Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde and Curacao – the latter have surpassed Iceland as the smallest nation in World Cup history. Population: 155,000.
11. New rules!
Regulations have come in to combat time-wasting – if a player requests treatment, they must stay off the field for 60 seconds when play restarts, while subbed players have 10 seconds to go off, and a goal kick becomes a corner if it's not taken quickly. Chop chop!
12. Extra VAR!
Everybody loves VAR, so it was only right FIFA introduced more of it. Now it can intervene if a second yellow card is deemed incorrect, or a corner is wrongly awarded. Fear not, Arsenal, it's only at the World Cup for now…
13. Zidane's son!
Twenty years ago, Zizou bowed out quite literally, by nutting Marco Materazzi in the chest – son Luca returns the family name to the tournament this summer… for Algeria. The 27-year-old is a goalkeeper with Granada.
14. The new Diana Ross!
USA 94's best moment was when the singer took a penalty at the opening ceremony, and scuffed it horribly wide. Who will step up this time – Lady Gaga with a Panenka, perhaps? The final will also feature a Super Bowl-esque half-time show – it's due to finish within 15 minutes, but the one during the Club World Cup final meant half-time lasted 24.
15. Searing heat!
It reached nearly 40 degrees at the Club World Cup – three of this summer's 16 stadiums combo air conditioning with a retractable roof, but others could get warm…
16. Thunder and lightning!
Several Club World Cup fixtures also experienced lengthy delays due to lightning warnings. East coast venues with afternoon kick-offs were most at risk. The final? In New Jersey, at 3pm…
17. Four quarters!
Midway through each half, games will have a three-minute hydration break – officially because of the heat, but they'll happen no matter the temperature. FIFA is allowing TV channels to show ads during that period. Fancy that.
18. Sporrans!
Scotland's Tartan Army are returning to the World Cup after 28 years, and they've got around the no-bag policy at matches as well – given special dispensation to wear a sporran, the traditional pouch that comes with a kilt.
19. Really old people!
Roger Milla will retain his record as the World Cup's oldest ever scorer (42), but a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo could become the eldest to bag in the knockout stage. Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon (43) also hopes to feature, even if Egypt's Essam El Hadary (45) will remain the World Cup's oldest ever player.
20. Messi vs Ronaldo!
Despite both playing a record sixth World Cup this year, they've never met at a major tournament – it could happen if Argentina and Portugal each win their groups and make the last eight. Kick-off time for that spectacle? A handy 2am.
21. Watch out, Klose!
Miroslav Klose's record of 16 World Cup goals is in danger – the three Golden Boot favourites are Kylian Mbappe (currently on 12), Lionel Messi (13) and Harry Kane (eight), who's scoring better than a goal a game for Bayern this term.
22. Ally McCoist!
More games means more Ally – the lovable co-commentator might as well have his own 24-hour channel, he'll be on TV that much, telling us about the Mayan history of Mexico, and how he's just toured Mrs Doubtfire's house while in San Francisco. Bring it on!
22. Steve McClaren's doppelganger!
Schteve himself hasn't made it to the World Cup, having quit Jamaica before the play-offs, but his lookalike will be in attendance – England superfan Andy Milne is selling a house to fund the trip. That's commitment.
24. Record crowds!
The highest ever aggregate attendance for a World Cup was the 3.6 million folks at USA 94 – the total capacity for this year is a whopping seven million, and prices have ensured that ticket sales will generate in the region of £900 trillion. OK, maybe that number has been slightly exaggerated.
25. Former Premier League managers!
Thomas Tuchel and Steve Clarke will be joined by nine other former Premier League gaffers – Mauricio Pochettino (USA), Carlo Ancelotti (Brazil), Jesse Marsch (Canada), Ronald Koeman (Netherlands), Roberto Martinez (Portugal), Julen Lopetegui (Qatar), Ralf Rangnick (Austria), Marcelo Bielsa (pliers at the ready, Uruguay), plus Graham Potter (Sweden). The latter and Darren Bazeley (New Zealand) are the only English bosses involved.
26. Trump chaos!
Having received the FIFA Peace Prize, then gone to war with one of the nations due to be at the World Cup, who knows what mayhem Donald Trump still has in store for us by July 19? Strap in, people, we're not going to forget this tournament in a hurry…
