Sports Illustrated Is Turning The World Cup Into A 48-Nation Art Project

BusinessMediaSports Illustrated Is Turning The World Cup Into A 48-Nation Art ProjectByAndy Meek,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I report on media as well as its intersection with news and culture.Follow AuthorMay 14, 2026, 09:00am EDTSummaryAhead of the expanded 2026 World Cup, Sports Illustrated is launching an ambitious editorial project, commissioning dozens of global artists to create 48 unique digital covers—one for each participating nation—plus four print editions. This initiative transcends traditional sports reporting, aiming to blend sports and cultural journalism by illuminating each country's history, traditions, and the unifying power of the tournament through art. Artists, often with direct cultural ties, depict national identity, from France in a Moulin Rouge setting to Mexico's players as contemporary warriors. SI's editor-in-chief emphasizes this approach highlights how the World Cup brings communities together, offering a collectible package that celebrates global identity, hope, and passion. This extensive effort showcases SI's vision for future sports storytelling.Show More Michael Gregoritsch of Austria celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Marcel Sabitzer (right) during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Nov. 18, 2025, in Vienna, Austria.Getty ImagesEvery four years, the World Cup becomes one of sport’s ultimate global spectacles — a cultural juggernaut, in fact, that draws more viewers than the Olympics. That scale sits at the heart of a new editorial experiment from Sports Illustrated ahead of this year’s tournament, which has expanded to 48 teams for what will be the largest World Cup ever when it kicks off June 11 in Mexico City.In what the magazine has called one of the most “ambitious” creative projects in its history, Sports Illustrated commissioned dozens of artists from around the world...