NEW YORK (AP) — For news organizations around the globe, the World Cup ranks among the most complex ongoing stories to cover. The event goes far beyond match scores — it touches on politics, economics, culture, human rights, celebrity, national identity, and sheer spectacle, all happening simultaneously across multiple countries with massive, passionate audiences.
This year’s tournament spanned three nations and several time zones, and it featured 40 more matches than the previous edition. The expanded scale put the Associated Press’s broad photographer network across North America and Mexico to the test, with staff photographers assigned to cover matches in cities where they are based.
Wire services like the AP serve as the foundation of international coverage, functioning as the eyes and ears for news outlets that lack the resources to send their own teams. Their photographers pursue not just the goals on the field, but the moments surrounding them — fan traditions, geopolitical undertones, controversies, and the narratives of star athletes who carry the weight of their nations’ expectations.
For the press, the World Cup also presents a challenge of impartiality. With billions of emotionally invested viewers worldwide, every headline, photograph, and editorial decision faces intense scrutiny.
At a time when audiences are pulled in countless directions by social media platforms and algorithms, the World Cup stands out as one of the few remaining events that brings people together in a truly shared experience — a reminder that communal storytelling still matters, and that journalism continues to shape how those stories reach the public.
The AP fielded more than 60 photographers over 40 days across three countries, documenting 104 matches and delivering close to 10,000 photos to news customers. For a special gallery, 16 of those photographers selected their personal favorite image from the tournament.
Tony Hicks, the AP’s deputy director of photography for global sports, has now covered nine World Cup finals.
