Data Vis Dispatch, June 16: The Swiss population cap, $1.77 trillion, and El Niño

Let’s start with the most visualization-heavy topic this week: The 2026 World Cup. We present a new selection of visualizations, examining the odds, strengths, and weaknesses of the teams, the proportion of players from European clubs, and breakdowns of the first few matches. Spain's travel route has also been visualized, along with the historic, three-part opening ceremony.

In Switzerland, a proposal for a population cap was rejected, with support for the initiative varying based on the population density of municipalities. While the cap was aimed at halting the country's growing population, it would have further increased the proportion of older residents.

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the arrival of the El Niño climate phenomenon, with high air and sea surface temperatures expected. Use a climate monitor to track the unusual changes in global temperatures.

This week in visualizations about the environment: A watercolor bar chart about water from the Lower Colorado River, and the beautiful density of hidden underground fungi networks.

Elon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire following SpaceX's initial public offering.

Similarly on the topic of money, revenues of AI companies are on the rise, along with the share prices of public companies supplying data centres.

This week's charts on transportation visualize the history of India's railways, with records dating back over 170 years. In New York City, inexpensive street parking can often be difficult to find, as most of the metered parking spaces are located in the heart of Manhattan.

We end the Dispatch with a selection of other interesting topics: Asia's electrified economy powered by renewable energy, the growing number of elderly residents in suburban counties, and love stories!