FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to unfold across June and July. The tournament will kick off on June 11 at the legendary Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final match is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which FIFA will refer to as the New York New Jersey Stadium during the event. Already, more than a dozen countries have earned their places in the expanded 48-team competition, including the host nations—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—as well as the current champions, Argentina.

Other confirmed participants include Japan, Iran, Jordan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Ecuador. Europe will send sixteen teams to the competition—the highest number from any continent. Meanwhile, Africa will be represented by nine nations and Asia by eight, with both regions also receiving one additional playoff berth.

FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19. This tournament will mark a historic moment as it debuts an expanded format with 48 nations competing for the first time. Europe will contribute 16 teams, determined through the UEFA qualification process. The competition will feature 12 groups, with a total of 104 matches scheduled. The opening game is slated for June 11 at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final match will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.

2026 World Cup soccer fans are eagerly awaiting the sport’s most prestigious tournament. Long before the opening match, engineers and designers spend years developing, testing, and refining the official game ball. Recent leaks have revealed details about the ball for the 2026 World Cup, showcasing a design that fuses mathematics, physics, and artistic creativity in impressive ways. Called the Trionda (meaning “triwave” in Spanish), the ball celebrates the three host countries — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — marking the first World Cup ever hosted by three nations. Made from only four panels, it has the fewest segments of any World Cup ball, a significant change from the 20-panel Al Rihla used in 2022.

World Cup 2026 tickets will go on sale next week, with the most affordable options starting at $60. While this starting price is lower than in past tournaments, the demand for seats is expected to far outstrip availability. The 2026 edition will feature 48 teams for the first time, up from the previous 32, and will include 104 matches hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This expanded format means more tickets will be available. FIFA projects that over 5.5 million tickets could be sold, potentially surpassing the previous records of 3.1 million in Brazil 2014 and 3.4 million in Qatar 2022.

Additionally, FIFA is experimenting with new ticketing systems, such as bundled packages for group-stage games and exclusive hospitality options. Organizers are counting on North America’s strong consumer market to help generate record-setting revenues for the event.

FIFA World Cup 2026 teams still vying for qualification, aside from the nine African and sixteen European spots that remain fully open, include the following, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Iraq, and Oman are competing for two direct qualification places and one slot via the intercontinental playoffs. South America: Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia are fighting for the last three World Cup berths, while Peru can only advance through the intercontinental playoff route.

North, Central American, and Caribbean region: Honduras, Bermuda, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao, Haiti, Panama, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Guatemala, Suriname, and El Salvador have progressed to the third round. From this stage, three nations will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the three runners-up from each group will compete for the intercontinental playoff slot.

World Cup 2026 schedule will see Argentina aiming to defend the crown they won in 2022. It is still unclear if Lionel Messi will participate in this campaign, but the current champions are expected to face tough competition. Almost a century after the first World Cup in 1930, this edition will be staged across three countries — Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Stretching from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic, the tournament will present new challenges for teams navigating long distances, with fans likely to experience similar travel demands.

As anticipation for the 2026 World Cup builds, GIVEMESPORT has created this guide to highlight all the essential details about the competition. From important dates and match schedules to venues and ticket information, we’ve got everything covered as 48 of the world’s finest teams compete for glory. It promises to be an unforgettable event.

World Cup 2026 host cities have been announced by FIFA, with the tournament set to take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In the United States, 11 cities — such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Boston — will welcome matches during this global event. Mexico will host games in three cities, including Monterrey, which is preparing to host for the second time, while Guadalajara and Mexico City, both previous hosts in 1970 and 1986, will once again serve as venues. Canada will feature World Cup matches for the first time in its history, with BMO Field in Toronto and BC Place Stadium in Vancouver chosen as the venues. This edition of the tournament will be the first ever co-hosted by three nations and the first multi-country World Cup since Japan and South Korea shared hosting duties in 2002.

World Cup 2026 venues showcase historic cities brimming with energy, making each location an exciting place to explore. With a deep-rooted love for sports, the tournament adds another thrilling event to the city’s already action-packed athletic calendar. For visitors less drawn to sports, the city offers vibrant neighborhoods to explore, serene public gardens, the famous Freedom Trail, and a diverse array of culinary experiences. The recently renovated Gillette Stadium features excellent views from almost every seat, along with spacious concourses for comfort. A standout attraction of the stadium is its 218-foot iconic lighthouse, offering panoramic vistas from its 360-degree observation deck.

FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying draw is scheduled to occur at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. The venue was revealed by US President Donald Trump during an address from the Oval Office, with Vice President JD Vance and FIFA president Gianni Infantino present. Trump also left open the possibility of personally supervising the draw. With the tournament increasing to 48 teams, the competition will feature 12 groups of four, followed by a round of 32 — adding an extra knockout stage compared to earlier editions.
In fact, the World Cup has doubled in scale since its 1994 staging in the US, when only 24 teams took part.

World Cup 2026 groups will include 48 national teams: 8 representing Asia, 9 from Africa, 6 from North America (with Canada, Mexico, and the United States qualifying automatically as host countries), 16 from Europe, 6 from South America, 1 from Oceania, and 2 additional spots to be decided via intercontinental playoffs. In the group stage, the teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, each playing three matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from every group will advance to the knockout rounds, while the eight highest-ranked third-place teams — determined by points, goal difference, and other tiebreakers — will also progress, forming a 32-team bracket for the next phase. With the increased number of teams, the tournament will last 39 days, up from about 32 in past editions, and the total matches will rise from 64 to 104.