FIFA World Cup 2026
Schedule, host cities, bracket format & complete guide — USA · Canada · Mexico
June 11 – July 26, 2026 · 48 teams · 104 games · 16 host cities
SportBusy covers the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the largest sporting event ever, featuring 48 nations across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament runs June 11 to July 19, 2026. The opening match is at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (the New York metro area) on July 19, 2026. This is the first World Cup co-hosted by three countries and the first in North America since 1994.
2026 World Cup at a Glance
2026 World Cup Schedule & Rounds
Host Cities & Stadiums
The 2026 World Cup uses 16 stadiums across three nations. The Final is at MetLife Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area — the largest venue in the tournament at 82,500 capacity.
United States (11 cities)
Canada (2 cities)
Mexico (3 cities)
Recent World Cup Champions
FIFA World Cup winners from 1998 to 2022.
World Cup 2026 FAQ
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The opening match is at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, 2026.
Where is the World Cup 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is jointly hosted by three countries: the United States (11 cities), Canada (2 cities: Toronto, Vancouver), and Mexico (3 cities: Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara). It's the first World Cup hosted across three nations and the first hosted in North America since 1994.
Which cities in the USA are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 11 US host cities are: New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium — Final), Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium), Dallas (AT&T Stadium), San Francisco Bay Area (Levi's Stadium), Miami (Hard Rock Stadium), Seattle (Lumen Field), Boston (Gillette Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), and Houston (NRG Stadium).
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
48 teams are competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup — expanded from 32 teams in 2022. The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of 4, with the top 2 from each group plus 8 best third-place finishers (32 total) advancing to the knockout stage.
How does the 2026 World Cup format work?
48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4 for the group stage (June 11 – July 3). Each team plays 3 group-stage games. The top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams (32 total) advance to the new Round of 32. From there, the knockout bracket continues: Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Third-Place match, and the Final on July 26.
Where is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area) on Sunday, July 19, 2026. MetLife Stadium has a capacity of 82,500 and is home to the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.
Who is hosting the 2026 World Cup opening match?
The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico on June 11, 2026. The Azteca — with a capacity of 87,523 — is the only stadium to have hosted two World Cup Finals (1970, 1986) and will be staging World Cup games for a record third time.
Where can I watch World Cup 2026 in the USA?
In the United States, the 2026 World Cup broadcasts are on Fox and FS1 (English), and Telemundo and Universo (Spanish). Streaming is available on Fubo TV, DirecTV Stream, and other services that carry Fox and Telemundo. The Fox Sports app also streams games.
How does World Cup qualifying work?
FIFA allocates a set number of spots to each continental confederation. UEFA (Europe) gets 16 spots, CONMEBOL (South America) 6, CAF (Africa) 9, AFC (Asia) 8, CONCACAF (North/Central America & Caribbean) 6, and OFC (Oceania) 1, plus 2 intercontinental playoff spots. The three host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico) qualify automatically.
Who won the last World Cup?
Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, defeating France 4–2 on penalties (3–3 after extra time) at Lusail Stadium in Qatar on December 18, 2022. Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. It was Argentina's third World Cup title.
How many World Cup games are there total?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 104 total games: 72 group-stage games, 16 in the Round of 32, 8 in the Round of 16, 4 Quarterfinals, 2 Semifinals, 1 Third-Place match, and the Final.
Related
Schedule data sourced from FIFA.com. Dates and venues subject to change.