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World Cup 2026 FAQs
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from Thursday, June 11, 2026 through Sunday, July 19, 2026 — a 39-day tournament across the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Where is the 2026 World Cup being held?
The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It spans 16 venues across 16 cities including MetLife Stadium (NY/NJ), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), and Estadio Azteca (Mexico City).
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
48 national teams compete in the 2026 World Cup — an expansion from the 32-team format used from 1998 through 2022.
How does the 2026 World Cup format work?
48 teams split into 12 groups of four play a round-robin group stage. The top two from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-place finishers advance to a new Round of 32. Winners progress through the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Third Place match, and Final.
Is this the first World Cup with 48 teams?
Yes. The 2026 World Cup is the first tournament to feature 48 teams. FIFA expanded from 32 teams to increase global representation and add spots for Africa (9), Asia (8), and other confederations.
What is the new Round of 32 in 2026?
The Round of 32 is a brand-new knockout stage — the first in the modern World Cup era. It features all 32 group-stage qualifiers competing in 16 elimination games (June 28–July 3) before the Round of 16 begins on July 4.
Where is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19, 2026. MetLife Stadium holds approximately 82,500 fans and is located about 8 miles from midtown Manhattan.
Who hosts the 2026 World Cup opening match?
The opening match is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 11, 2026. The exact participating teams will be confirmed after the tournament draw.
Where can I watch the 2026 World Cup in the USA?
In the USA, games broadcast on Fox and FS1/FS2 in English, and Telemundo/Universo in Spanish. Streaming is available on Fubo TV, YouTube TV, Hulu Live TV, and through the Fox Sports and Telemundo apps.
Who won the last World Cup?
Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, beating France 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw through 120 minutes. Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball and scored in the Final — widely considered one of the greatest World Cup games ever played.
How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?
There are 104 total games: 72 in the group stage (12 groups × 6 games each) plus 32 in the knockout stage (Round of 32 through the Final). This compares to 64 games in the 2022 tournament.
When does the 2026 World Cup group stage end?
The group stage ends on June 27, 2026, with all 12 groups playing their Matchday 3 games simultaneously — a FIFA rule that prevents last-game score manipulation.