FIFA World Cup 2026
Schedule, host cities, bracket format & complete guide — USA · Canada · Mexico
June 11 – July 19, 2026 · 48 teams · 104 games · 16 host cities
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest sporting event ever staged, featuring 48 teams 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. The World Cup Final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (New York metro). This is the first three-country co-hosted World Cup and the first in North America since 1994 — 104 total games, 3 group-stage venues per city, and a new expanded Round of 32 format.
World Cup 2026 Games
104 gamesGroup Stage
June 11 – June 27 · 12 Groups
South Africa
Mexico
Czech Republic
South Korea
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Canada
Switzerland
Qatar
Morocco
Brazil
Scotland
Haiti
Paraguay
USA
Turkey
Australia
Curaçao
Germany
Ecuador
Ivory Coast
Japan
Netherlands
Tunisia
Sweden
Egypt
Belgium
New Zealand
Iran
Cape Verde
Spain
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
France
Norway
Iraq
Algeria
Argentina
Jordan
Austria
Congo DR
Portugal
Colombia
Uzbekistan
Croatia
England
Panama
GhanaKnockout Stage
June 28 – July 19 · Single elimination2026 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 19.
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 and Genius Sports. Dates and venues subject to change.
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.