2026 World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2026 (officially marketed as FIFA World Cup 26) is the 23rd edition of the tournament, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Hosts: It’s being jointly hosted by three countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — making it the first World Cup hosted across three nations. It’s also a homecoming of sorts for North America, as the US and Mexico last co-hosted in 1994.

Expanded Format: This is the biggest change in the tournament’s history. For the first time, 48 teams will compete, up from the previous 32. Teams are split into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus the eight best third-place teams advancing to a new Round of 32. The total number of matches jumps from 64 to 104 games, and the tournament runs for 39 days.

Venues: Matches are spread across 16 cities, with the majority in the US (11 cities), plus 3 in Mexico and 2 in Canada. The final is set to be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey/New York.

Why it’s historic: Beyond the expanded format, it’s the first World Cup where all six FIFA confederations are guaranteed at least one berth. It’s also expected to be the most commercially massive World Cup ever, given the size of the North American market.

It’s shaping up to be a landmark tournament — bigger, longer, and broader than any World Cup before it.