48
Teams
June 11 to July 19, 2026
FIFA World Cup 2026
One Trophy. 48 Nations. The biggest World Cup in history across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Tournament Pulse
104
Matches
3
Host Nations
16
Host Cities
31
Days
02
Hours
48
Minutes
04
Seconds
Until June 11, 2026 kickoff in Mexico City.
FIFA World Cup 2026 - What You Need to Know
This is the first 48-team World Cup. That means 12 groups, more matches, and a brand new Round of 32. Keep track of when everyone plays on our match schedule.
The tournament kicks off with Mexico vs South Africa on June 11 at the legendary Estadio Azteca. Check out how the draw shaped up across all 12 groups.
With 104 matches spread across three countries, travel is a huge factor. You can explore all 16 stadiums in the venues section.
The full bracket locks in after the playoffs on March 31, 2026. Get up to speed on every single squad in our breakdown of all 48 teams.
Once the games begin, the table shifts by the minute. Watch the drama unfold in real-time on our live scores page.
With third-place teams now advancing, the math gets complicated. Track the live group movements on the standings page.
Not sure what channel the match is on? We cover the TV and streaming rights for every major market in our broadcasting guide.
Everything to Know About FIFA World Cup 2026
Tournament Format and Timeline
The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11 and wraps up on July 19. That's 39 days of non-stop football spread across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
With 48 teams entering the tournament, we now get 12 groups and an extra knockout stage. That means teams face a Round of 32 before hitting the traditional Round of 16.
Group Stage and Knockout Path
The group stage formula stays the same: four teams per group, playing three matches each. If you finish in the top two, you advance automatically.
Here's the twist: the eight best third-placed teams also move on. This guarantees a massive 32-team knockout bracket, making the final group games wilder than ever.
Host Cities, Opener, and Final
Mexico gets the honor of the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Everything wraps up a month later at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
In total, 16 stadiums will handle the 104 matches. The US takes the lion's share with 11 venues, Mexico gets three, and Canada covers two.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups - All 12 Groups
View Group HubGroup A
Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Czech Republic
Group B
Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar
Switzerland
Group C
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
Group D
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Türkiye
Group E
Germany
Curacao
Ivory Coast
Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands
Japan
Sweden
Tunisia
Group G
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
Group H
Spain
Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
Group I
France
Senegal
Norway
Iraq
Group J
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
Group K
Portugal
DR Congo
Uzbekistan
Colombia
Group L
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule - Key Dates
View Full Match Schedule| Stage | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | June 11 - June 27, 2026 | 72 |
| Round of 32 | June 28 - July 1, 2026 | 16 |
| Round of 16 | July 3 - July 6, 2026 | 8 |
| Quarter-finals | July 9 - July 10, 2026 | 4 |
| Semi-finals | July 14, 2026 | 2 |
| Third-place play-off | July 18, 2026 | 1 |
| Final | July 19, 2026 | 1 |
Fresh From The News Desk
Latest World Cup 2026 News
The newest public stories appear here automatically from the FWC Mania news archive, so the homepage stays current whenever fresh tournament updates go live.
GuideMay 10, 2026
Toronto BMO Field Test Gives World Cup Venue Readiness Check
Toronto's expanded BMO Field handled a sellout Inter Miami match as a live rehearsal before hosting six World Cup matches.
By Shakir AliRead
GuideMay 10, 2026
Extreme Weather Risks Put World Cup Heat And Storm Plans In Focus
Heat, humidity, thunderstorms, and wildfire smoke are now central operational concerns for World Cup 2026 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
By Shakir AliRead
GuideMay 10, 2026
World Cup Debut Patch Adds New Shirt Detail For First-Time Players
Players making their first World Cup appearance in 2026 will wear a debut patch that can later become a collectable trading-card item.
By Shakir AliRead
Team UpdateMay 10, 2026
Iran Seeks World Cup Visa Guarantees For Players And Staff
Iran says it will play at World Cup 2026 while asking hosts to guarantee visas, security, and respectful treatment for players and officials.
By Shakir AliRead
GuideMay 10, 2026
US World Cup Security Risk Rises Around Iran Conflict
Security planning for the 78 United States World Cup matches is under fresh scrutiny as officials prepare for stadiums, fan festivals, transport hubs, and watch parties.
By Shakir AliRead
GuideMay 9, 2026
World Cup 2026 Squad Deadlines Set Key Roster Decisions
World Cup squad rules set May 11 provisional lists, May 25 player release, and June 2 final confirmation for all 48 teams.
By Shakir AliRead
Player NewsMay 9, 2026
Josko Gvardiol Return Gives Croatia Timely World Cup Lift
Josko Gvardiol is back in Manchester City training after four months out with a broken leg, giving Croatia a timely defensive boost.
By Shakir AliRead
Player NewsMay 9, 2026
Tanner Tessmann Muscle Injury Tests USMNT Depth Before World Cup
Tanner Tessmann will miss Lyon's remaining season matches with a muscle strain, putting another USMNT midfield option under review.
By Shakir AliRead
FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Venues
Explore All VenuesThe 2026 World Cup uses 16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Estadio Azteca hosts the opener, and MetLife Stadium hosts the final in New Jersey.
USA Venues (11)
SoFi Stadium - Los AngelesMetLife Stadium - New York/New JerseyAT&T Stadium - DallasNRG Stadium - HoustonLevi's Stadium - San Francisco Bay AreaMercedes-Benz Stadium - AtlantaArrowhead Stadium - Kansas CityLincoln Financial Field - PhiladelphiaLumen Field - SeattleHard Rock Stadium - MiamiGillette Stadium - Boston
Mexico Venues (3)
Canada Venues (2)
Check Your Country Time Zone
Pick your country to see the closest time zone, your current local time there now, and a quick World Cup host-city comparison. If your country spans more than one zone, choose the region that matches where you live.
Choose a country or use your device time zone to see the result.
The 48 Qualified Teams
48 Teams Confirmed
Every team card links directly to its national page with squad, group, and fixture coverage.
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Canada
Cape Verde
Colombia
Croatia
Curacao
Czech Republic
DR Congo
Ecuador
Egypt
England
France
Germany
Ghana
Haiti
Iran
Iraq
Ivory Coast
Japan
Jordan
Mexico
Morocco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Paraguay
Portugal
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
Senegal
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Tunisia
Türkiye
Uruguay
USA
Uzbekistan
Qualification Status by Confederation
Qualification is split across six confederations. Each region follows a different pathway to complete its World Cup slots.
AFC
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation survives a brutal gauntlet of regional warfare to deploy 8 battle-tested squads for the tournament.
46 Teams8 Slots
Explore AFC TeamsCAF
Confederation of African Football
African qualification produces an absolute bloodbath across the continent, locking in 9 high-octane nations ready to disrupt the hierarchy.
54 Teams9 Slots
Explore CAF TeamsCONCACAF
North, Central America and Caribbean Confederation
Anchored by three host nations, the region deploys a massive 6-team arsenal to defend North American soil.
35 Teams6 Slots
Explore CONCACAF TeamsCONMEBOL
South American Football Confederation
South America's uncompromising, brutal marathon forges 6 elite contenders prepared for absolute warfare.
10 Teams6 Slots
Explore CONMEBOL TeamsOFC
Oceania Football Confederation
Oceania fights through regional isolation to secure their direct shot at the 2026 tournament, bringing unyielding pride to the stage.
11 Teams1 Slots
Explore OFC TeamsUEFA
Union of European Football Associations
Europe arrives with a massive 16-team armada, packed with global heavyweights and tactical masterminds ready to dominate.
55 Teams16 Slots
Explore UEFA TeamsFAQs
When does FIFA World Cup 2026 start and end?
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When does FIFA World Cup 2026 start and end?
FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11, 2026 to July 19, 2026. The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The final takes place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.
Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
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Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. There are 16 host cities across the three nations.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
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How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
48 national teams will compete at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making it the largest edition in tournament history. The 48 teams play 104 matches across the group stage and knockout rounds.
How many groups are there at World Cup 2026?
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How many groups are there at World Cup 2026?
There are 12 groups at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, labeled Group A through Group L. Each group contains four teams who each play three matches in the group stage.
How many teams advance from each group at World Cup 2026?
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How many teams advance from each group at World Cup 2026?
The top two teams from each group advance automatically to the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams from all 12 groups also qualify, giving 32 total teams in the knockout stage.
Where is the World Cup 2026 final?
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Where is the World Cup 2026 final?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final takes place on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.
Who are the host nations at World Cup 2026?
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Who are the host nations at World Cup 2026?
USA, Mexico, and Canada are the three co-host nations. All three qualified automatically. Mexico is in Group A, Canada is in Group B, and the United States is in Group D.
What is the World Cup 2026 format?
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What is the World Cup 2026 format?
The 2026 World Cup uses a 48-team format with 12 groups of four. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to a Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.
Who are the favourites to win World Cup 2026?
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Who are the favourites to win World Cup 2026?
Spain enter as FIFA's number one ranked side, while Argentina are the defending champions. France, England, Brazil, and Portugal are also major title contenders heading into the tournament.
What is the new Round of 32 at World Cup 2026?
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What is the new Round of 32 at World Cup 2026?
The 2026 World Cup introduces a Round of 32 between the group stage and Round of 16. 32 teams advance from the group stage: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams.
When is the World Cup 2026 opening match?
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When is the World Cup 2026 opening match?
The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa on June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It repeats the same fixture as the 2010 World Cup opener.