The Fan's Guide to Football World Cup 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first tournament hosted across three nations—United States, Mexico, and Canada—running from June 11 to July 19, The expanded format features 48 teams playing 104 matches...
The Fan's Guide to Football World Cup 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first tournament hosted across three nations—United States, Mexico, and Canada—running from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The expanded format features 48 teams playing 104 matches across 16 host cities, a significant increase from the traditional 32-team, 64-match structure used since 1998. The tournament opens at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, while the final takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. Eleven US stadiums, three Mexican venues, and two Canadian cities will host matches, including AT&T Stadium in Arlington, SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, and BMO Field in Toronto. FIFA confirmed the qualification pathways through six confederations, with UEFA contributing 16 spots, AFC receiving 8, CAF getting 9, CONMEBOL earning 6, and Concacaf securing 6 direct slots plus 2 intercontinental playoff berths. The 2026 edition introduces a new group stage structure with 12 groups of four teams, advancing the top two and eight
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