The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be a historic tournament, marking the first time the event will be hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will feature an expanded format with 48 teams competing in 104 matches.

Host Cities and Stadiums

Sixteen cities across North America have been selected to host matches. The United States will host the majority of the games with 11 cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Mexico will contribute three host cities: Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey. Canada will have two host cities: Toronto and Vancouver.

The opening match is scheduled to take place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The final will be held at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19.

Schedule Highlights

The group stage will run from June 11 to June 27. The knockout stage begins with the Round of 32 from June 28 to July 3, followed by the Round of 16 from July 4 to July 7. The Quarter-finals are scheduled for July 9 to July 11, and the Semi-finals will take place on July 14 and July 15. The third-place play-off is set for July 18.

Specific match schedules, including kick-off times, have been released. For example, in Group A, Mexico will face South Africa on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, while South Korea will play against UEFA Playoff D winner at Estadio Akron, Guadalajara. In Group B, Canada will play against UEFA playoff A winner on June 12 at BMO Field, Toronto, and Qatar will face Switzerland on June 13 at Levi's Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area.

New Format and Regulations

The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, an expansion from the previous 32. The teams will be divided into twelve groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the Round of 32. This new format will result in a total of 104 matches, up from 64 in previous editions.

FIFA has also introduced new regulations, including a mandatory three-minute cooling break in each half, regardless of weather conditions. This break will occur at the 22nd minute of each half, with an exception if play has already been stopped due to injury.

Additional Information

The draw for the final tournament took place on December 5. FIFA has weighted the draw to ensure that the four highest-ranked nations will not meet until the semi-finals.

The 2026 World Cup Final will feature a Super Bowl-style halftime show, alongside the traditional closing ceremony. Coldplay is rumored to be involved in putting together the event.