The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks a historic milestone for the sport: for the first time, the tournament expands to 48 teams and is co-hosted by three nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico. With 104 matches across 16 host cities, it is the largest World Cup ever staged.
A New Format
The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to a new round of 32. From there the tournament follows a familiar knockout path through the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
Host Cities
Matches are spread across iconic venues including MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — which hosts the final — alongside stadiums in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Mexico City, Toronto and Vancouver, among others.
What's at Stake
With more teams than ever, nations that have historically struggled to qualify now have a genuine path to the world stage, broadening the tournament's global appeal and unlocking new footballing stories.