The World Cup is set to break new ground in 2026 as FIFA continues to expand and develop its showpiece tournament.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was unlike any other, being held over the winter due to concerns about the weather, causing huge disruptions to domestic football around the globe.
But there are set to be even more changes to the next tournament.
The World Cup is held every four years, being staged on a different continent in each edition.
After Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018, the famous competition headed to the Persian Gulf and will now be on the move again for the next edition with a host of new introductions.
Lionel Messi and Argentina are the reigning champions after their incredible victory in Qatar.
They will head into this tournament as Copa America winners while Spain are the European champions and will be eyeing world glory again.
World Cup 2026: Dates
The 2026 World Cup will get underway on Thursday, June 11, 2026 and run until the final on Sunday, July 19.
FIFA is eager to keep the tournament’s ‘footprint’ to 57 days meaning there would be 16 days of preparation and then 39 days of competition.
That would mean an earlier finish to the European domestic season but it remains to be seen how FIFA will slot everything in.
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World Cup 2026: Location
Like the Qatar tournament, the 2026 World Cup will also break new ground for FIFA.
That’s because it will be held across three countries – United States, Canada and Mexico.
The trio’s bid was voted ahead of the proposal from Morocco.
The 2002 tournament was held in South Korea and Japan but the World Cup has never had three host nations before – all of whom will automatically qualify.
There will be 16 host cities – 11 in the USA, two in Canada and three in Mexico.
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The stadiums being used include the 83,264-capacity Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, New York’s MetLife Stadium and Vancouver’s BC Place.
Several NFL venues will be used to provide huge crowds with 12 of the 16 stadia having capacities over 65,000.
It has also been confirmed that the MetLife Stadium, which holds 82,500 people, will host the final.
The opening game of the tournament will be held at the Estadio Azteca and will see Mexico kick off the action in Group A.
World Cup 2026: Stadiums
United States
- SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, California: 70,240 capacity
- MetLife Stadium, New York City, New York: 82,500 capacity
- AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas: 80,000 capacity
- Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: 76,416 capacity
- NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas: 72,220 capacity
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia: 75,000 capacity
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 67,594 capacity
- Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington: 68,740 capacity
- Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco, California: 68,500 capacity
- Gillette Stadium, Boston, Massachusetts: 65,878 capacity
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida: 65,326 capacity
Mexico
- Estadio Azteca, Mexico City: 83,264 capacity
- Estadio BBVA Bancomer, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon: 53,500 capacity
- Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Jalisco: 46,355 capacity
Canada
- BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia: 54,500 capacity
- BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario: 40,000 capacity
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World Cup 2026: Teams and group format
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to include 48 teams, up from 32.
The expanded format has been green-lit by the FIFA Council and it will feature a new look of 12 groups of four.
Winners and runners-up in each of those 12 four-team groups will advance to a new round of 32, where they will be joined by the eight best third-placed teams.
It adds up to a total of 104 matches, up from 64 in Qatar.
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World Cup 2026: Schedule
Group stages: June 11 / 27
Matches to be played in Vancouver, Toronto, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Seattle, San Francisco. Los Angeles, Houston. Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta. Miami, Boston, Philadelphia and New York.
The action will kick off with Group A on Thursday, June 11.
Round of 32: June 28 / July 3
Matches to be played in Vancouver, Toronto, Mexico City, Monterrey, Seattle, San Francisco. Los Angeles, Houston. Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta. Miami, Boston, and New York.
The knockout stages are set to begin on Sunday, June 28.
Round of 16: July 4 / 7
Matches to be played Vancouver, Seattle, Mexico City, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey.
Quarter-finals: July 9 / 11
Matches to be played in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami and Boston.
Semi-finals: July 14 / 15
Matches to be played in Dallas and Atlanta.
Third place play-off: Saturday, July 18
Penultimate game to be played in Miami.
Final: Sunday, July 19
Final to be held at MetLife Stadium in New York.
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World Cup 2026: Ticket information
Tickets for the next World Cup 2026 aren’t on sale yet.
However, you can register your interest in tickets on the FIFA website.
By registering, you will receive all the latest updates on ticket release times and information regarding the tournament.
There will be further information to follow in the coming months as we gear up for the biggest World Cup ever.
