The 2026 World Cup is set to be an unprecedented event, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States securing automatic spots in the competition. This marks the first time that the tournament will feature 48 teams, with 45 additional nations joining the host countries.
FIFA has revealed the new format for the tournament, which will kick off on June 11 and run until July 19. The competition will begin with twelve groups, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the knockout stage. This stage will commence with a round of 32, leading up to the highly anticipated final.
The opening match of the 2026 World Cup will take place on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, featuring the Mexican national team. Mexico and the Azteca have previously hosted the tournament in 1970 and 1986, respectively. The final match will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19.
The United States men’s national team will begin their campaign on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. They will also have a group stage match at Lumen Field in Seattle. The United States previously hosted the World Cup in 1994 and will now be part of the historic expansion.
In addition to the host cities in Mexico and the United States, matches will also be played in Monterrey and Guadalajara in Mexico, as well as Atlanta, Dallas, Foxborough, Houston, Inglewood, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, and Santa Clara in the United States.
The 2026 World Cup promises to be an exciting and inclusive tournament, bringing together nations from around the globe to compete on the grandest stage of all.