What is it?
FIFA World Cup 2026 is the 23rd edition of the men’s football (soccer) world championship, held every four years. National teams from FIFA’s member associations compete for the title.
When and Where?
Dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
Hosts: Three North American countries: United States (main host), Canada, Mexico (co-hosts)
Cities: 16 cities across the three countries
Significance: First World Cup hosted by three nations
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Teams and Format
Number of Teams: Expanded from 32 to 48 teams
Groups: 12 groups of 4 teams each
Advancement: Top 2 teams from each group + 8 best third-placed teams move to a round of 3Total Matches: 104 (previously 64)
Tournament Duration: 39 days
Automatic Qualifiers
The host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico) automatically qualify.
Notable Facts
Argentina is the defending champion (won in 2022).
Mexico becomes the first country to host the men’s World Cup three times.
Canada is hosting the men’s World Cup for the first time.
The final match will be held at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA.
Stadiums
16 stadiums are selected, including a mix of soccer-specific stadiums and multi-purpose NFL/CFL venues.
Some stadiums with artificial turf will be converted to grass.
ost Selection
Joint North American bid (USA/Canada/Mexico) beat Morocco 134–65 in June 2018
Canada: First time hosting men’s World Cup, fifth country to host both men’s and women’s tournaments
Mexico: Hosting men’s World Cup for the third time (1970, 1986, 2026)
USA: Hosting men’s and women’s World Cups for the second time
Host Cities and Stadiums
Total Host Cities: 16
USA (11): Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Miami
Canada (2): Toronto, Vancouver
Mexico (3): Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey
Final Match Stadium: MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Stadiums are a mix of soccer-specific and NFL/CFL stadiums, some with retractable roofs or indoor climate control
Notable Facts
First World Cup hosted by three countries
First World Cup with 48 teams
Mexico is the first country to host three men’s World Cups
The tournament returns to the summer schedule (June–July), unlike Qatar 2022
Qualification
Host nations automatically qualify: USA, Canada, Mexico
Several teams have already qualified, including returning nations and first-time participants like Jordan and Uzbekistan
“2026 World Cup” refers to this event. For other tournaments with the same name, see 2026 World Cup (disambiguation). The 2026 FIFA World Cup, promoted as FIFA World Cup 26, will be the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, the international men’s football championship held every four years for national teams affiliated with FIFA. The competition is scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be hosted across 16 cities in three North American countries. The United States will serve as the main host, while Canada and Mexico will act as co-hosts. This will mark the first World Cup organized by three nations.
This edition will also be the first to feature 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32. The United 2026 bid won against Morocco in a final vote at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. It will be the first tournament since 2002 to be held in more than one country. With its previous events in 1970 and 1986, Mexico will become the first nation to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times. The United States last hosted the men’s tournament in 1994, while this will be Canada’s debut as a host nation. The event will return to its usual northern summer timeframe, after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar took place in November and December.
As hosts, Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically qualify. Of the 13 teams confirmed so far, 10 also competed in 2022, while Jordan and Uzbekistan will participate in the World Cup for the first time.
Argentina enters as the defending champion, having claimed their third title in 2022.
Format and Expansion
The idea to enlarge the tournament was initially proposed in 2013 by then-UEFA president Michel Platini, and again in 2016 by FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Critics argued that matches were already numerous, the quality could be reduced, and the expansion might be politically motivated rather than sporting.
Beginning with this edition, the World Cup will include 48 teams, split into 12 groups of 4. The top two from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a round of 32—a format approved by the FIFA Council on March 14, 2023. This marks the first significant change since 1998.
The total number of matches will rise from 64 to 104, and teams reaching the semi-finals will play up to eight games instead of seven. The tournament will span 39 days, compared with 32 days in 2014 and 2018. Each team will still play three group-stage games. Players must be released from club duties by May 25, with exceptions for those in continental club finals until May 30. The combined rest, release, and tournament period remains 56 days, as in 2010, 2014, and 2018.
Previous Expansion Plans
Originally approved on January 10, 2017, the expansion format featured 16 groups of 3 teams and 80 matches, with the top two teams advancing to a round of 32. This plan would have reduced group-stage games by one but kept the total tournament length at 32 days. Critics warned that three-team groups increased the potential for collusion. FIFA considered penalty shoot-outs in group stages to reduce draws, but concerns remained. Alternative formats were studied until the 2023 decision of 12 groups of 4.
Host Selection
The FIFA Council debated hosting rotations between 2013 and 2017. Initially, countries from confederations hosting the previous two tournaments were barred from bidding. The rules shifted temporarily, then returned to the original form.
Exceptions allowed FIFA to consider bids from countries in confederations not meeting strict technical or financial requirements. In March 2017, Infantino clarified that Europe (UEFA) and Asia (AFC) were ineligible due to Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, leaving CONCACAF, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC as potential hosts—or UEFA if no bid qualified.
FIFA reinstated the option for co-hosting after banning it post-2002. Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. had considered separate bids but announced a joint bid on April 10, 2017. In March 2022, Liga MX president Mikel Arriola noted that Mexico’s co-hosting was at risk after a violent stadium incident, but FIFA approved the sanctions applied.
The 2026 bidding saw two proposals: the North American joint bid and Morocco. On June 13, 2018, the joint bid won 134–65 at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. This will be the first tournament hosted by three nations and the second hosted by multiple countries, after South Korea and Japan in 2002.
Hosting milestones include Canada becoming the fifth nation to host both men’s and women’s World Cups, Mexico hosting its third men’s World Cup, and the U.S. hosting both genders twice. Initially, 41 cities submitted 43 stadiums (plus 2 under construction) across Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. Venue eliminations reduced this to 24 stadiums. Vancouver rejoined in 2022 after Montreal withdrew.
On June 16, 2022, FIFA confirmed 16 host cities: Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Monterrey, Mexico City, Toronto, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Miami. Eight stadiums with artificial turf will be replaced with grass. Five indoor stadiums have climate control or retractable roofs. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host the final.
Soccer-specific stadiums in Canada and the U.S. are relatively small. Geodis Park in Nashville seats 30,000—below FIFA’s 40,000 minimum. BMO Field in Toronto is expanding to 45,500. Other stadiums are shared with NFL or CFL teams but are suitable for soccer.
Mexico City is the only national capital among the host cities, while Ottawa and Washington, D.C., join Bonn (1974) and Tokyo (2002) as capitals not hosting. Previous World Cup venues from 1994 won’t be used; Estadio Azteca remains the only stadium from 1970 and 1986 to host matches.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: Date, Location, Time – All the Details
Las Vegas has been chosen to stage the 2026 World Cup draw on December 5, according to several reports on Tuesday, with The Sphere confirmed as the venue for the ceremony.
Both ESPN and TUDN Mexico reported that Las Vegas will host the draw for the enlarged 48-team tournament, which will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
A total of 12 groups consisting of four teams each will be determined in the draw.
Back in 1994, when the United States organized the World Cup, the draw was also held in Las Vegas.
According to ESPN, The Sphere—a modern 17,500-seat arena that opened in 2023 and features a 54,000-square-meter screen—was regarded as the top candidate to stage the draw event.
Scientists caution that extreme heat could put both players and supporters at risk during the 2026 World Cup unless major scheduling adjustments are made.
The recent FIFA Club World Cup in the United States highlighted football’s growing struggle with high temperatures, offering a scorching preview of what athletes and fans may face when the U.S., Mexico, and Canada host the World Cup next summer.
As global temperatures continue to climb, experts warn that holding the tournament and other major football events in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer is becoming increasingly hazardous for participants and audiences alike.
Some experts argue that FIFA may eventually need to revise the football calendar to limit the danger of heat-related health problems.
“The further we move into this decade, the higher the risk becomes unless more drastic steps are taken, such as scheduling matches in winter or in cooler regions,” said Professor Piers Forster, head of the Priestley Centre for Climate Futures at the University of Leeds in England.