FIFA world cup 2026 will take place on December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Donald Trump announced Friday.
Speaking from the Oval Office alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump confirmed that the draw will determine 12 groups of four teams each for the expanded tournament, which is scheduled from June 11 to July 19.
FIFA world cup 2026 edition will be the first to feature 48 nations, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 104 total matches across 16 cities. The championship match on July 19 will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“It’s a great privilege to bring this global event, along with such remarkable people and extraordinary athletes – the best in the world – to the cultural heart of our nation’s capital,” Trump stated.
Read more about FIFA world cup news 2026
Read more about FIFA world cup 2026 updated news
So far, 13 nations have qualified, including the three host countries. The additional 10 confirmed participants are Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Australia, New Zealand, and Jordan. The qualification process will continue worldwide until March 2026.
The United States will stage matches in 11 cities: New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium), Dallas (AT&T Stadium), San Francisco Bay Area (Levi’s Stadium), Miami (Hard Rock Stadium), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Seattle (Lumen Field), Houston (NRG Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field), Kansas City, Missouri (Arrowhead Stadium), and Boston (Gillette Stadium).
Canada will hold 13 matches, with 10 group-stage games evenly distributed between Toronto and Vancouver. Mexico will also stage 13 fixtures, with group matches shared among Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey.
Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation’s third-round World Cup qualifying competition begins Thursday, with 18 teams vying for eight direct spots at the finals.
The final stage of Asia’s qualification process of FIFA world cup 2026 will conclude in June 2025, though some teams may secure their berths earlier. Following the second round of knockout matches, the group phase has now been set. The 18 teams will be divided into three groups of six, playing home and away. The top two finishers in each group will secure automatic entry into the tournament.
The six sides ranked third and fourth across the groups will be placed into two additional groups of three and play once at a neutral venue. The top two from each mini-group will also qualify. The second-place teams from these groups will meet in a playoff to decide who advances to the intercontinental playoffs.
South Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo announced on Monday that midfielder Jens Castrop, a former German youth international, has been selected for upcoming friendlies against co-hosts United States and Mexico. This marks the first time a foreign-born, mixed-heritage player has been included in the Korean men’s squad.
The Borussia Mönchengladbach player, 22, was born in Düsseldorf to a German father and Korean mother. He represented Germany at various youth levels before switching allegiance to South Korea, a decision ratified by FIFA two weeks ago.
Castrop previously played for Koln and Nurnberg before joining Mönchengladbach in February, making his Bundesliga debut last weekend in a goalless draw against Hamburg.
“Despite his youth, Castrop has shown steady development in the Bundesliga,” Hong said. “What I value most is his determination and commitment to represent our national team. I expect him to adapt quickly and inject new energy into the squad.”
Hong praised Castrop’s tough playing style as a strength for the team. While it is common in countries like China and Japan to select overseas-born players, such selections are still unusual in South Korea.
It remains uncertain whether Castrop will need to complete mandatory military service, as required of all South Korean men. Domestic media reports say the matter has not yet been resolved with the Korean Football Association and the government.
In women’s football, South Korea had already broken ground on this issue by calling up Casey Phair – of American and Korean heritage – in 2023 at just 16 years old.
The 2026 tournament will mark South Korea’s 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. As part of preparations, they will face the United States on September 6 in New Jersey and meet Mexico on September 9 in Nashville.
In Major League Soccer, Son Heung-min, now with Los Angeles FC after leaving Tottenham Hotspur, earned a penalty in his debut that secured his team a 2-2 draw with Chicago Fire.
With LAFC trailing 2-1, Son was fouled inside the box in the 77th minute. After a VAR review, Denis Bouanga converted the penalty in the 81st minute, scoring his 20th goal of the season.
On the organizational front, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum met FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on Thursday to discuss Mexico’s role as co-host. She confirmed that the opening ceremony will be staged at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11, 2026. Mexico will host 13 matches across its three host cities.
Infantino also met with Trump in Washington to talk about preparations, including the establishment of a FIFA headquarters in the U.S. for the event. Infantino expressed gratitude for Trump’s strong support of the tournament and acknowledged U.S. authorities’ efforts to fight football-related corruption.
Infantino highlighted FIFA’s ongoing work to restore credibility after the 2015 corruption scandal, though he himself faces an investigation in Switzerland regarding past meetings with a former attorney general, allegations he denies.
Meanwhile, Dallas officials continue pushing their bid to maximize North Texas’ involvement in the tournament. The Dallas Sports Commission hopes not only to host games at AT&T Stadium but also to use the Cotton Bowl as a training base and Fair Park as the international broadcast center. Such plans could attract thousands of media personnel for several months.
In 1994, Dallas hosted six World Cup matches at the Cotton Bowl, drawing record-breaking crowds with an average attendance of nearly 69,000 per game. Officials expect 2026 to generate even greater impact, projecting more than $400 million in economic benefits and around 3,000 new jobs for the region.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and FC Dallas president Dan Hunt are among those backing the bid, highlighting North Texas’ strong soccer culture and affordability for fans. They argue the event could leave a powerful legacy in youth sports, infrastructure, and human rights initiatives.
Dallas is one of 17 U.S. cities under FIFA’s consideration, competing with locations from coast to coast. Final selections are expected in late 2021.