2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule

This document summarizes key information about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the schedule, host cities, and expansion of participating nations.

2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule

Overview

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time in history, 48 nations will participate, with 104 matches played. This tournament marks the first World Cup in North America since the 1994 United States World Cup, 32 years later, and is the second joint hosting by three countries after the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

Main Content

Host Countries and Stadiums

United States: 11 stadiums in 11 cities (New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco). The final is scheduled to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Canada: 2 stadiums in 2 cities (Toronto, Vancouver).
Mexico: 3 stadiums in 3 cities (Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara). The Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host the World Cup for the third time, following 1970 and 1986.

Expansion of Participating Nations

From 2026, the tournament expands from 32 to 48 nations. A total of 48 teams will be divided into 16 groups (3 teams each) for the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Round of 32 knockout stage.
Allocation: AFC (Asia) 8.5 slots, CAF (Africa) 9.5 slots, CONCACAF (North/Central America) 6 slots (including hosts), CONMEBOL (South America) 6.5 slots, OFC (Oceania) 1.5 slots, UEFA (Europe) 16 slots.

Tournament Schedule

Group Stage: June 11 – June 27, 2026 (16 days, 72 matches)
Round of 32: June 29 – July 3 (16 matches)
Round of 16: July 6 – July 10 (8 matches)
Quarterfinals: July 14 – July 15 (4 matches)
Semifinals: July 18 – July 19 (2 matches)
Third Place Match: July 18 (1 match)
Final: July 19 (1 match)

Qualifying Schedule

Qualifiers will be held by each continent from 2023 to 2025. South Korea is expected to secure its spot in the finals through the final qualifying round from March to June 2026.

Features

With the 48-team format, the number of matches increases from 64 to 104.
Due to the joint hosting by three countries, travel distances may be longer, but FIFA plans to assign groups regionally for an efficient schedule.
The combination of the United States' large-scale infrastructure and stadiums, Mexico's rich World Cup experience, and Canada's participation as a new host nation is expected to create harmony.

Latest Developments

In December 2024, FIFA announced that the draw for the 2026 World Cup group stage would be held in December 2025.
As of March 2025, South Korea is in second place in its group in the Asian final qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, increasing its chances of advancing to the finals.
In February 2025, FIFA announced plans to adjust match times for the 2026 World Cup to suit North American viewers. Due to the time difference with South Korea (approximately 13–16 hours), Korean fans are likely to watch matches in the early morning hours.
In April 2025, the host nations—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—secured automatic berths, and an additional three tickets were allocated to the CONCACAF region, bringing the total to six slots for the finals.
In May 2025, FIFA is expected to announce the official mascot and slogan for the 2026 World Cup, which will play a key role in promoting the tournament.