FIFA World Cup 2026™

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first tournament to feature 48 teams, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

FIFA World Cup 2026™

Overview

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, organized by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the summer of 2026. This tournament marks the first time in World Cup history that three countries will co-host, and it is the first edition to expand from 32 to 48 participating teams. It will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, spanning 39 days, with 80 matches held across 16 cities. This is the second men's World Cup held in the CONCACAF region since the 1994 United States World Cup, and Mexico becomes the third host country after 1970 and 1986.

Main Content

Host Selection Process

The host for the 2026 World Cup was decided at the FIFA Congress held in Moscow, Russia, on June 13, 2018. The joint North American bid (United 2026) defeated the competing bid from Morocco by a vote of 134 to 65. This was the result of a new host selection procedure promoted by FIFA since 2017, which applied various evaluation criteria including human rights, sustainability, and infrastructure.

Expansion of Participating Teams

The most significant change for the 2026 World Cup is the increase in participating teams from 32 to 48. FIFA officially approved the expansion through its Council in January 2017. Under the new format, 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups (each with 4 teams) for the group stage, with the top two teams from each group and the top eight third-placed teams advancing to a 32-team knockout stage. This increases the total number of matches from 64 to 80. The regional allocations have been adjusted to: AFC 8.5 slots, CAF 9.5 slots, CONCACAF 6.5 slots (including host nations), CONMEBOL 6.5 slots, OFC 1.5 slots, and UEFA 16 slots.

Host Cities and Stadiums

Among the 16 host cities, the United States will host 11, Mexico 3, and Canada 2. Key stadiums include MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey (82,500 seats), SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (70,240 seats), AT&T Stadium in Dallas (80,000 seats), Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (87,523 seats), and BMO Field in Toronto (45,736 seats). Estadio Azteca, a historic venue that hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986, will host World Cup matches for the third time in 2026.

Tournament Schedule and Format

The tournament will begin with the opening match on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The group stage will run from June 11 to July 2, followed by the Round of 32 (July 3-7), Round of 16 (July 8-11), Quarter-finals (July 14-15), Semi-finals (July 18), and the Final (July 19). The final is scheduled to be held at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. This will be the second World Cup final held in the United States, following the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.

Economic and Social Impact

The 2026 World Cup is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the three North American countries. FIFA estimates that approximately 6 million international tourists will visit during the tournament, with the United States alone anticipating over $5 billion in economic impact. The co-hosting arrangement is also expected to boost cross-border movement and greatly improve soccer infrastructure in the North American region. However, some concerns have been raised about large-scale infrastructure investments, environmental issues, and potential declines in match quality due to the expansion to 48 teams.

Preparation Status

As of 2024, each host city is progressing with preparations including stadium renovations and new constructions, transportation infrastructure expansion, and accommodation securing. Notably, Mexico is modernizing Estadio Azteca, while Canada is upgrading stadiums in Toronto and Vancouver. The United States, with most stadiums already meeting World Cup standards—including those used during the 1994 World Cup—faces less additional construction burden. FIFA plans for all stadiums to complete final inspections by the end of 2025.

Latest Developments

As of 2024-2025, World Cup qualifiers for 2026 are underway globally. In particular, CONMEBOL (South America) qualifiers began in March 2024, while UEFA (Europe) qualifiers are scheduled to start in March 2025. AFC (Asia) and CAF (Africa) qualifiers also intensified from the second half of 2024. The FIFA Confederations Cup, originally planned as a test event for the 2026 World Cup in June 2025, was abolished after 2019; instead, the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup will be held in the United States in 2025. Additionally, FIFA is expected to unveil the official mascot and slogan for the 2026 World Cup in December 2024. Meanwhile, detailed regulations—including match schedules, broadcast rights distribution, and expanded use of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) technology—are under continuous discussion. In January 2025, FIFA announced that the tournament draw ceremony would be held in Miami in December 2025.