Quick Tournament Facts

Detail	Information
Tournament Dates	June 11 – July 19, 2026
Duration	39 days
Total Teams	48 (expanded from 32)
Total Matches	104 (up from 64)
Host Nations	USA, Canada, Mexico
Venues	16 stadiums across 16 cities
Opening Match	June 11 at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Final Match	July 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, and runs through July 19, spanning 39 action-packed days. With automatic qualification for the three host nations and groundbreaking changes to the competition structure, the stage is set for unforgettable drama, stunning upsets, and moments that will be talked about for generations.

Host Nation Breakdown

Opening Match Schedule

Date	Host Nation	Venue	City	Match Type	Important Notes
June 11	Mexico	Estadio Azteca	Mexico City	Opening Match	Mexico vs South Africa (Group A)
June 11	Mexico	Estadio Guadalajara	Guadalajara	Group Stage Match	Korea Republic vs Czechia/Denmark/North Macedonia/Republic of Ireland (Group A)
June 12	Canada	BMO Field	Toronto	Group Stage Match	Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina/Italy/N. Ireland/Wales (Group B)
June 12	United States	SoFi Stadium	Los Angeles	Group Stage Match	USA vs Paraguay (Group D)

This staggered opening ensures each host country gets its moment in the spotlight while maximizing global viewership across different time zones.

Regional Venue Clusters

The geographical spread creates natural regional clusters that minimize travel fatigue:

This organization allows supporters to plan multi-match trips within reasonable distances while experiencing the diverse landscapes and cultures of North America.

New Format Breakdown

Stage	Number of Teams	How Teams Advance	Notes
Group Stage	48 teams in 12 groups	Top 2 from each group + 8 best third-place teams	Determines Round of 32 entrants
Round of 32	32 teams	Winners advance	Knockout stage begins
Round of 16	16 teams	Winners advance	Knockout stage continues
Quarterfinals	8 teams	Winners advance	Knockout stage
Semifinals	4 teams	Winners to final, losers to third-place match	Determines finalists and 3rd place
Final	2 teams	Champion crowned	Tournament winner

Key Format Features

Group Stage Structure

• 12 groups of 4 teams each
• Format chosen to avoid collusion issues from earlier 3-team proposals
• Top 2 teams from each group advance automatically
• 8 best third-placed teams also progress

Complete Tournament Timeline

Stage	Dates	Where / Notes
Group Stage	June 11–27	Matches in all 16 host cities
Round of 32	June 28 – July 3	First knockout round, 32 teams
Round of 16	July 4–7	Winners of Round of 32 compete
Quarterfinals	July 9–11	Top 8 teams battle
Semifinals	July 14–15	Matches hosted in Dallas & Atlanta
Third Place	July 18	Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)
Final	July 19	New Jersey (MetLife Stadium)

Match Progression Details

FIFA World Cup 2026 Complete Match Schedule

Group Stage Fixtures

Opening Matches (June 11-12, 2026)

Date	Match	Group	Venue	City	Teams
June 11	1	A	Estadio Azteca	Mexico City	Mexico vs South Africa
June 11	2	A	Estadio Akron	Guadalajara	Korea Republic vs Czechia/Denmark/N. Macedonia/Republic of Ireland
June 12	3	B	BMO Field	Toronto	Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina/Italy/N. Ireland/Wales
June 12	4	D	SoFi Stadium	Los Angeles	USA vs Paraguay

Group Stage Schedule Overview

Matchday	Date Range	Groups Playing
Matchday 1	June 11–17	All Groups A through L
Matchday 2	June 18–23	All Groups A through L
Matchday 3	June 24–27	All Groups A through L

Click here to get All Matches Schedule of FIFA 26

Knockout Stage Schedule

Round of 32 (June 28 – July 3, 2026)

Date	Match	Fixture	Venue
June 28	73	Group A Runner-up vs Group B Runner-up	Los Angeles
June 29	74	Group E Winner vs 3rd Place Team	Boston
June 29	75	Group F Winner vs Group C Runner-up	Monterrey
June 29	76	Group C Winner vs Group F Runner-up	Houston
June 30	77	Group I Winner vs 3rd Place Team	New York/New Jersey
June 30	78	Group E Runner-up vs Group I Runner-up	Dallas
June 30	79	Group A Winner vs 3rd Place Team	Mexico City
July 1	80	Group L Winner vs 3rd Place Team	Atlanta
July 1	81	Group D Winner vs 3rd Place Team	San Francisco Bay Area
July 1	82	Group G Winner vs 3rd Place Team	Seattle
July 2	83	Group K Runner-up vs Group L Runner-up	Toronto
July 2	84	Group H Winner vs Group J Runner-up	Los Angeles
July 2	85	Group B Winner vs 3rd Place Team	Vancouver
July 3	86	Group J Winner vs Group H Runner-up	Miami
July 3	87	Group K Winner vs 3rd Place Team	Kansas City
July 3	88	Group D Runner-up vs Group G Runner-up	Dallas

Round of 16 (July 4-7, 2026)

Date	Match	Fixture	Venue
July 4	89	Winner 74 vs Winner 77	Philadelphia
July 4	90	Winner 73 vs Winner 75	Houston
July 5	91	Winner 76 vs Winner 78	New York/New Jersey
July 5	92	Winner 79 vs Winner 80	Mexico City
July 6	93	Winner 83 vs Winner 84	Dallas
July 6	94	Winner 81 vs Winner 82	Seattle
July 7	95	Winner 86 vs Winner 88	Atlanta
July 7	96	Winner 85 vs Winner 87	Vancouver

Quarter-Finals (July 9-11, 2026)

Date	Match	Fixture	Venue
July 9	97	Winner 89 vs Winner 90	Boston
July 10	98	Winner 93 vs Winner 94	Los Angeles
July 11	99	Winner 91 vs Winner 92	Miami
July 11	100	Winner 95 vs Winner 96	Kansas City

Semi-Finals (July 14-15, 2026)

Date	Match	Fixture	Venue
July 14	101	Winner 97 vs Winner 98	Dallas
July 15	102	Winner 99 vs Winner 100	Atlanta

Finals (July 18-19, 2026)

Date	Match	Fixture	Venue
July 18	103	Third Place Playoff	Miami
July 19	104	FINAL	New York/New Jersey

The table above provides a clear roadmap of the entire tournament, from the opening whistle in Mexico City to the championship celebration in New Jersey. Notice how the schedule balances competitive integrity with practical considerations like travel time and stadium availability.

Qualified Teams and What to Expect

The tournament will witness several remarkable debuts. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will all experience World Cup football for the first time, bringing fresh energy and unpredictable dynamics to the competition. Curaçao holds a special distinction as the smallest country by area and population ever to qualify, creating a David versus Goliath narrative that football fans adore.

Some teams return after long absences. Haiti makes its comeback after 52 years, last appearing in 1974. Austria, Norway, and Scotland return after missing since 1998, while Paraguay and South Africa rejoin after 2010 absences. These returns add layers of redemption stories and renewed ambition to the tournament narrative.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams

Complete List by Confederation

CONCACAF (6 Teams)

North America, Central America, and Caribbean

Team	Status	Last Appearance	Notable Achievement
Canada	Host Nation	Never (as independent host)	Co-hosting debut
Mexico	Host Nation	2022	Third time hosting/co-hosting
United States	Host Nation	2022	Hosted 1994 World Cup
Curaçao	Qualified	DEBUT	Smallest nation ever to qualify
Haiti	Qualified	1974	52-year return
Panama	Qualified	2018	Second appearance

UEFA (12 Teams)

Europe

Team	Last Appearance	World Cup Titles
Austria	1998	0
Belgium	2022	0
Croatia	2022	0 (Runner-up 2018)
England	2022	1 (1966)
France	2022	2 (1998, 2018)
Germany	2022	4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
Netherlands	2022	0 (Runner-up 3 times)
Norway	1998	0
Portugal	2022	0
Scotland	1998	0
Spain	2022	1 (2010)
Switzerland	2022	0

CONMEBOL (6 Teams)

South America

Team	Last Appearance	World Cup Titles
Argentina	2022	3 (1978, 1986, 2022) ⭐
Brazil	2022	5 (Most titles)
Colombia	2018	0
Ecuador	2022	0
Paraguay	2010	0
Uruguay	2022	2 (1930, 1950)

AFC (8 Teams)

Asia

Team	Status	Last Appearance
Australia	Qualified	2022
Iran	Qualified	2022
Japan	Qualified	2022
Jordan	DEBUT	First appearance
Qatar	Qualified	2022 (Host nation)
Saudi Arabia	Qualified	2022
South Korea	Qualified	2022
Uzbekistan	DEBUT	First appearance

CAF (9 Teams)

Africa

Team	Last Appearance	Notable Info
Algeria	2014	Return after 12 years
Cape Verde	DEBUT	First appearance
Egypt	2018	Return journey
Ghana	2022	Fourth appearance
Ivory Coast	2014	Return after 12 years
Morocco	2022	Semi-finalist 2022
Senegal	2022	Current African champion
South Africa	2010	Return after 16 years
Tunisia	2022	Seventh appearance

OFC (1 Team)

Oceania

Team	Last Appearance	Milestone
New Zealand	2010	First guaranteed OFC spot

Tournament Records

• Total Teams: 48 (expanded from 32)
• Teams Qualified: 42 (as of November 2025)
• Remaining Spots: 6 (via playoffs in March 2026)
• Debut Nations: 4 (Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, Uzbekistan)
• Longest Absence: Haiti (52 years since 1974)
• Most Arab Nations: 7 nations qualifying together (first time)

Historical Milestones

First-Time Qualifiers

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Playoff matches in March 2026 will determine the final six teams competing in the tournament.

Exploring the 16 Magnificent Venues

The stadiums selected for this World Cup represent architectural marvels and engineering excellence. Each venue brings unique characteristics, from retractable roofs and climate control systems to grass field conversions and capacity expansions specifically designed for this tournament.

Spotlight on Key Stadiums

MetLife Stadium (New Jersey)

• Hosts the final match on July 19
• Capacity: 82,500
• Location near New York City provides global stage
• Tournament’s climactic centerpiece

AT&T Stadium (Texas)

• Hosts most matches: 9 total games
• Indoor facility with retractable roof
• Capacity expands beyond 80,000
• Serves as tournament hub throughout competition

Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)

• Only stadium used in three World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026)
• Tournament’s largest venue: 87,523 capacity
• Hosts opening match on June 11
• Deep historical significance

Complete Venue Guide

Venue	City	Capacity	Special Features
Estadio Azteca	Mexico City	87,523	Historic venue, opens tournament
MetLife Stadium	New York/New Jersey	82,500	Final match host
AT&T Stadium	Dallas	80,000+	9 matches, retractable roof
Arrowhead Stadium	Kansas City	76,416	Passionate football atmosphere
NRG Stadium	Houston	72,220	Retractable roof, climate control
Mercedes-Benz Stadium	Atlanta	71,000	Modern design, retractable roof
SoFi Stadium	Los Angeles	70,240	USA opening match venue
Lumen Field	Seattle	68,740	Renowned crowd noise
Levi’s Stadium	San Francisco	68,500	Silicon Valley location
Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia	67,594	Historic sports city
Hard Rock Stadium	Miami	64,767	Third-place playoff host
Gillette Stadium	Boston	64,628	New England heritage
BC Place	Vancouver	54,500	Retractable roof, Canada host
Estadio BBVA	Monterrey	53,500	Modern Mexican venue
Estadio Akron	Guadalajara	49,813	Passionate Mexican fanbase
BMO Field	Toronto	45,736	Expanded for tournament

Stadium Modifications and Upgrades

Grass Installation Program

• Eight stadiums converting from artificial turf to natural grass
• University of Tennessee and Michigan State research team supervising
• Ensures optimal playing conditions for all matches
• Temporary installation for tournament duration

Capacity Expansions

• BMO Field: Expanded from 30,000 to 45,736 specifically for tournament
• Multiple venues can expand beyond listed capacities for special matches
• Modifications meet strict FIFA standards

Climate Control Features Four venues with retractable roofs and climate control:

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• AT&T Stadium (Dallas)
• NRG Stadium (Houston)
• BC Place (Vancouver)

These address potential heat concerns during North American summer, providing comfortable conditions regardless of external weather.

Tournament Draw and Group Formation

The tournament draw takes place on December 5, 2025, at Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center. This event will determine group compositions and set the stage for months of anticipation and tactical analysis.

Draw Process Explained

Element	Details
Date & Location	December 5, 2025 at Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Number of Pots	4 pots of 12 teams each
Seeding Basis	November 2025 FIFA world rankings
Pot 1 Teams	3 host nations + 9 highest-ranked teams
Special Rules	UEFA can have 2 teams per group; others limited to 1

How Teams Are Divided

Pot 1 Composition

• Three host nations (USA, Canada, Mexico)
• Nine highest-ranked qualified teams (excluding hosts)
• Ensures top teams spread across different groups
• Creates theoretically balanced competition

Pots 2, 3, and 4

• Remaining 36 teams divided by FIFA rankings
• Distributed to maintain competitive balance
• Each group gets one team from each pot

Unique Draw Circumstances

Playoff Placeholder Teams The draw happens before playoff matches conclude in March 2026. This means:

• Six team positions will be placeholders
• Labeled as “playoff winners” until matches determine qualifiers
• Assigned to predetermined pots based on FIFA seeding methodology
• Final assignments completed after March 2026 playoffs

Confederation Rules

• No two teams from same confederation in one group (except UEFA)
• UEFA exception: Can have up to 2 teams per group (12 total qualifiers)
• Maintains competitive balance while accommodating Europe’s large contingent

Pre-Assigned Host Nation Groups

Host Nation	Group	Opening Match Date	Venue
Mexico	Group A	June 11	Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Canada	Group B	June 12	BMO Field, Toronto
United States	Group D	June 12	SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

This arrangement ensures each host nation plays its group stage matches within its own country, maximizing home support and minimizing travel during the opening phase.

Ticket Information and Fan Experience

FIFA introduced dynamic pricing for World Cup tickets for the first time, following the model used in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Prices fluctuate based on demand for specific matches, meaning high-profile games command premium prices while less anticipated matchups remain more affordable.

Ticket Pricing Structure

Match Type	Starting Price	Premium Price
Group Stage	$60	Varies by demand
Round of 32	Higher than group	Dynamic pricing
Round of 16	Increased rates	Dynamic pricing
Quarterfinals	Premium rates	Dynamic pricing
Semifinals	High-tier pricing	Dynamic pricing
Final	$6,730+	Premium dynamic

These represent significant increases from the 2022 Qatar World Cup (approximately $69 to $1,607), but dynamic pricing means figures serve as starting points rather than fixed costs.

Ticket Sales Timeline

Phase	Dates	Eligibility
Phase 1	Sept 10–19, 2025	Visa cardholders only
Phase 2	Oct 27–31, 2025	Expanded access
Phase 3	After Dec 5, 2025	Post-draw sales for specific matches
Ongoing Sales	Through tournament	Subject to availability

Purchase Limits and Rules

Individual Limits

• Maximum 4 tickets per person per match
• Maximum 40 tickets across entire tournament
• Prevents scalping and ensures broader access

Official Resale Platform

• FIFA launching legitimate secondary market
• Protects buyers from fraudulent sellers
• Safe alternative to unofficial resellers
• Transfers managed through official channels

FIFA Fan Festivals

Free public viewing areas create community gathering spaces for fans without tickets:

City	Location	Features
Jersey City	Liberty State Park	Giant screens, live entertainment
Philadelphia	Fairmount Park	Public viewing, fan activities
Toronto	Fort York & The Bentway	Dual locations, cultural events
Houston	East Downtown	Community celebration space

These festivals extend the tournament experience beyond stadium walls, creating accessible celebration zones throughout host cities.

Tournament Symbols and Cultural Identity

Official Mascots

The three mascots embody each host nation’s identity:

These characters serve as ambassadors, particularly connecting with younger fans and families throughout the tournament.

Official Match Ball: Adidas Trionda

Official Music

Main Theme Song

• Instrumental track: “FIFA World Cup 26 Theme Song”
• Released May 17, 2023

City-Specific Remixes (March 2025) 16 artists from host cities created localized versions:

• Atlanta: Dallas Austin
• Boston: Ben Zakharenko, Dayvin, Berklee College of Music
• Dallas: Tre Nagella
• Philadelphia: DJ Jazzy Jeff
• And 12 more unique interpretations

Creates musical tapestry celebrating North American diversity.

Broadcasting and Global Coverage

Television and streaming coverage will bring the tournament to billions of viewers worldwide.

Broadcasting Rights by Region

Region	English Rights	Spanish Rights	Notes
United States	Fox	NBCUniversal	Renewed Feb 2015
Canada	Bell Media	Bell Media	Full coverage
Puerto Rico	—	Futbol de Primeira (radio)	Audio coverage

International Broadcast Center

Location: Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas

Functions:

• Technical hub coordinating global feeds
• Central tournament location advantages
• Serves broadcasters worldwide
• Manages production logistics

Why These Contracts Matter

Contracts renewed in February 2015 without competitive bidding, reportedly as compensation for 2022 World Cup’s winter scheduling that created conflicts with major professional sports leagues’ regular seasons.