FIFA World Cup 2026: The Complete Guide
11 June – 19 July 2026. 48 teams. 16 cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada. 104 matches. Every group, every fixture, every host city — in one place.
Data verified 2026-05-12 · FIFA.com for live updates
Tournament essentials
📅 Dates
Opening match: Thursday 11 June 2026, Mexico v South Africa at Estadio Azteca.
Final: Sunday 19 July 2026, MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey.
🏟 Hosts
United States (11 cities), Mexico (3) and Canada (2) — the first three-nation World Cup ever.
🆕 New format
First 48-team World Cup. 12 groups of 4 feed a new Round of 32 before the bracket narrows to the Final.
🏆 Defending champion
Argentina — winners in Qatar 2022. Drawn in Group J for 2026.
The 12 groups
Drawn 5 December 2025 in Washington, DC. Top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance.
Marquee matches
Explore
📋 Full schedule
Every one of the 104 matches by date and venue.
🗂 Groups A–L
All 12 groups with team profiles.
🌎 Host cities
16 cities, every stadium, capacities and trivia.
🏳️ Teams
All 48 nations — including debutants Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
❓ FAQ
25+ answers to the most-asked questions.
📖 Glossary
Football and World Cup terminology, plain-English.