This time, three countries will jointly host the World Cup. A record 48 teams will participate, playing a total of 104 matches over 39 days. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Among the 48 teams, there will be 104 games in total, with 72 matches taking place during the group stage alone. The opening match will be held at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final will take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
As of April 28 in Kathmandu, just one month remains before the start of FIFA World Cup 2026. Despite being the grandest carnival of world football, the excitement surrounding this World Cup has not been very prominent so far. Ongoing conflicts in West Asia, indications that Iran may not participate, and differing time zones in the United States affecting the match scheduling have somewhat dampened overall enthusiasm. However, this edition of the World Cup is set to be larger than ever before, with three nations hosting simultaneously. The unprecedented 48-team format will see a total of 104 games played over 39 days. Due to the increased number of teams, an additional knockout round has been added. The tournament will open in Mexico and conclude with the final in the United States.
FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by three North American countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—from June 11 to July 19. As hosts, all three nations have automatically qualified for the tournament. Matches will be held across 16 cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. The opening game will take place at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final will be held on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
This edition will also feature four debutant teams: Jordan and Uzbekistan from Asia; Cape Verde from Africa; and Curaçao from North and Central America. All four qualified through their respective continental qualification stages. Among the past World Cup winners, Uruguay is the oldest champion, having won the inaugural tournament in 1924. Over 22 completed editions of the FIFA World Cup, eight different nations have claimed the title, including five European countries and three from South America.
