Everything fans want to know about FIFA World Cup 2026 — dates, format, hosts, tickets and more.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 opens on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City at Estadio Azteca. The final is on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA.
48 teams — up from 32 at Qatar 2022. This is the first World Cup with the expanded format. Teams compete in 12 groups of 4, with the top 2 from each group and the 8 best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 32.
Canada, USA and Mexico co-host FIFA World Cup 2026. It is the first World Cup hosted across 3 countries. The USA host the most matches (78 of 104). Canada hosts 10 matches at BC Place (Vancouver) and BMO Field (Toronto).
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — capacity 82,500. The final is on July 19, 2026. MetLife is shared by the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets.
Argentina won the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, defeating France 4–2 on penalties after a 3–3 draw in one of the greatest finals in history. Lionel Messi won the Golden Ball. Kylian Mbappé scored a hat-trick in the final.
104 matches — up from 64 matches at Qatar 2022. The increase comes from the expanded 48-team format, which adds a round of 32 and additional group-stage games.
Canada, USA and Mexico automatically qualify as co-host nations — no qualification required. All three are guaranteed spots in the group stage, drawn into specific groups.
Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) is Canada's most recognized player. He plays as a left back and left winger. He scored Canada's first-ever World Cup goal against Morocco at Qatar 2022. Jonathan David (Lille) is Canada's all-time top scorer.
Brazil has won 5 World Cups — in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. No country has won more. Germany and Italy have each won 4 titles; Argentina has 3.
Tickets are sold officially through FIFA's website (fifa.com). Demand is extremely high for matches in the USA. Canadian venue tickets for BC Place and BMO Field have also been heavily oversubscribed.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks the first edition with 48 national teams competing across 16 cities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. With 104 matches scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026, this tournament sets a new record for the largest World Cup in history. Three host nations competing simultaneously creates a cross-border sporting event unlike anything football has seen before. BC Place in Vancouver, BMO Field in Toronto and the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City are among the most iconic venues on the roster.
Canada's inclusion as a host nation adds particular significance for North American football. The Canadian men's national team qualified for a World Cup for the first time since 1986, and the home advantage in 2026 is expected to draw record crowds at BC Place and BMO Field. Alphonso Davies remains the most recognized face of Canadian football internationally, having established himself at Bayern Munich before his move to Real Madrid in 2025.
Group stage matches are distributed across all three host countries, with knockout rounds moving progressively toward the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which is set to host the final on July 19, 2026. Capacity: 82,500. The United States will host the majority of matches, 60 out of 104, including all matches from the quarterfinals onward. FIFA confirmed the full match schedule in February 2025 following the completion of the draw in Miami.
Betting on the World Cup 2026 is legal across multiple Canadian provinces, including Ontario, where regulated sportsbooks operate under iGaming Ontario. Odds for tournament winner, golden boot and group-stage outcomes are available from the opening of registration. Brazil, France, England and Argentina entered 2026 as the four shortest-priced favourites according to aggregated market data from major licensed operators.
