12 groups of 4. The top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance to the round of 32.
| Stage | Teams | Matches | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | 48 | 72 | 12 groups of 4, round-robin |
| Round of 32 | 32 | 16 | Single elimination |
| Round of 16 | 16 | 8 | Single elimination |
| Quarter-finals | 8 | 4 | Single elimination |
| Semi-finals | 4 | 2 | Single elimination |
| Final | 2 | 1 | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — Jul 19, 2026 |
Mexico
FIFA #11
South Africa
FIFA #66
South Korea
FIFA #23
Czechia
FIFA #37
Canada
FIFA #40
Switzerland
FIFA #19
Qatar
FIFA #34
Bosnia and Herzegovina
FIFA #62
Brazil
FIFA #5
Morocco
FIFA #14
Scotland
FIFA #41
Haiti
FIFA #110
USA
FIFA #11
Paraguay
FIFA #53
Australia
FIFA #24
Turkey
FIFA #29
Germany
FIFA #12
Ecuador
FIFA #44
Ivory Coast
FIFA #48
Curacao
FIFA #83
Netherlands
FIFA #7
Japan
FIFA #16
Tunisia
FIFA #30
Sweden
FIFA #26
Belgium
FIFA #3
Egypt
FIFA #35
Iran
FIFA #22
New Zealand
FIFA #97
Spain
FIFA #2
Uruguay
FIFA #20
Saudi Arabia
FIFA #56
Cape Verde
FIFA #75
France
FIFA #1
Senegal
FIFA #18
Norway
FIFA #28
Iraq
FIFA #60
Argentina
FIFA #3
Austria
FIFA #25
Algeria
FIFA #32
Jordan
FIFA #76
Portugal
FIFA #6
Colombia
FIFA #9
Uzbekistan
FIFA #68
DR Congo
FIFA #51
England
FIFA #4
Croatia
FIFA #10
Ghana
FIFA #60
Panama
FIFA #71
The FIFA World Cup 2026 features 48 national teams — the most ever. UEFA sends 16 teams, the most of any confederation. Europe's allocation grew from 13 in Qatar 2022. Argentina enter as defending champions; France, Brazil, England, Spain and Germany are the bookmakers' frontrunners. Canada participate as host nation alongside the USA and Mexico. See our all 48 World Cup 2026 teams fan guide.
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.
