The FIFA World Cup is heading to North America for the 2026 edition, with the United States, Canada and Mexico handed hosting rights.
For the first time in over three decades and only the second in almost a century, the world’s biggest football tournament will take place on US soil, with Canada and Mexico as the supporting cast.
It will also be in an expanded-team format, with FIFA opening the door for 45 teams to join the host nations in a 39-day battle for football’s holy grail.
The excitement for the tournament is already palpable. FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are selling out fast on Seatsnet.com.
Even the White House is buzzing with anticipation. President Donald Trump has announced that a special task force will help with planning and logistics.
With record crowds expected and global attention locked in, here’s everything fans need to know about the 2026 World Cup as the countdown begins.
Where and when is the 2026 World Cup taking place?
The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, with 104 matches set to be played. Sixteen cities will host the fixtures, although much of the action will take place Stateside, with 11 venues located in the US.
Canada and Mexico will get their share of the spotlight during the group stages and some of the knockout rounds. But the US will take centre stage from the quarter-finals onward.
The showpiece final will be staged at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Other host cities include Dallas, Kansas City, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Seattle, Miami, and Santa Clara in the Bay Area.
Which teams have qualified?
This will be the first edition of the World Cup to accommodate 48 nations in the history of the tournament, breaking away from the 32-team format that has stood for nearly three decades.
The host nations have automatically qualified for the tournament, but others have to compete in qualifiers. There will be an intercontinental play-off to give the best losers a fighting chance.
Japan, New Zealand, Iran, and reigning champions Argentina have joined the hosts in qualifying for the tournament. The full line-up will be finalised once the qualifiers are wrapped up in March next year.
How does the tournament work?
Considering that this edition will debut an expanded format, there has been a slight tweak to the set-up from the previous editions.
All 48 teams will be split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group will move on to the knockout rounds. They will be joined by eight of the best third-placed teams.
That process will be followed by a round of 32. From there, the usual tournament rules will apply all the way to the showpiece event at MetLife Stadium.
How to watch?
Fans in the US can catch all the action from the World Cup live on Fox Sports, with Spanish-language broadcasts airing on Telemundo.
Official details on other viewing options are still being kept under wraps, but past editions of the World Cup offer some useful clues.
In 2022, matches were also available through streaming platforms like Hulu + Live TV and YouTube TV for subscribers. Fox Sports also provided free full-match replays on Tubi.
It remains to be seen if these services will return in 2026, but viewers can likely expect a mix of live broadcasts and on-demand content to follow the tournament from home or on the go.
Who are the favourites?
We’re still a fair bit away from the showpiece, so it will be difficult to ascertain the odds of each team as they could change over the coming months.
However, there are a handful of teams who are already locked in as early favourites to lift the trophy in New Jersey. Reigning champions Argentina are certainly front-runners.
Looking to become the first team to successfully defend their crown since Brazil in 1962, La Albiceleste will fancy their chances, especially if the legendary Lionel Messi returns to lead the line.
Record winners Brazil will also be in the mix. They have struggled to recapture the glory days of old and will be gunning for their World Cup title since 2002.
Rumour has it they’re keen to replace the massively underwhelming Dorival Junior with under-fire Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti.
If that happens, all eyes will be on the Selecao. They could be a force to be reckoned with.
Over in Europe, the likes of Spain, France, and England are tipped to be strong contenders. Spain will likely head into the tournament as European Champions, having beaten England in the final.
They’d back themselves to repeat that feat next year, although that’s easier said than done.
Portugal will also have their share of the spotlight, especially if Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the line.
Keen to cement his position as the greatest of all time, Ronaldo will hope his last hurrah with A Selecao brings him the trophy that has eluded him throughout his glittering career.
Competing on home soil as hosts, the US have also been tipped to spring a surprise or two.
They’d fancy their chances with Mauricio Pochettino in the dugout, although the Argentine has barely made an impact since his headline move.
What’s more?
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Coldplay will headline a special half-time show at the World Cup final on July 19.
The plan is to bring a Super Bowl-style atmosphere to the biggest stage in football, although it remains to be seen how fans will receive the news.
This summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the US will be a decent dress rehearsal for the World Cup. For the first time, 32 teams from around the world will compete for the title across 10 stadiums in America.
The MetLife Stadium will also do the honours of hosting the Club World Cup final.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s task force will provide logistical support, with each location expected to host around 450,000 visitors and pocket an estimated $480 million from tourism trade.
Trump follows in the footsteps of former US president Bill Clinton, who put together a similar task force for both the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and Salt Lake City’s Winter Olympics in 2002.
