FIFA World Cup 2026: Everything You Need to Know
Read this article to know all about the 2026 World Cup, including host countries, cities, dates, teams, tickets, qualifiers, how to watch, and more.
2024-06-14
After the dramatic drama of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, attention now turns to the next edition of the world's most prestigious football tournament. Fortunately for fans, there will be less waiting for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Scheduled to be held in the summer of 2026 in the Northern Hemisphere, this tournament will feature an expanded roster of teams, making it the biggest and most spectacular in history. Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming event.
2026 FIFA World Cup: Dates and Host Cities
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026, marking the first time in history that it will be co-hosted by 16 cities across three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This tournament will be the first event to be hosted by three countries. The final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, while the opening match will kick off on Thursday, June 11.
June 11 to July 19, 2026
United States (11 cities): Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Boston and New York.
Mexico (3 cities): Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City.
Canada (two cities): Vancouver and Toronto.
The complete match schedule was unveiled on Sunday, February 4, 2024. The final will be played in New York/New Jersey, while the iconic Estadio Azteca stadium in Mexico City has been chosen to host the opening match.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Match Format
The FIFA Council unanimously approved a change to the group stage format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Instead of having 16 groups containing three teams, it will now have 12 groups containing four teams.
Under this new structure, the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will qualify for the round of 32. Thus, teams aiming to win the tournament will need to play eight matches, from the group stage to the final, instead of seven. Previous.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Qualifying Schedule
Each confederation has the independence to determine the format of their competitions and the timing of the qualifying tournaments. The host countries - Canada, Mexico, and the United States - have already secured their places in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Today, fans in Saudi Arabia can follow the exciting match between Saudi Arabia and Jordan!
FIFA World Cup 2026: How to Get Tickets
To apply for tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, visit the official FIFA website at the following link:
[FIFA official website]( https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/register-interest ).
Complete the registration form and click "Submit" to receive the latest news and information about FIFA World Cup 2026™ tickets directly to your email.
FIFA World Cup 2026: How to watch
To watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online, you have several options. You can watch the matches on your mobile phone using the official FIFA app, FIFA+, or via other platforms such as DAZN and beIN Sports.