Photo: FIFA — FIFA World Cup 2026 — the first tournament featuring 48 national teams
48-Team Format — A Historic First
FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the largest World Cup ever with 48 national teams, expanded from 32 in previous editions. The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of 4. The top 2 from each group plus the 8 best 3rd-place teams advance to a Round of 32. A total of 104 matches will be played across 39 matchdays. Meanwhile, the F1 2026 season and March Madness 2026 are also capturing the attention of sports fans worldwide.
16 Host Cities
For the first time in history, the World Cup is co-hosted by 3 nations: United States (11 venues), Mexico (3 venues), and Canada (2 venues).
🇺🇸 New York/New Jersey
🇺🇸 Los Angeles
🇺🇸 Dallas
🇺🇸 Miami
🇺🇸 Atlanta
🇺🇸 Houston
🇺🇸 Philadelphia
🇺🇸 Seattle
🇺🇸 San Francisco
🇺🇸 Kansas City
🇺🇸 Boston/Foxborough
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇲🇽 Guadalajara
🇲🇽 Monterrey
🇨🇦 Toronto
🇨🇦 Vancouver
Tournament Schedule
Group Stage — 12 Groups
The group stage draw is expected in late 2025. The 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups (A through L) of 4 teams each. Each team plays 3 group matches. Unlike previous formats, this tournament introduces a Round of 32 — giving smaller teams more chances to cause upsets.
Title Favorites
Brazil
5-time champions, talented young squad with Endrick, Vinicius Jr.
Argentina
Defending 2022 champions, possibly Messi's final tournament
France
2022 runners-up, Mbappé at his peak
England
Golden generation with Bellingham, Saka, Foden
Germany
4-time champions, always strong at major tournaments
Spain
Euro 2024 champions, elite possession-based football
Vietnam's Chances 🇻🇳
With the 48-team format, Asia gets 8.5 spots — a significant increase from the previous 4.5. This was a historic opportunity for Vietnam. However, Vietnam did not advance past the third round of Asian qualifiers and will not feature at the 2026 World Cup. Still, reaching the final qualifying round for the first time was a major milestone. With the growth of V-League and investment in youth development, Vietnam hopes for better chances at the 2030 World Cup.
World Cup History
| Year | Host | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | Uruguay |
| 1950 | Brazil | Uruguay |
| 1970 | Mexico | Brazil |
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina |
| 1994 | USA | Brazil |
| 2002 | South Korea/Japan | Brazil |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany |
| 2018 | Russia | France |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina |
Brazil leads with 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). Germany and Italy each have 4. Argentina holds the current title after their dramatic victory over France at Qatar 2022 — widely considered the greatest World Cup final ever.
USA: From 1994 to 2026
| USA 1994 | USA/MEX/CAN 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | 24 | 48 |
| Matches | 52 | 104 |
| Stadiums | 9 | 16 |
| Nations hosting | 1 | 3 |
| Expected attendance | 3.59M | 5.5M+ |
| Champion | Brazil | ? |
How to Watch
TV Broadcast
FOX, FS1 (USA), TSN/RDS (Canada), Televisa/TUDN (Mexico) — full 104-match coverage.
Streaming
Peacock, Fubo, FIFA+ for live streaming. Check local broadcasters for your region.
At the Stadium
Buy tickets via FIFA.com/tickets — prices from $35 (group stage) to $600+ (final).
Social & Highlights
Official FIFA YouTube for highlights, plus real-time updates on X, Instagram, TikTok.
▸ 48 teams for the first time, 104 matches -- nearly double the 2022 edition
▸ Tickets from $35 for group stage to $600+ for the final -- the biggest football experience of a lifetime
▸ Possibly the last World Cup for Messi, Ronaldo, Modric -- the end of a golden era
What Makes 2026 Special?
Biggest tournament ever
48 teams for the first time, 104 matches — nearly double the 2022 edition.
3 nations co-hosting
USA, Mexico, and Canada unite as hosts — a first-of-its-kind continental partnership.
Estadio Azteca makes history
The Azteca becomes the first stadium to host 3 World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026).
A new era of football
Enhanced VAR, smart ball tech, and a comprehensive Fan 4.0 experience.
Golden generation farewell?
Possibly the last World Cup for Messi, Ronaldo, Modric — an era-defining moment.
More continents represented
Asia gets 8.5 spots, Africa 9.5 — more first-time World Cup nations than ever.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
Photo: ZestLab Archive
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