June 11 — July 19, 2026

WORLD CUP 2026

The biggest sporting event in history. 48 nations. 3 countries. 1 trophy.

48
Teams
104
Matches
16
Venues
39
Days

Countdown to kickoff

--
Days
--
Hours
--
Mins
--
Secs
Key Facts
🏆

Tournament

FIFA World Cup 2026

📅

Dates

June 11 – July 19, 2026

🌎

Host Nations

USA, Canada, Mexico

Format

12 groups of 4 teams

🥅

Final

MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

🎯

Defending champion

Argentina 🇦🇷

A historic expansion

For the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup expands to 48 teams — up from 32 — split into 12 groups. The top two from each group plus the 8 best third-place sides advance to a new Round of 32. The total match count rises from 64 to 104, spread over 39 days across three nations.

The Groups

Top 2 from each group + 8 best third-place teams advance to the Round of 32

A
Mexico City · Guadalajara · Monterrey
Mexico's group
🇲🇽
Mexico
Host
🇰🇷
South Korea
🇿🇦
South Africa
🇨🇿
Czechia
B
Toronto · Vancouver
Canada's group
🇨🇦
Canada
Host
🇨🇭
Switzerland
🇶🇦
Qatar
🇧🇦
Bosnia-Herzegovina
C
Miami · Atlanta · Philadelphia
🇧🇷
Brazil
⭐ Fav
🇲🇦
Morocco
🇭🇹
Haiti
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Scotland
D
Los Angeles · Seattle
USA's group
🇺🇸
USA
Host
🇵🇾
Paraguay
🇦🇺
Australia
🇹🇷
Türkiye
E
New York/NJ · Philadelphia · Boston
🇩🇪
Germany
⭐ Fav
🇯🇵
Japan
🇨🇴
Colombia
🇨🇼
Curaçao
F
San Francisco · Seattle · Vancouver
🇳🇱
Netherlands
🇸🇪
Sweden
🇨🇱
Chile
🇯🇵
Japan
G
Houston · Kansas City · Dallas
🇧🇪
Belgium
🇲🇽
Mexico
🇸🇳
Senegal
🇳🇿
New Zealand
H
Atlanta · Miami · Kansas City
🇪🇸
Spain
⭐ Fav
🇺🇾
Uruguay
🇸🇦
Saudi Arabia
🇨🇻
Cape Verde
I
Boston · New York/NJ · Toronto
🇳🇴
Norway
🇦🇷
Argentina
🏆 Holders
🇮🇶
Iraq
🇳🇬
Nigeria
J
San Francisco · Los Angeles · Seattle
🇫🇷
France
⭐ Fav
🇯🇴
Jordan
🇵🇦
Panama
🇮🇩
Indonesia
K
Los Angeles · San Francisco · Houston
🇵🇹
Portugal
⭐ Fav
🇨🇩
DR Congo
🇺🇿
Uzbekistan
🇨🇴
Colombia
L
Dallas · Houston · Miami
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
England
⭐ Fav
🇭🇷
Croatia
🇨🇲
Cameroon
🇦🇫
TBD

* Groups based on confirmed draw from December 5, 2025. Some group assignments may be indicative.

Key Dates
June 11, 2026
Opening Match
Mexico vs South Africa — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
June 12, 2026
Host nations kick off
Canada & USA play their opening group stage matches
June 24–28, 2026
Group stage ends
Final matchdays decide who advances to the Round of 32
June 29 – July 2, 2026
Round of 32
First knockout round — 16 matches
July 3–6, 2026
Round of 16
8 matches — the last 16 teams fight for a quarter-final spot
July 9–11, 2026
Quarter-finals
Top 8 nations compete for a semi-final berth
July 14–15, 2026
Semi-finals
The final four clash — one slot in New Jersey on the line
July 19, 2026
🏆 The Final
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
The Venues
USA
New York / New Jersey
MetLife Stadium
Capacity: 82,500🏆 Final
USA
Los Angeles
SoFi Stadium
Capacity: 70,240
USA
Dallas
AT&T Stadium
Capacity: 80,000Semi-final
USA
San Francisco
Levi's Stadium
Capacity: 68,500
USA
Miami
Hard Rock Stadium
Capacity: 65,326
USA
Atlanta
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Capacity: 71,000
USA
Seattle
Lumen Field
Capacity: 68,740
USA
Houston
NRG Stadium
Capacity: 72,220
USA
Kansas City
GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Capacity: 76,416
USA
Philadelphia
Lincoln Financial Field
Capacity: 69,596
USA
Boston
Gillette Stadium
Capacity: 65,878
CANADA
Toronto
BMO Field
Capacity: 45,736
CANADA
Vancouver
BC Place
Capacity: 54,500
MEXICO
Mexico City
Estadio Azteca
Capacity: 87,000🎉 Opening match
MEXICO
Guadalajara
Estadio Akron
Capacity: 49,850
MEXICO
Monterrey
Estadio BBVA
Capacity: 53,500
Top Contenders

The nations most likely to lift the trophy in New Jersey on July 19

#1
🇫🇷
France
Top favourite
Deep squad, world-class attack. Mbappé hunting his first World Cup title.
#2
🇦🇷
Argentina
Defending champions
Messi's farewell tour? The reigning champions arrive with experience and hunger.
#3
🇧🇷
Brazil
Record 5× winners
Always contenders. A new generation looks to end a 24-year trophy drought.
#4
🇪🇸
Spain
Euro 2024 winners
Young, dynamic, brilliant with the ball. Yamal is a generational talent.
#5
🇩🇪
Germany
Strong contender
Rebuilding complete. Germany arrives hungry after home Euro disappointment.
#6
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
England
60 years of hurt
Can Bellingham and co. finally end the wait? The Three Lions have the squad.
Fan Essentials

Everything you need to follow the World Cup like a true fan

🎟️ Official World Cup Tickets

Get your tickets through FIFA's official channels — plan your trip now before they sell out.

Get Tickets →
📺

Streaming Guide

Find out where to watch every game live in your country — from Telemundo to BBC, ITV and beyond.

Where to Watch →
🎽

Official Jerseys

Rep your nation in authentic 2026 World Cup shirts. Adidas and Nike official kits available.

Shop Jerseys →
✈️

Travel to the USA

Planning a trip to see games live? Find flights, hotels and packages for the ultimate World Cup experience.

Book Travel →
📱

Official FIFA App

Live scores, match alerts, stats and highlights. The essential app for every World Cup fan.

Download Free →
🏨

Host City Hotels

Find accommodation near the stadiums in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami and more.

Find Hotels →
🎮

Fantasy Football

Build your dream squad and compete with fans worldwide in the official FIFA fantasy game.

Play Fantasy →
Join the Poule
🏆

Predict. Compete. Win glory.

Create a poule with friends, predict every match from the group stage to the final, and climb the leaderboard. Free to play — no account needed.

⚽ Play the Poule →
104
Matches
Free
To play
Pools
About This Guide

WorldCup2026.eu is an independent fan guide created to help football supporters around the world follow the 2026 FIFA World Cup. From the group stage draw to the final in New Jersey, we cover everything you need to know about the biggest football tournament in history.

The 2026 edition is truly historic — for the first time ever, 48 nations compete across three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With 104 matches over 39 days, there has never been more football at a single World Cup.

Our free poule system lets you predict every match — from the group stage all the way to the final — and compete with friends and colleagues. No account needed, just create a pool, share the code, and start predicting.

This site is available in six languages and is updated throughout the tournament. Whether you're planning a trip to one of the 16 host stadiums or watching from home, WorldCup2026.eu is your go-to independent guide.

FAQ
When does the 2026 World Cup start?
The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the first stadium to host three World Cup opening matches (1970, 1986, 2026).
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
For the first time ever, the World Cup expands to 48 teams, up from 32. They are split into 12 groups of 4, with the top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-place teams advancing to a new Round of 32. Total matches: 104.
Where is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The Final takes place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York area). It has a capacity of 82,500 and is the largest stadium in the tournament.
Where can I watch the World Cup on TV?
Coverage varies by country. In the US: FOX, FS1, Telemundo, Peacock. In the UK: BBC & ITV. In the Netherlands: NOS & RTL. In Germany: ARD & ZDF. In France: TF1 & M6. Check your local broadcaster for full details.
Who are the host nations?
The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by three nations: the United States (11 cities), Canada (2 cities: Toronto & Vancouver), and Mexico (3 cities: Mexico City, Guadalajara & Monterrey). This is the first World Cup hosted by three nations simultaneously.
Who is the defending champion?
Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions, having won the 2022 tournament in Qatar — their third title overall — with a legendary final against France that went to penalties. Lionel Messi lifted the trophy in what many call the greatest World Cup final ever.