World Cup 2026 — Tournament Info
Key dates
- Group stage starts
- June 11, 2026
- Group stage ends
- June 27, 2026
- Round of 32
- June 28 – July 3, 2026
- Round of 16
- July 4 – 7, 2026
- Quarter-finals
- July 9 – 11, 2026
- Semi-finals
- July 14 – 15, 2026
- Third-place play-off
- July 18, 2026
- Final (MetLife Stadium, NJ)
- July 19, 2026
Format
The 2026 World Cup expands the field to 48 teams for the first time in tournament history, replacing the 32-team format used since 1998. Teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Within each group, teams play a single round-robin; the top two finishers and the eight best third-placed teams advance to a new Round of 32, after which the competition continues as a single-elimination knockout through to the final.
A total of 104 matches will be played across 39 days — the longest and largest World Cup ever held.
Host cities
United States
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Dallas
- Houston
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York / New Jersey
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Seattle
Canada
- Toronto
- Vancouver
Mexico
- Guadalajara
- Mexico City
- Monterrey
Qualified teams
The three host nations qualify automatically. The remaining 45 places are distributed across confederations: AFC (8), CAF (9), CONCACAF (3 + 3 hosts), CONMEBOL (6), OFC (1), UEFA (16), plus two slots decided by intercontinental playoffs. Full team list and group draw will be published as confirmations arrive.