About World Cup 2026
The expanded 48-team World Cup runs from June 11, 2026 to July 19, 2026, hosted across United States, Mexico, Canada. It is the first men's tournament with 48 teams and 104 matches, opening at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City and ending at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey.
Format
- 48 teams in 12 groups of four — the largest World Cup ever.
- The top two of each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance (32 teams).
- Knockout flow: Round of 32 → Round of 16 → quarter-finals → semi-finals → third-place play-off → final.
- First men's World Cup hosted across three nations (USA, Mexico, Canada).
- Opening match at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City; final at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey.
- 104 matches in total, up from 64 in 2022.
Key dates
- Opening match — June 11, 2026
- Group stage ends — June 27, 2026
- Round of 32 — June 28, 2026
- Final — July 19, 2026
Host cities & venues
- New York / New Jersey — MetLife StadiumUSA
- Los Angeles — SoFi StadiumUSA
- Dallas — AT&T StadiumUSA
- San Francisco Bay Area — Levi's StadiumUSA
- Seattle — Lumen FieldUSA
- Kansas City — Arrowhead StadiumUSA
- Houston — NRG StadiumUSA
- Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumUSA
- Philadelphia — Lincoln Financial FieldUSA
- Boston — Gillette StadiumUSA
- Miami — Hard Rock StadiumUSA
- Mexico City — Estadio AztecaMexico
- Guadalajara — Estadio AkronMexico
- Monterrey — Estadio BBVAMexico
- Toronto — BMO FieldCanada
- Vancouver — BC PlaceCanada