The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of the quadrennial international men’s soccer championship. The tournament began on June 11, 2026, and will conclude on July 19. It is jointly hosted by 16 citiesโ11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada.
๐ Host Nations and History
This is the first FIFA World Cup to be hosted by three countries and the first to include 48 teams. Mexico became the first country to host the World Cup three times, having hosted the 1970 and 1986 tournaments. The United States previously hosted the World Cup in 1994, while it is Canada’s first time hosting the tournament.
โฝ Tournament Format and Expansion
Starting with the 2026 edition, the World Cup expanded to 48 teams, an increase of 16 teams compared to the previous seven tournaments. The teams were split into 12 groups of 4 teams, with the top 2 teams in each group and the 8 best third-place teams progressing to a new round of 32. The total number of matches played increased from 64 to 104.
๐ Schedule and Venues
The opening match took place on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. AT&T Stadium in Arlington hosts the most matches of any venue, with nine. The U.S. hosts 78 matches, including all quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final to be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19.
๐ Rule Changes and Innovations
The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduced several rule changes designed to reduce time-wasting. New rules include 10-second substitutions, 5-second restarts, and mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in every half. The VAR can now review and overturn wrongly awarded corner kicks and certain attacking fouls.
๐๏ธ Venue Distribution
| Country | Number of Venues | Number of Matches | Key Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 11 | 78 | AT&T Stadium (9 matches) |
| Mexico | 3 | 13 | Estadio Azteca |
| Canada | 2 | 13 | BMO Field |
| Total | 16 | 104 | MetLife Stadium (Final) |