The 2026 World Cup: the biggest tournament football has ever staged

For the first time in its history, the FIFA World Cup expands to 48 teams in 2026, up from 32. It is also the first edition co-hosted by three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — spread across 16 cities and three time zones. The result is the largest World Cup ever: 104 matches over 39 days, from 11 June to 19 July.

The format changes too. The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed sides, move into a brand-new Round of 32 — an extra knockout round that did not exist in previous tournaments. It means more do-or-die games, more upsets and more nations with a realistic path deep into the bracket.

For fans it is a longer, richer summer of football, with debutant nations sharing the stage with the traditional giants. The final is set for MetLife Stadium just outside New York on 19 July 2026. Whether you follow a first-time qualifier or a serial champion, 2026 offers more football, in more places, than any World Cup before it.