The FIFA World Cup 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Tournament Format

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first tournament to feature 48 teams, up from the current 32.

The teams will be divided into 16 groups of three, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the knockout stage.

The knockout stage will consist of a round of 32, a round of 16, a quarterfinal, a semifinal, and a final.

Qualification

The process for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has not yet been finalized, but it is expected that each confederation will be allocated a certain number of slots.

The host nation, the United States, will automatically qualify for the tournament.

The remaining 47 teams will compete for the remaining slots through a series of qualifying tournaments.

Venues

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played in 16 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The United States will host 60 matches, including the final, while Canada and Mexico will each host 10 matches.

The stadiums that will host matches have not yet been announced.

Schedule

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played from June 8 to July 3, 2026.

The group stage will be played from June 8 to June 22, the knockout stage will be played from June 26 to July 3.

The final will be played on July 3, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Tickets

Tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will go on sale in 2023.

Prices for tickets have not yet been announced.

Tickets can be purchased through the FIFA website or through authorized ticket agents.

Conclusion

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and memorable tournaments in history.

With 48 teams competing for the title, and matches being played in 16 cities across three countries, the tournament is sure to be a global event.

Tickets are expected to go on sale in 2023, so be sure to mark your calendars and start planning your trip to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.