Forty-eight nations, sixteen cities, one hundred and four matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the largest football tournament in history begins on June 11.
Tournament is live
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 divide into 12 groups of four, playing a round-robin; the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed sides advance to a new Round of 32.
From there it is single-elimination knockout, all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19. One hundred and four matches across thirty-nine days — by every measure, the largest tournament football has ever staged.