The 2026 edition of the World Cup will be the first with 48 teams
Hosting of the tournament will be shared between Canada, Mexico and the USA
Final will be played on 19 July, 2026, in New York New Jersey
The is firmly in view for fans of the beautiful game around the globe with a number of firsts as three nations - Canada, Mexico and the USA - will co-host, and a record 48 teams will take part.
After the thrilling drama of the , Argentina are aiming to become just .
, with 42 teams having booked their tickets to the eagerly-anticipated global showpiece.
FIFA has prepared a summary of the key information around the next instalment of the tournament.
The next World Cup will return to being played in the traditional period, between the months of June and July. The World Cup final date has been set as Sunday, 19 July, with the opening match due to take place on Thursday, 11 June.
The was announced on Sunday, 4 February 2024, with , and the .
The Final Draw for World Cup 2026 took place in Washington DC on 5 December at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with 12 groups of four teams decided. Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and USA were placed into Groups A, B and D, respectively.
Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA AFC: Australia, Iraq, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay OFC: New Zealand UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye
A record 1,248 players representing 48 nations were following the submission of to FIFA.
For the first time in history, the organisation of the biggest football tournament on the planet will be divided among three countries - Canada, Mexico and the USA - with 16 cities in total hosting matches. Find out more on the rich history and tradition of each location by clicking the links below.
A total of 16 stadiums have been chosen to host the games, the most since Korea/Japan 2002, with some truly spectacular venues set to showcase the best in the beautiful game. Follow the links below for more information on each venue, including the matches selected for each ground.
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The adidas TRIONDA was unveiled as the Official Match Ball for FIFA World Cup 26 on 2 October 2025. The name can be translated from Spanish as “three waves”, and the ball’s vibrant design features a red, green and blue colour scheme that pays homage to the three host countries, while a brand-new four-panel construction with fluid geometry replicates the waves referenced in the ball’s name. Iconography that represents each host country adorns the ball, with the maple leaf for Canada, an eagle for Mexico and a star for the United States, while gold embellishments pay tribute to the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
The three official mascots, each highlighting one of the host nations, were unveiled in September 2025. Maple™ the Moose (Canada), Zayu™ the Jaguar (Mexico) and Clutch™ the Bald Eagle (United States) have been thoughtfully developed to reflect the vibrant culture, heritage and spirit of their respective countries, coming together to symbolise unity, diversity and the shared passion for the beautiful game.
The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams from the groups will now progress to the round of 32. Hopefuls will now have to play eight games from group stage through to the final, rather than seven.
The 2026 tournament will feature a set of Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Host City Posters, showcasing the unique cultural and artistic spirit of the 16 Host Cities while celebrating the unity, diversity, and passion of the world’s most beloved sport. .
The FIFA World Cup™ Trophy, the most widely recognised and prized sporting asset globally, was on Wednesday, 17 May 2023.
Sources: FIFA Official
