The 2026 Fifa World Cup would be the first version of the event to function 48 groups and happen in three international locations.
A complete of 16 stadiums will host video games, welcoming groups from qualifying teams protecting Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania, Europe, North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Argentina will hope to defend the title they gained in Qatar in 2022, beating France on penalties within the ultimate in a recreation that includes a Kylian Mbappe hat-trick for Les Bleus and two Lionel Messi targets for the champions.
101GreatGoals.com has the main points on when and the place the 2026 World Cup will start, in addition to key particulars on the schedule firstly of European qualifying.
🎌 Japan are headed to their eighth consecutive #FIFAWorldCup!#WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/8wnSKpYBgZ
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 20, 2025
When is the World Cup 2026? Schedule, dates
Whereas the Qatar version occurred in November and December, the 2026 event will return to the standard interval during which the World Cup has began because it was inaugurally held in 1930.
The opening match will happen on Thursday, June 11, with the group stage working till June 27. The spherical of 32 will begin on June 29 and July 3, following by last-16 matches between July 4 and July 7.
The quarter-finals will likely be held between July 9 and July 11, and the ultimate will likely be determined by semi-finals on July 14 and 15. A 3rd-place play-off takes place on July 18.
For the badge ❤️🛡️#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/z5UvYngD89
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 15, 2025
When is the World Cup ultimate?
The ultimate will happen on Sunday, July 19. Mexico Metropolis’s Azteca will stage the opening match.
The place is the World Cup 2026?
Canada, america and Mexico will host the event, with 11 US venues: Seattle, San Francisco Bay Space, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Kansas Metropolis, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Boston and New York New Jersey, the place the ultimate will likely be performed.
The Mexican headquarters will likely be in Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico Metropolis and the Canadian venues are Vancouver and Toronto.
The oldest man to elevate the #FIFAWorldCup 🏆
The legendary Dino Zoff. 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/geR0DUbslx
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) February 28, 2025
World Cup 2026 format
The preliminary stage has been enlarged from 16 teams of three groups to 12 teams of 4 nations, rising the variety of video games for international locations going all the best way from seven to eight matches.
The highest two groups from every group and the eight greatest third-place groups will attain the spherical of 32.