World Cup Teams

North America · June–July 2026

2026 FIFA World Cup

The first 48-team World Cup, spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Sixteen cities. One champion. The biggest stage in football returns to North America.

Kick-off: June 11, 2026 — just 46 days away.

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Overview

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 national teams, expanding from the 32-team format used since 1998. The tournament is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — making it the first three-nation World Cup in history. It is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026.

The host trio will use 16 cities across the three countries. Five venues are in the United States (New York/New Jersey area, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, and Kansas City), three in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver), and three in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey). Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is the only stadium to have hosted two World Cups, having staged the final in 1970.

The format expands to 12 groups of four teams each. The top two finishers in each group advance, alongside the eight best third-place teams. From there, a 32-team knockout bracket runs through the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final — staged at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (just outside New York City).

Qualification is complete across all confederations. The draw was held on 5 December 2025 in Washington, D.C. All 48 teams are confirmed including the three hosts — USA, Canada, and Mexico — and UEFA playoff winners Czechia, Türkiye, Sweden, and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Last reviewed: April 26, 2026. Preliminary squad announcements expected from early May 2026. Pre-tournament friendlies and final preparations underway across all 48 nations.

Pre-Tournament Update — April 26, 2026

With 46 days until kick-off, all 48 nations are in their final preparation phases. Preliminary squad announcements begin across Europe in the first week of May, with most federations targeting May 5–15 to name their 55–60 player shortlists. Final 23-player squads are due to FIFA by June 2. Key developments:

  • Argentina — Lionel Scaloni is expected to announce his preliminary 55-man list around May 5. Several Europe-based players are managing congested domestic calendars ahead of the June release window. Internal discussions are reportedly centred on the left-back position and whether to include one or two overage players from the Olympic squad.
  • France — Didier Deschamps submitted his preliminary list on April 30; notable inclusion: 17-year-old sensation Yves Kabongo (Lyon) earns a first senior call-up after a breakout Ligue 1 season. Camavinga and Tchouaméni both passed fitness assessments in late April and are fully available. Mbappé's goal-scoring form at Real Madrid keeps France among the tournament's top favourites.
  • Brazil — Dorival Júnior submitted his preliminary squad on May 2. Endrick (Palmeiras), who scored 18 league goals this season, is a confirmed inclusion alongside Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. A notable omission is Gabriel Jesus, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late April and faces a race against time to be fit for the final 23 announcement.
  • Coaching updates — Morocco: Mohamed Ouahbi (appointed March 2026, succeeding Walid Regragui). Ghana: Carlos Queiroz (appointed April 13). Tunisia: Sabri Lamouchi (replaced Sami Trabelsi after poor AFCON 2025). USA: Mauricio Pochettino confirmed as permanent head coach, preliminary roster due May 18.
  • New Zealand — Chris Wood update (April 26): The Nottingham Forest striker has completed his rehabilitation and returned to full training on April 24. Medical team confirmed full availability ahead of New Zealand's pre-tournament camp opening May 10. All Whites manager to name the preliminary squad on May 12.
  • May friendlies taking shape — Argentina vs. Ecuador (May 20), England vs. Nigeria (May 22), Germany vs. Slovakia (May 24), France vs. Nordic selection (May 26). Exact venues and kick-off times TBC per federation announcements.
  • Hosts — USA pre-tournament camp opens in Dallas on May 20; Pochettino names a 30-player preliminary roster by May 18. Canada camp opens May 22 in Vancouver. Mexico base camp in Mexico City from May 18, with a closed-door friendly vs. a Liga MX side scheduled May 25.

Last reviewed: April 26, 2026. Preliminary squad announcements expected from early May 2026. Pre-tournament friendlies and final preparations underway across all 48 nations.

Key Dates

  • Tournament window: June 11 – July 19, 2026
  • Group stage: June 11–27
  • Round of 16: June 26–29
  • Quarter-finals: July 2–3
  • Semi-finals: July 6–7
  • Final: July 19, 2026

Stakes

Four years of work. Sixty-four million dollars in prize money. A place in football history. The World Cup trophy is the sport's ultimate prize — and in 2026, 48 nations will chase it across three countries and eleven stadiums. Compare World Cup 2026 odds and follow match predictions at our partner sites.

Venues

The 2026 World Cup will use 11 stadiums across 16 host cities. All venues are in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

🇺🇸 United States

  • MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, NJ
    Final · New York area
  • SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA
    USA flagship · Los Angeles
  • AT&T Stadium — Arlington, TX
    Dallas
  • Lumen Field — Seattle, WA
  • Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, MO
  • NRG Stadium — Houston, TX
  • Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, PA
  • Levi's Stadium — Santa Clara, CA
    San Francisco Bay Area
  • Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte, NC

🇨🇦 Canada

  • BMO Field — Toronto, ON
  • BC Place — Vancouver, BC

🇲🇽 Mexico

  • Estadio Azteca — Mexico City
    Historic 2nd time hosting World Cup
  • Estadio Akron — Guadalajara
  • Estadio BBVA — Monterrey

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the first three-nation World Cup in history.

How many teams are competing in the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup features 48 national teams, up from 32 in the 2022 edition. It is the first World Cup to expand beyond the 32-team format that had been used since 1998.

Which cities are hosting 2026 World Cup matches?

Matches will be played across 16 host cities: nine in the United States (New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, Kansas City, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Charlotte), three in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver), and three in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey).

What is the 2026 World Cup format?

The 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group advance, along with the eight best third-place finishers, creating a 32-team knockout bracket: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final.

Where will the 2026 World Cup final be played?

The final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — part of the greater New York City area — on July 19, 2026. It will be the largest stadium to host a World Cup final in history, with a capacity of approximately 82,000.

How can I buy tickets for the 2026 World Cup?

Tickets are available through FIFA's official website (fifa.com). The sales process has proceeded in phases: a ballot/opening phase, a first-come first-served window, and a last-minute resale phase. Fans should purchase only through official FIFA channels to avoid counterfeit tickets.

What is the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup?

Qualification is managed by each of FIFA's six confederations. With the field expanded to 48 teams, allocation changed: UEFA received 16 spots (up from 13), CONCACAF got 6 (up from 3 or 4), CAF 9 (up from 5), CONMEBOL 6 (up from 4 or 5), AFC 8.5 (up from 4 or 5), and OFC 1.5 (up from 0 or 1), with 2 places decided by inter-confederation playoffs. The hosts — USA, Canada, and Mexico — qualify automatically.

Who are the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup?

Argentina (defending champions, 2022 winners) and France (2018 champions) are consistently among the top contenders, alongside Brazil, England, Germany, Spain, and Portugal. With 48 teams in the mix, emerging nations and dark horses from Africa, Asia, and CONCACAF are also worth watching in what promises to be the most open World Cup in decades.

Sports betting: mostbet.cc