The 2026 FIFA World Cup, also known as FIFA World Cup 26, is the 23rd edition of the international men’s soccer championship held every four years.
This tournament involves national teams from FIFA member countries. Scheduled from June to July 19, 2026 (exact date TBD), it will be hosted by 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
This event marks the first time three nations jointly host the World Cup and the first North American World Cup since 1994. Argentina currently holds the title as the defending champion.
2026 FIFA World Cup
Tournament details
Host countries – Canada, Mexico and United States | |
Dates – June TBD – July 19 | |
Teams – 48 (from 6 confederations) | |
Venue(s) – 16 (in 16 host cities) |
This upcoming tournament is breaking new ground by expanding to include 48 teams, up from the usual 32.
The United 2026 bid triumphed over Morocco in a final vote at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow.
Notably, this World Cup will be the first since 2002 to be co-hosted by multiple nations. Mexico, having previously hosted in 1970 and 1986, will be the first country to host or co-host the men’s World Cup three times.
The United States, which last hosted in 1994, and Canada, hosting or co-hosting for the first time, join in this unique collaboration.
Additionally, the tournament is returning to its traditional summer schedule after the 2022 edition in Qatar took place in November and December.
Format and expansion for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The next FIFA World Cup is making history by including 48 teams, which is 16 more than in the last seven tournaments.
The teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4, and the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams will advance to the round of 32.
This new format was approved by the FIFA Council on March 14, 2023. It’s the first time the competition’s format has changed since 1998.
The number of games in the upcoming FIFA World Cup will increase from 64 to 104, and teams reaching the final four will play eight games instead of seven.
The tournament will now last between 38 and 40 days, up from 32 days in 2014 and 2018. Each team will still have three group matches.
Players in the final squads will have their last club match on May 24, 2026, and clubs must release their players by May 25, with exceptions for those in continental club competition finals until May 30.
The total rest, release, and tournament period of 56 days remains the same as in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 tournaments.
The decision to expand to 48 teams was made on January 10, 2017, with the tournament featuring 16 groups of 3 teams and a total of 80 matches.
The top two teams from each group will progress to a round of 32. This format, chosen over three other proposals, maintains a maximum of seven games per team, but each team plays one less group match. The tournament will still be completed within 32 days.
Some critics of this format raised concerns about the risk of collusion between teams due to the use of three-team groups with two teams advancing.
To address this, FIFA suggested using penalty shoot-outs to break ties in the group stage. However, this raised new worries about teams intentionally losing shootouts to eliminate rivals. Given these concerns, FIFA explored alternative formats.
The idea of expanding the tournament was initially proposed in 2013 by then-UEFA president Michel Platini and again in 2016 by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Opponents of the proposal argued that the current number of games was already too high, expressing worries that the expansion might lower the quality of the matches.
Additionally, some critics claimed that the decision was politically motivated rather than driven by sporting concerns, accusing Infantino of using the promise of involving more countries in the World Cup to secure his election.
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Host selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Between 2013 and 2017, the FIFA Council debated hosting rules, initially barring bids from countries in confederations that hosted the previous two tournaments.
It was later tweaked to only exclude countries from the confederation of the prior host. Eventually, the rule reverted to its original state.
An exception was made, allowing associations from the confederation of the second-to-last host to bid if received bids didn’t meet requirements.
In 2017, FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated Europe (UEFA) and Asia (AFC) couldn’t bid due to Russia and Qatar hosting in 2018 and 2022. Thus, the 2026 host could be from CONCACAF, CAF, CONMEBOL, or OFC, or potentially UEFA if no bid from the first four met requirements.
Co-hosting, previously banned since 2002, was allowed for 2026, evaluated case by case. FIFA had the power to exclude bidders not meeting technical requirements.
In March 2022, Liga MX president Mikel Arriola mentioned Mexico’s co host involvement could have been at risk after a fan riot, but FIFA accepted sanctions.
While Canada, Mexico, and the United States initially considered separate bids, they later announced a joint bid on April 10, 2017.
Conclusion
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a landmark event, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. With 48 teams and a revamped format, it marks the first North American World Cup since 1994.
Notable changes include an extended duration, traditional summer scheduling, and the allowance of co-hosting. This historic tournament brings a new era of inclusivity and collaboration in soccer.
FAQs about 2026 World Cup
Q. Why is the 2026 FIFA World Cup significant?
Ans: It’s the first time three nations jointly host, making it the first North American World Cup since 1994.
Q. How many teams will participate, and what’s the new format?
Ans: 48 teams will participate, grouped into 12 sets of 4, with changes to advance to the round of 32.
Q. How long will the tournament last, and what’s different in the schedule?
Ans: Lasting 38-40 days, it returns to a traditional summer schedule, unlike the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Q. When was the decision to expand to 48 teams made?
Ans: The decision was made on January 10, 2017, impacting the number of games and the tournament duration.
Q. What concerns were raised about the new format?
Ans: Critics worried about collusion in three-team groups, leading to considerations like penalty shoot-outs.
Q. Why was co-hosting allowed for the 2026 World Cup?
Ans: Previously banned since 2002, co-hosting was permitted, evaluated case by case, bringing a unique dimension.
Q. What joint bid was announced for the 2026 World Cup?
Ans: On April 10, 2017, Canada, Mexico, and the United States announced a joint bid, showcasing cooperation in hosting.