EXPLAINERSport|FootballWorld Cup 2026: When and where does the FIFA tournament start?The global showpiece of world football begins on June 11 with FIFA’s largest World Cup now only half a year away.
The 23rd FIFA World Cup is scheduled to commence on Thu, Jun 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This edition marks the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, making it the longest World Cup event with a duration of 39 days.
The 23rd FIFA World Cup is scheduled to commence on Thu, Jun 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This edition marks the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams, making it the longest World Cup event with a duration of 39 days.
The event will take place in 16 cities: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The opening match will occur at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final will be hosted at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
All stadiums for the World Cup are currently in place, with two undergoing upgrades. Boston Stadium is being refurbished at a cost of $225 million, increasing its capacity to 63,815. In Canada, Toronto Stadium's capacity is being expanded to over 45,000.
Defending Champions and Team Qualifications
Argentina is the defending champion, having secured the title in Qatar 2022. As of now, 42 out of 48 teams have qualified for the 2026 tournament. The final six teams will be determined through FIFA's intercontinental playoffs by Tue, Mar 31, 2026.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 12 groups of four teams each, leading to a round of 32, an additional knockout round compared to previous editions. The tournament structure has doubled in size since the 1994 edition in the United States.
The 23rd FIFA World Cup is scheduled to commence on Thu, Jun 11, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The group stage draw has been completed, with the exception of six remaining slots. The potential teams for these slots are known and will be decided through upcoming playoff matches.
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, one team from Denmark, Macedonia, Czech Republic, or Ireland Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, one team from Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Bosnia Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, one team from Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, one team from Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, one team from Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, one team from DRC, Jamaica, or New Caledonia Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Given the summer timing, certain venues in Arlington, Atlanta, and Houston are expected to utilize retractable roofs, while Inglewood and Vancouver have fixed roofs to mitigate potential weather disruptions.
Over two million tickets have been sold thus far. The primary ticket ballot will open at 16:00 GMT on Thu, Dec 11, 2025, on FIFA's website, with the selection process concluding on Tue, Jan 13, 2026.
The intercontinental playoffs will occur in March 2026, determining two qualifying teams from six participating nations. The European playoffs will involve 16 teams competing for four World Cup slots.
Intercontinental Playoffs: Iraq and DRC receive byes to playoff finals, facing winners from semifinals between New Caledonia vs Jamaica and Bolivia vs Suriname. European Playoffs: Teams are divided into four paths, each leading to a final to determine qualifiers.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.