Overview: What is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the biggest tournament in football history, featuring an expanded 48-team format and hosted across three countries for the first time ever.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly staged by:
- United States
- Canada
- Mexico
This edition marks a major shift in global football, with more teams, more matches, and more global representation than ever before.
Key Dates for the 2026 World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 and runs all the way through until the final on July 19.
- Group Stage: June 11-June 27
- Knockout Stage: Starts June 28
- Final: July 19
New Format Explained (48 Teams)
The 2026 World Cup introduces a new structure:
- 48 teams total (up from 32)
- 12 groups of 4 teams
- Top 2 teams + eight best third-placed teams advance
- A new Round of 32 added before the Round of 16
Why the format matters:
- More nations from Africa, Asia, and CONCACAF qualify
- More games (104 total matches)
Host Cities & Venues
The tournament will be spread across 16 cities, including major football and sporting hubs such as:
- New York/New Jersey
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Toronto
- Mexico City
- Dallas
- Vancouver
This makes it the most geographically spread World Cup in history.
Teams Qualified for 2026 by Region
- 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
Favourites to Win the 2026 World Cup
Spain 9/2, France 5/1, England 6/1, Argentina 8/1, Brazil 8/1, Portugal 9/1, Germany 12/1, 20/1 BAR.
The Race for the Golden Boot
The award handed out to the competitions top goal scorer.
Kylian Mbappe (France) (2022 Golden Boot winner) 6/1, Harry Kane (England) (2018 winner) 7/1, Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) 10/1, Lionel Messi (Argentina) (2022 runner-up) 12/1, Erling Haaland (Norway) 14/1, Lamine Yamal (Spain) 14/1, Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 20/1, Ousmane Dembele (France) 20/1, 25/1 BAR.
Why the 2026 World Cup Will Be Different
- First-ever three-country hosting model
- Largest number of teams in history
- More games than ever before
- More diverse representation globally
- Expanded knockout rounds
- Increased commercial and global reach
This is widely expected to be the most-watched sporting event ever.
2026 FIFA World Cup Groups
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Jordan, Austria
Group K: Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, DR Congo
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
– World Cup Group Betting can be found here.
Who Is Playing in the Opening Game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
For the first time in World Cup history, there will be a repeat of a previous tournament opener. Mexico will host South Africa in a rematch of the first game of the 2010 World Cup hosted by the African nation.
The game will take place in Mexico City with kick-off at 20:000 IST on Thursday, June 11.
Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final Being Played?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be staged at MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City, on July 19, 2026. Opened in 2010 at a record-breaking cost of $1.6 billion, making it the most expensive stadium built in the United States at the time of its completion, the venue has a capacity of 82,500.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, with kick-off arranged for 20:00 IST.
Where Can I Bet on the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The BAR 1 Betting website & app already has markets available on the World Cup group matches, as well as numerous outright markets. There will also be live in-play betting available on all 104 tournament matches.
