With less than a year until the first whistle blows, anticipation is building for the most expansive FIFA Men's World Cup in history. For the first time ever, the 2026 tournament will be co-hosted across three nations – Canada, Mexico, and the United States – and will feature a record-breaking 48 teams.
Tournament Format and Host Venues
The footballing spectacle is scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July 2026. In a significant departure from recent tournaments, 104 matches will be played, a substantial increase from the 64 games in Qatar 2022.
The action will be spread across 16 state-of-the-art venues. The United States will host the majority of games at 11 stadiums, including iconic locations such as the Los Angeles Stadium and MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey, which has the honour of hosting the final. Mexico will contribute three venues, including the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, while Canada will host matches in Toronto and Vancouver.
The three host nations – the USA, Mexico, and Canada – have all automatically qualified and are guaranteed to play all their group stage matches on home soil.
The Teams and Qualification Process
The expansion to 48 teams has opened the door for more nations than ever before. Out of the 48 spots, 42 teams have already secured their place following intense qualifying campaigns.
European fans will be delighted that Scotland have qualified for their first World Cup since 1998. The tournament will also see the World Cup debuts of Jordan, Curacao, Cape Verde, and Uzbekistan.
The qualification slots are allocated as follows:
- UEFA (Europe): 16 teams
- CAF (Africa): 9 teams
- AFC (Asia): 8 teams
- CONMEBOL (South America): A minimum of 6 teams
- CONCACAF: A minimum of 6 teams (plus the 3 hosts)
- OFC (Oceania): 1 guaranteed spot
The final places will be determined through two separate play-off tournaments. An inter-confederation play-off will feature teams like Bolivia, Congo DR, and Jamaica battling for two spots. Meanwhile, a European play-off will see 16 teams compete for the final four places in the competition.
The Draw and New Group Stage
The all-important group stage draw is set for 5 December 2025 in Washington DC. The event will be attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump.
Due to the expanded format, the traditional group stage has been revamped. Instead of eight groups of four, there will now be 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout stage, and they will be joined by the eight best third-placed teams, creating a round of 32 for the first time.
Mascots, Match Ball, and Half-Time Show
Reflecting the tri-nation hosting, the tournament features three mascots: Maple the moose for Canada, Zayu the jaguar for Mexico, and Clutch the bald eagle for the USA.
The official match ball, named 'Trionda' – meaning 'three waves' in Spanish – also embodies the trio of hosts with its swirled design in red, green, and blue.
In a move inspired by the American Super Bowl, FIFA has confirmed a first-ever dedicated half-time show during the World Cup final. While no artists have been officially announced, Coldplay's Chris Martin is reportedly involved in the decision-making process for the star-studded line-up.
How to Secure Your Tickets
The ticket release is being conducted in three distinct phases. The initial phase, exclusive to Visa cardholders, has already concluded. The second phase, which began on 12 November 2025, is open to registered individuals. A final phase will operate as a random selection draw for remaining tickets.
Prospective attendees can purchase various ticket types, including single-match tickets, venue-specific passes, or tickets to follow a specific team throughout the tournament.
As the countdown continues, the football world eagerly awaits a tournament set to break new ground in scale, accessibility, and spectacle.
