The 2026 FIFA World Cup is poised to make history as the most expansive edition of the global football championship ever organized. For the first time in the tournament’s storied legacy, three nations—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—will jointly undertake hosting responsibilities, setting a new precedent for international sporting collaboration.
The monumental event will commence with an opening match at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026, culminating in the championship final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. The expanded format will feature an unprecedented 48 national teams competing across 104 matches during the 39-day tournament, significantly exceeding previous World Cups in both scale and duration.
Sixteen host cities will stage matches across North America, with eleven venues distributed throughout the United States including Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Seattle. Mexico will contribute three host cities—Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey—while Canada will feature matches in Toronto and Vancouver. The United States will serve as the primary host nation, staging the majority of games including the coveted final match.
Ticket demand has reached extraordinary levels, with over 4.5 million enthusiasts participating in an October lottery for purchasing opportunities. FIFA has implemented a four-tier pricing structure for general admission, with opening match tickets in the U.S. ranging from $560 to $2,235. Championship final tickets command premium prices, beginning at $2,030 and escalating to $6,000 for elite seating categories.
The qualification process has already confirmed forty-one participating nations, including traditional football powerhouses such as Brazil, Argentina, France, and Germany. The tournament will also showcase several debutante teams including Curaçao, Cape Verde, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, each securing their inaugural World Cup appearances. Notably, Belize remains absent from the competition roster, having never qualified for the tournament. Final qualification spots will be determined through playoff matches scheduled for March 2026.