FIFA World Cup 2026
Schedule, host cities, teams, tickets, and tournament guide
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The tournament opens at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and concludes with the final at the same venue, spanning 39 days across three host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico. [Source: FIFA]
Which countries are hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — marking the first time three nations have jointly hosted the men's World Cup. The U.S. hosts 60 of the 104 matches, Canada hosts 13, and Mexico hosts 13. [Source: FIFA]
What are the host cities for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 features 16 host cities: 11 in the U.S. (New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Boston, Kansas City, Houston, Philadelphia), 3 in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver, Guadalajara), and 2 in Mexico (Mexico City, Monterrey). [Source: FIFA]
Which stadiums will be used for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 will use 16 stadiums including MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Levi's Stadium (San Francisco), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), BMO Field (Toronto), BC Place (Vancouver), and Estadio Azteca (Mexico City), among others. [Source: FIFA]
Where will the FIFA World Cup 2026 final be held?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, 2026. MetLife Stadium is the home of both the New York Giants and New York Jets NFL teams and has a capacity of approximately 82,500. [Source: FIFA]
How many teams will compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams, expanded from the 32-team format used since 1998. Teams are divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus eight best third-place teams advancing to a new 32-team knockout round. [Source: FIFA]
What is the format of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 introduces a 48-team format with 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams plus the eight best third-place finishers advance to a 32-team Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place match, and final — totaling 104 matches. [Source: FIFA]
How many matches will be played at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 104 matches in total — 48 group-stage games, 32 Round of 32 matches, 16 Round of 16 matches, 8 quarterfinals, 4 semifinals, 1 third-place match, and 1 final. This is a significant increase from the 64 matches played at the 2022 World Cup. [Source: FIFA]
Which teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026 is ongoing across all six confederations. The host nations — the United States, Canada, and Mexico — qualify automatically. FIFA allocates 48 spots across confederations: UEFA receives 16, CAF 9, CONMEBOL 6, AFC 8, CONCACAF 6 (including hosts), and OFC 1. [Source: FIFA]
How do you buy tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are sold exclusively through FIFA's official ticketing platform at FIFA.com/tickets. Sales occur in phases, including ballot-style draws for high-demand matches. Fans must create a FIFA account, enter ticket ballots during sales windows, and pay via official FIFA payment methods. [Source: FIFA]
How much do FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets cost?
FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket prices start at $80 USD for group-stage matches in Category 4 (local residents) and range up to over $1,100 for final tickets in premium categories. Group-stage tickets for general fans begin around $200, with semifinal and final tickets priced significantly higher. [Source: FIFA]
When do FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets go on sale?
FIFA opened the first public ticket sales phase for World Cup 2026 in early 2025 via a ballot system on FIFA.com. Additional sales phases are scheduled throughout 2025 and into 2026. Fans are advised to register on FIFA.com in advance to participate in ticket ballots. [Source: FIFA]
What ticket categories are available for FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are divided into four categories: Category 1 (best seats, highest price), Category 2 (mid-tier seating), Category 3 (standard seating), and Category 4 (reserved for residents of the host country where the match is played, lowest price). All categories are sold through FIFA.com. [Source: FIFA]
What is the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match is scheduled for June 11, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Mexico is set to play in the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on the same date, as part of a historic multi-venue opening day across host nations. [Source: FIFA]
What is the prize money for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA has announced a total prize money pool of $1 billion USD for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a significant increase from the $440 million distributed at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The winning team is expected to receive approximately $50 million, with all 48 participating teams receiving a share. [Source: FIFA]
Do fans need a visa to attend FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico?
Visa requirements for FIFA World Cup 2026 depend on your nationality and which host country you're visiting. The U.S. government has indicated special facilitation measures for ticketed fans. Visitors should check official entry requirements via the U.S. Department of State, IRCC (Canada), or Mexico's INM well in advance. [Source: U.S. Department of State]
Who are the official broadcasters for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
In the United States, Fox Sports and Telemundo hold the broadcast rights for FIFA World Cup 2026. In the UK, ITV and BBC share rights. FIFA has broadcast partnership agreements across 200+ territories. Official broadcasters are listed on FIFA.com's media rights section. [Source: FIFA]
What is the official match ball for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Adidas is the official match ball supplier for FIFA World Cup 2026, continuing a partnership that dates back to 1970. The official 2026 tournament ball, branded under the FIFA-Adidas partnership, was unveiled in 2025. Adidas has supplied every World Cup match ball since the 1970 Mexico tournament. [Source: FIFA]
How many fans are expected to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026?
FIFA estimates that FIFA World Cup 2026 will attract approximately 5 million ticket-holding fans across all 16 host cities, making it potentially the most-attended World Cup in history. The expanded 48-team format and 104 matches across three countries contribute to the increased capacity and projected attendance figures. [Source: FIFA]
What is the FIFA Fan Festival at the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA Fan Festivals are official, free-to-enter public viewing zones established in each host city during the FIFA World Cup 2026. They feature live match screenings, entertainment, food, and cultural activities. FIFA coordinates Fan Festival locations with local city authorities; full details and locations are published on FIFA.com. [Source: FIFA]