FIFA World Cup 2026

World Cup 2026 Facts & Guide

Everything you need to know: tournament format, host cities, all-time records and 2026 essentials.

2026 Essentials

📅

Tournament dates

Jun 11 – Jul 19, 2026

🏟️

Host nations

United States, Canada, Mexico

🌆

Host cities

16 cities

👕

Teams

48 teams (first WC with 48 nations)

⚽

Total matches

104 matches

🏅

Group stage

12 groups of 4 — top 2 + 8 best 3rd place qualify

🥇

Final venue

MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey (78,576)

💰

Total prize money

$1 billion (record FIFA payout)

🏆

The trophy

FIFA World Cup Trophy — 18-karat gold, 6.175 kg, 36.8 cm

🎽

Official ball

Adidas FUSSBALLLIEBE CLUB (official match ball)

Tournament Format

104 matches · 48 teams · 12 groups · 3 host nations · 16 cities

Group Stage

12 groups × 4 teams · 3 matches per team

48 matches

Round of 32

Top 2 each group + 8 best 3rd-place teams

16 matches

Round of 16

Single-elimination

8 matches

Quarter-finals

Single-elimination

4 matches

Semi-finals

Single-elimination

2 matches

3rd Place + Final

Third-place play-off + final

2 matches

Group Stage→Round of 32→Round of 16→Quarter-finals→Semi-finals→3rd Place + Final

Host Cities & Venues

🇲🇽

Mexico

3 venues

Estadio AkronGuadalajara

44,330GS

Estadio AztecaMexico City

72,766OPGSR32R16

Estadio BBVAMonterrey

50,113GSR32

🇨🇦

Canada

2 venues

BMO FieldToronto

44,315GSR32

BC PlaceVancouver

48,821GSR32R16

🇺🇸

United States

11 venues

Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta

67,382GSR32R16SF

Gillette StadiumBoston

63,815GSR32QF

AT&T StadiumDallas

70,122GSR32R16SF

NRG StadiumHouston

68,311GSR32R16

GEHA Field at Arrowhead StadiumKansas City

67,513GSR32QF

SoFi StadiumLos Angeles

69,650GSR32QF

Hard Rock StadiumMiami

64,091GSR32QF3P

MetLife StadiumNew York/New Jersey

78,576GSR32R16F

Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia

65,827GSR16

Levi's StadiumSan Francisco Bay Area

69,391GSR32

Lumen FieldSeattle

65,123GSR32R16

Full venue details →

All-Time World Cup Records

🏆

Most World Cup titles

Brazil — 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

⚽

All-time top scorer

16 goals

Miroslav Klose (Germany)

🎯

Goals in one tournament

13 goals

Just Fontaine (France, 1958)

⚡

Fastest WC goal

11 seconds

Hakan Şükür (Turkey vs South Korea, 2002)

📅

Most WC tournaments

22 editions

Brazil — qualified for every World Cup

🔥

Biggest WC victory

10–1

Hungary vs El Salvador (1982)

👴

Oldest WC scorer

42 years

Roger Milla (Cameroon, 1994)

🥅

Most WC goals (nation)

226 goals

Germany — across all World Cups

🌍

First World Cup

1930

Uruguay — hosts and champions

👥

Most attended WC

3.59 million

USA 1994 — across 52 matches

2026 Essentials

📅

Tournament dates

Jun 11 – Jul 19, 2026

🏟️

Host nations

United States, Canada, Mexico

🌆

Host cities

16 cities

👕

Teams

48 teams (first WC with 48 nations)

⚽

Total matches

104 matches

🏅

Group stage

12 groups of 4 — top 2 + 8 best 3rd place qualify

🥇

Final venue

MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey (78,576)

💰

Total prize money

$1 billion (record FIFA payout)

🏆

The trophy

FIFA World Cup Trophy — 18-karat gold, 6.175 kg, 36.8 cm

🎽

Official ball

Adidas FUSSBALLLIEBE CLUB (official match ball)

Tournament Format

104 matches · 48 teams · 12 groups · 3 host nations · 16 cities

Group Stage

12 groups × 4 teams · 3 matches per team

48 matches

Round of 32

Top 2 each group + 8 best 3rd-place teams

16 matches

Round of 16

Single-elimination

8 matches

Quarter-finals

Single-elimination

4 matches

Semi-finals

Single-elimination

2 matches

3rd Place + Final

Third-place play-off + final

2 matches

Group Stage→Round of 32→Round of 16→Quarter-finals→Semi-finals→3rd Place + Final

Host Cities & Venues

🇲🇽

Mexico

3 venues

Estadio AkronGuadalajara

44,330GS

Estadio AztecaMexico City

72,766OPGSR32R16

Estadio BBVAMonterrey

50,113GSR32

🇨🇦

Canada

2 venues

BMO FieldToronto

44,315GSR32

BC PlaceVancouver

48,821GSR32R16

🇺🇸

United States

11 venues

Mercedes-Benz StadiumAtlanta

67,382GSR32R16SF

Gillette StadiumBoston

63,815GSR32QF

AT&T StadiumDallas

70,122GSR32R16SF

NRG StadiumHouston

68,311GSR32R16

GEHA Field at Arrowhead StadiumKansas City

67,513GSR32QF

SoFi StadiumLos Angeles

69,650GSR32QF

Hard Rock StadiumMiami

64,091GSR32QF3P

MetLife StadiumNew York/New Jersey

78,576GSR32R16F

Lincoln Financial FieldPhiladelphia

65,827GSR16

Levi's StadiumSan Francisco Bay Area

69,391GSR32

Lumen FieldSeattle

65,123GSR32R16

All-Time World Cup Records

🏆

Most World Cup titles

Brazil — 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002

⚽

All-time top scorer

16 goals

Miroslav Klose (Germany)

🎯

Goals in one tournament

13 goals

Just Fontaine (France, 1958)

⚡

Fastest WC goal

11 seconds

Hakan Şükür (Turkey vs South Korea, 2002)

📅

Most WC tournaments

22 editions

Brazil — qualified for every World Cup

🔥

Biggest WC victory

10–1

Hungary vs El Salvador (1982)

👴

Oldest WC scorer

42 years

Roger Milla (Cameroon, 1994)

🥅

Most WC goals (nation)

226 goals

Germany — across all World Cups

🌍

First World Cup

1930

Uruguay — hosts and champions

👥

Most attended WC

3.59 million

USA 1994 — across 52 matches

World Cup 2026 Facts & Guide

2026 Essentials

Tournament Format

Host Cities & Venues

Mexico

Canada

United States

All-Time World Cup Records

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World Cup 2026 Facts & Guide

2026 Essentials

Tournament Format

Host Cities & Venues

Mexico

Canada

United States

All-Time World Cup Records