This is a visual explainer based on the Wikipedia article on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

Road to 2026

North America's Premier Football Spectacle

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Tournament Overview

The Grandest Stage

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the 23rd iteration of this prestigious quadrennial international men's association football championship. It is contested by national teams representing FIFA member associations, making it the pinnacle event in global football.

A Historic Tri-Nation Hosting

For the first time in its history, the FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This collaborative effort spans 16 host cities across North America, signifying a new era of international cooperation in sports.

Dates and Duration

The tournament is scheduled to commence on June 11, 2026, and will culminate in the final match on July 19, 2026. This edition will feature an extended duration of 39 days, accommodating the expanded format.

Expanded Format

48 Teams

A significant evolution for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the expansion of the tournament field from 32 to 48 participating teams. This increase allows for greater global representation and more competitive pathways.

Group Stage Structure

The 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups, each comprising four teams. The top two finishers from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a newly introduced knockout stage featuring 32 teams.

Match Volume

This expansion increases the total number of matches from 64 to 104. Teams reaching the latter stages will play a maximum of eight matches, maintaining a balance between increased participation and competitive intensity.

Host Selection

Joint Bid Triumph

The "United 2026" bid, a collaborative effort by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, was successfully selected as the host. This bid prevailed over a rival bid submitted by Morocco during the 68th FIFA Congress held in Moscow.

The FIFA Vote

On June 13, 2018, the FIFA Congress voted, with the United bid securing a decisive 134 valid votes against Morocco's 65. This decision marked the first time the tournament would be hosted by three nations.

Historical Hosting

Mexico becomes the first nation to host or co-host the men's World Cup three times, having previously hosted in 1970 and 1986. The United States hosted in 1994, while this marks Canada's debut as a host or co-host.

Host Cities & Venues

Sixteen Host Cities

A total of 16 venues across the three host nations have been selected. These include 2 in Canada, 3 in Mexico, and 11 in the United States. The final match will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The selected venues represent a mix of iconic stadiums and modern facilities, many of which are multi-purpose and host both NFL and MLS teams. FIFA's sponsorship regulations mean venues will use alternative names during the tournament.

CityStadiumCapacity
Mexico CityEstadio Azteca†87,523
New York/New JerseyMetLife Stadium‡82,500
DallasAT&T Stadium‡80,000
Kansas CityGEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium76,416
HoustonNRG Stadium‡72,220
AtlantaMercedes-Benz Stadium‡71,000
Los AngelesSoFi Stadium‡70,240
SeattleLumen Field68,740
San Francisco Bay AreaLevi's Stadium68,500
PhiladelphiaLincoln Financial Field67,594
MiamiHard Rock Stadium64,767
BostonGillette Stadium64,628
VancouverBC Place‡54,500
MonterreyEstadio BBVA53,500
GuadalajaraEstadio Akron49,813
TorontoBMO Field28,180 (expanded to 45,736)

† Denotes venue used in previous men's World Cups. ‡ Denotes indoor stadium with climate control.

Playing Surfaces

Eight of the selected stadiums utilize permanent artificial turf. FIFA plans to replace these with natural grass surfaces prior to the tournament, following research recommendations. Indoor venues feature retractable roofs and climate control.

Regional Grouping

Host cities are grouped into three regions—West, Central, and East—to optimize travel logistics for teams and fans. This regional approach aims to minimize travel time and facilitate smoother tournament operations.

Teams & Qualification

Automatic Qualification

As host nations, Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically secure berths in the 48-team tournament. This ensures representation from all three organizing countries.

Expanded Slots & Playoffs

The tournament's expansion grants six CONCACAF teams automatic qualification. Additionally, an inter-confederation playoff tournament involving six teams (one from each confederation except UEFA) will determine the final two World Cup spots, serving as a test event.

Qualified Teams

As of the latest updates, 13 teams have secured their place. Notably, Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debuts. The qualification process across all confederations is ongoing.

The following teams have qualified so far:

  • Australia
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Canada (Host)
  • Ecuador
  • Iran
  • Japan
  • Jordan (Debut)
  • Mexico (Host)
  • New Zealand
  • South Korea
  • United States (Host)
  • Uzbekistan (Debut)

The Draw Ceremony

Date and Location

The official draw ceremony is scheduled for December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The event will commence at 12:00 UTC-5 (EST).

Unconfirmed Participants

It is important to note that the final draw will occur before the conclusion of all qualification pathways. The four UEFA playoff winners and the two inter-confederation playoff winners will be determined in March 2026, after the draw has taken place.

Host Nation Seeding

As per tradition and confirmed arrangements, the host nations have been seeded into specific groups. Mexico is placed in Group A, Canada in Group B, and the United States in Group D, ensuring each host plays its initial matches domestically.

Match Schedule

Key Dates

The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, with Mexico playing the opening match at the historic Estadio Azteca. The grand final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium.

RoundMatchdayDate
Group StageMatchday 1June 11–17, 2026
Matchday 2June 18–23, 2026
Matchday 3June 24–27, 2026
Knockout Stage Round of 32June 28 – July 3, 2026
Round of 16July 4–7, 2026
QuarterfinalsJuly 9–11, 2026
SemifinalsJuly 14–15, 2026
Third Place PlayoffJuly 18, 2026
FinalJuly 19, 2026

Global Audience

Match assignments and kickoff times, particularly for non-host groups, will be finalized after the draw to optimize viewing for global audiences across different time zones.

Venue Allocation

The United States will host the majority of matches (78), including all quarter-final matches and beyond. Canada and Mexico will each host 13 matches. All venues, except Estadio Akron, are slated to host at least one knockout stage fixture.

Group Stage Details

Tie-Breaking Criteria

In the event of teams being level on points within a group, rankings are determined by: points obtained between the tied teams, goal difference between them, goals scored between them. Further criteria include overall goal difference, overall goals scored, disciplinary record (fair play points), and finally, FIFA rankings.

Group A

The opening match features host Mexico. Group stage matches for Group A are scheduled from June 11 to June 24, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Mexico Mexico (H)00000000Advance to knockout stage
2A200000000Advance to knockout stage
3A300000000Possible knockout stage
4A400000000

First match: June 11, 2026

Group B

Host Canada opens their campaign in this group. Matches are scheduled from June 12 to June 24, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Canada Canada (H)00000000Advance to knockout stage
2B200000000Advance to knockout stage
3B300000000Possible knockout stage
4B400000000

First match: June 12, 2026

Group C

Matches for Group C are scheduled from June 13 to June 25, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1C100000000Advance to knockout stage
2C200000000Advance to knockout stage
3C300000000Possible knockout stage
4C400000000

First match: June 13, 2026

Group D

Host United States begins their campaign in this group. Matches are scheduled from June 12 to June 25, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1United States United States (H)00000000Advance to knockout stage
2D200000000Advance to knockout stage
3D300000000Possible knockout stage
4D400000000

First match: June 12, 2026

Group E

Matches for Group E are scheduled from June 14 to June 25, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1E100000000Advance to knockout stage
2E200000000Advance to knockout stage
3E300000000Possible knockout stage
4E400000000

First match: June 14, 2026

Group F

Matches for Group F are scheduled from June 14 to June 26, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1F100000000Advance to knockout stage
2F200000000Advance to knockout stage
3F300000000Possible knockout stage
4F400000000

First match: June 14, 2026

Group G

Matches for Group G are scheduled from June 15 to June 26, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1G100000000Advance to knockout stage
2G200000000Advance to knockout stage
3G300000000Possible knockout stage
4G400000000

First match: June 15, 2026

Group H

Matches for Group H are scheduled from June 15 to June 26, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1H100000000Advance to knockout stage
2H200000000Advance to knockout stage
3H300000000Possible knockout stage
4H400000000

First match: June 15, 2026

Group I

Matches for Group I are scheduled from June 16 to June 26, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1I100000000Advance to knockout stage
2I200000000Advance to knockout stage
3I300000000Possible knockout stage
4I400000000

First match: June 16, 2026

Group J

Matches for Group J are scheduled from June 16 to June 27, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1J100000000Advance to knockout stage
2J200000000Advance to knockout stage
3J300000000Possible knockout stage
4J400000000

First match: June 16, 2026

Group K

Matches for Group K are scheduled from June 17 to June 27, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1K100000000Advance to knockout stage
2K200000000Advance to knockout stage
3K300000000Possible knockout stage
4K400000000

First match: June 17, 2026

Group L

Matches for Group L are scheduled from June 17 to June 27, 2026.

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1L100000000Advance to knockout stage
2L200000000Advance to knockout stage
3L300000000Possible knockout stage
4L400000000

First match: June 17, 2026

Knockout Stage

The Road to the Final

Following the group stage, the tournament progresses to a 32-team knockout phase. This single-elimination bracket determines the path to the final.

Round of 32

The first knockout round, featuring 32 teams, commences on June 28, 2026, setting the stage for the subsequent rounds.

Championship Match

The ultimate contest, the FIFA World Cup Final, is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, crowning the world champion.

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References

References

  1.  The Kennesaw State University campus has a Kennesaw mailing address but is in unincorporated Cobb County.
  2.  Oakland University has a Rochester mailing address, but the university's soccer complex is within the city limits of Rochester Hills.
A full list of references for this article are available at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional sports or travel advice. The information provided on this website should not be considered a substitute for official FIFA documentation, venue-specific guidelines, or professional consultation. Always verify details with official sources.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.