FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedule, Teams, Groups and Host Cities
The world cup 2026 was the biggest edition of FIFA’s flagship tournament ever staged. Hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026, it was the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, playing 104 matches across 39 days in 16 host cities.
World Cup 2026 Schedule and Format
The expanded format split the 48 teams into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advanced to a round of 32, followed by the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final. The group stage ran from 11 June to 27 June 2026, the round of 32 began on 28 June, and the final took place on 19 July 2026.
The opening match saw co-hosts Mexico face South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June, while the final was staged at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on 19 July. The semi-finals were played at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with the third-place match hosted in Miami.
All 12 Groups
The draw, held in December 2025, produced the following groups for the tournament:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, DR Congo
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Group J was widely described as the group of death, with France, Nigeria’s closest rivals in the draw — Senegal and Norway — alongside Argentina’s group featuring the defending champions. Group L, containing England and Croatia, also drew major attention from fans.
Host Cities and Stadiums
Sixteen cities hosted matches: 11 in the United States (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle), three in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey) and two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver). The US played its group matches in Los Angeles and Seattle, while the co-hosts’ group games were split across Mexico City, Dallas and Atlanta.
Four nations made their World Cup debuts: Curaçao, Cape Verde (Cabo Verde), Jordan and Uzbekistan. Their qualification underlined how the expanded 48-team format opened the tournament to a wider footballing world.
For Pakistani viewers, matches fell into convenient evening and night slots in PKT, with the biggest fixtures carried live on international sports channels and streaming platforms. Before kick-off, analysts had named Argentina, France, Spain, Brazil and England among the leading favourites, given their deep squads and strong qualifying campaigns.
FIFA also set a record prize pool, with the champions earning $50 million — up from $42 million in 2022 — and more than $700 million distributed to member associations overall. Pakistan fans followed the action live through international sports broadcasters and FIFA’s official streaming partners. For Pakistan’s own football journey, see our Pakistan Football 2026 guide and our earlier World Cup 2026 schedule and teams overview.
Learn more about the official schedule on NBC Sports and the teams, venues and prize money on MyKhel. Tournament details are based on FIFA’s published schedules as of 15 October 2026 and are subject to official updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the world cup 2026 held?
The tournament ran from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
How many teams played in the world cup 2026?
48 teams took part, split into 12 groups of four, playing a total of 104 matches.
Where was the final played?
The world cup 2026 final was played at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on 19 July 2026.
Which new countries debuted at the tournament?
Curaçao, Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan made their FIFA World Cup debuts.
How much prize money did the champions win?
FIFA set the champions’ prize at $50 million, a record for the tournament.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Fan Guide
The world cup 2026 will be the biggest in history: 48 teams, 104 matches and three host nations. For Pakistani fans, this is the most accessible World Cup ever in terms of coverage.
World Cup 2026 Groups and Format
The expanded world cup 2026 groups stage features twelve groups of four, with the top two plus the best third-placed teams reaching a new round of 32. The fifa world cup 2026 schedule stretches across more than a month, giving fans an unprecedented feast of football.
World Cup 2026 Host Cities
Sixteen world cup 2026 host cities across the USA, Canada and Mexico will stage matches, from Mexico City’s iconic Azteca to New York’s MetLife Stadium. The final lands in New York, while the opening match takes place in Mexico.
Tickets and Watching in Pakistan
Official world cup 2026 tickets sell through FIFA’s ballot system; apply early and beware of unofficial sellers. In Pakistan, matches will air on sports channels and streaming platforms, with evening and late-night kick-offs suiting local viewers. Start following the world cup 2026 qualifiers now to know the contenders before the world cup 2026 groups draw.
World Cup 2026 Final, Qualifiers and History
The world cup 2026 final date in July 2026 is circled on every fan’s calendar, with New York hosting the showpiece finale. World cup 2026 qualifiers across continents decide the final lineup, with debutant nations chasing historic first appearances. The official world cup 2026 ball and its flight characteristics always spark pre-tournament debate among players and fans. Studying the world cup winners list reminds us how hard repeating is, and the expanded world cup 2026 format gives underdogs their best-ever shot at glory.
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