The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest ever edition of the world’s premier football tournament.
Join us we uncover all the essential information football fans need to enjoy the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.
FIFA World Cup 2026: How it came to happen
The North American 2026 bid — submitted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States — triumphed over Morocco in a final vote at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow on 13 June 2018.
This will be the first World Cup since 2002 to be hosted across multiple nations and the first ever co-hosted by three.
Beginning with this event, the FIFA World Cup will expand to accommodate 48 teams, a rise of 16 teams from previous tournaments. These teams are divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each.
The total number of games will increase from 64 to 104, with teams reaching the final playing eight matches rather than seven, due to a new Round of 32 stage. The tournament duration will extend to 39 days, up from the 32 days of the 2014 and 2018 editions.
FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played across 16 stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as listed in our complete guide below.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Stadiums: A Complete Guide to All 16 Host Venues
FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on 11 June 2026 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with hosts Mexico facing South Africa in the opening match of Group A.
The group stage runs through late June across the three host nations, before the new Round of 32 begins, leading into the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the third-place play-off, and the grand final on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Dates & Schedules: Your Essential Guide to Every Match
FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets
As of May 2026, FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are on sale through the Last-Minute Sales Phase, which opened on 1 April 2026 and runs until the end of the tournament on 19 July 2026.
Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis as real-time transactions.
Tickets can be purchased through the official FIFA ticketing portal.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets: Prices, Availability, and Where to Buy
FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities
The event will be hosted by three countries across North America: Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America.
Traveling for FIFA World Cup 2026
Three countries mean three times the fun and travel (including visa preparation!)
We’ve compiled a comprehensive travel plan to help you navigate it all.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Travel Plan: A Complete Guide to Visiting the US, Canada, and Mexico
Sources
- FIFA — FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums in Canada, Mexico and the United States
- FIFA — Mexico City Stadium to host the World Cup 2026 opening match
- FIFA — New York New Jersey Stadium to host the World Cup 2026 final
- FIFA — Final Draw results for the FIFA World Cup 2026
- FIFA — Last-Minute Sales Phase opens on 1 April 2026
- FIFA — Match schedule, fixtures & stadiums
- FIFA — Canada, Mexico and USA selected as hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Wikipedia — 68th FIFA Congress (host vote details, 13 June 2018)
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup (format, venues, tournament capacities)
- City of Toronto — BMO Field/Toronto Stadium enhancements for FIFA World Cup 26
- City of Arlington, TX — Final Match Schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2026 at AT&T Stadium
- BMO Field — FIFA World Cup 2026 event page
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
