The world’s biggest football tournament, 2026 FIFA World Cup, begins today and will run through July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament is the largest in World Cup history, featuring 48 teams, compared with 32 teams in previous editions. The three host nations qualified automatically, while the remaining 45 teams earned their places through a two-year qualifying campaign.
The competition will feature 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will automatically advance to the knockout stage. The eight best third-place teams across all groups will also advance to a 32-team knockout stage. In this edition, a record 104 matches will be played, including 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockout rounds. The final is scheduled for July 19.
