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The FIFA World Cup is the quadrennial men’s international football championship organised by FIFA since 1930. The 23rd edition — FIFA World Cup 2026 — runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the USA, Canada and Mexico, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches in 16 host cities.
When is the World Cup?
The men’s FIFA World Cup is held every four years. Edition 23 — the 2026 tournament — runs Thursday, 11 June 2026 to Sunday, 19 July 2026:
- Opening match: 11 June 2026, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (Mexico).
- Group stage: 11–27 June 2026.
- Round of 32: 28 June – 3 July 2026.
- Round of 16: 4–7 July 2026.
- Quarter-finals: 9–11 July 2026.
- Semi-finals: 14–15 July 2026.
- Third-place play-off: 18 July 2026.
- Final: Sunday, 19 July 2026, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Upcoming FIFA World Cups
| Edition | Host(s) | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (23rd) | USA, Canada, Mexico | 11 Jun – 19 Jul 2026 |
| 2030 (24th) | Spain, Portugal, Morocco (+ Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay centenary matches) | June–July 2030 (TBC) |
| 2034 (25th) | Saudi Arabia | Winter 2034 (likely Nov–Dec, TBC) |
History & origin
FIFA was founded in Paris on 21 May 1904 by representatives of seven national associations. After unsuccessful attempts to organise an international football tournament in the 1900s and 1910s, FIFA president Jules Rimet drove the creation of a standalone world championship in the 1920s.
The inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay — chosen to mark the centenary of Uruguayan independence — featured 13 invited teams playing across three stadiums in Montevideo. Uruguay defeated Argentina 4–2 in the final on 30 July 1930.
The tournament has been held every four years since, with two interruptions for World War II (1942 and 1946 cancelled). It has grown from 13 teams in 1930 to 16 (1934–1978), 24 (1982–1994), 32 (1998–2022), and 48 from 2026.
2026 Format and host cities
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups of 4. Top two from each group plus 8 best third-placed teams advance.
- 104 matches across 39 days — the longest World Cup ever.
- 16 host cities:
- USA (11): Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles (Inglewood), Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara), Seattle.
- Canada (2): Toronto (BMO Field), Vancouver (BC Place).
- Mexico (3): Mexico City (Estadio Azteca), Guadalajara, Monterrey.
- Match split: USA hosts 78 matches including all knockouts from the quarter-finals onwards; Canada and Mexico host 13 each, all in the group stage and Round of 32.
Past champions
| Country | Titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 |
| Germany / West Germany | 4 | 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 |
| Italy | 4 | 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1978, 1986, 2022 |
| France | 2 | 1998, 2018 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 1930, 1950 |
| England | 1 | 1966 |
| Spain | 1 | 2010 |
Sources & references
- FIFA — World Cup 2026 official site — match schedule, host cities, ticketing.
- FIFA — Fédération Internationale de Football Association — governing body, official records.
- FIFA Men’s World Cup archive — all editions and statistics since 1930.
FAQs
The 2026 tournament is the first to feature 48 teams (up from 32) and 104 matches over 39 days — far more than any single country had infrastructure for. The joint bid “United 2026” from the USA, Canada and Mexico beat Morocco’s solo bid in FIFA’s June 2018 vote. The USA will host 78 matches (including the final), Mexico 13, and Canada 13.
The tournament runs from Thursday, 11 June 2026 to Sunday, 19 July 2026. The opening match is in Mexico City at the historic Estadio Azteca (Mexico vs. the winner of an inter-confederation playoff); the final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July 2026.
The 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of 4. The top two from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams (8 teams) advance to a new Round of 32. From there it’s knockout: Round of 32 → Round of 16 → quarter-finals → semi-finals → final. Each finalist will play up to 8 matches, vs. 7 in the old 32-team format.
Brazil leads with 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002); Germany 4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014); Italy 4 (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006); Argentina 3 (1978, 1986, 2022); Uruguay 2 (1930, 1950); France 2 (1998, 2018); England 1 (1966); Spain 1 (2010). Only eight nations have ever won the men’s World Cup.
2030 will be a six-country centenary tournament: Spain, Portugal, and Morocco host the bulk of matches, with one match each in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to mark the centenary of the 1930 Uruguay tournament. 2034 will be hosted by Saudi Arabia — the second World Cup in the Middle East after Qatar 2022.
Yes. The 2026 World Cup will be the first hosted by three nations (previously the joint Japan/South Korea 2002 was the only multi-host tournament), the first with 48 teams (up from 32), and the first with 16 host cities. The previous record was 12 host cities (Russia 2018). The 2030 centenary tournament will surpass it again with six host nations.