When is the next World Cup? Host countries, dates, format, teams

The next FIFA World Cup kicks off on 11 June 2026, which is less than two months away. A total of 48 teams will square it out on the world's biggest football stage. This is a huge leap away from the previous tournament, which had 32 teams.

For those looking to visit any of the 2026 World Cup host cities, our World Cup ticket guide should help you get started.

Meanwhile, keep reading to discover more about the host countries of the next tournament, teams, key dates and more.

When is the next World Cup? Dates, hosts, format, teams

The 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, barely a month after European club football takes a summer hiatus.

Unlike the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which took place during winter, the 2026 edition will be a summer tournament. Co-hosts Mexico will kick off the tournament with a match against South Africa. The second day will see co-hosts Canada and the U.S.A. take on Bosnia & Herzegovina and Paraguay, respectively.

The final game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled for July 19.

World Cup 2026 hosts

The 2026 World Cup is the first FIFA World Cup in history to have three separate hosts, with Mexico, the USA, and Canada all set to host. The only other World Cup to have multiple hosts was the 2002 tournament, which was split between Japan and South Korea, marking the first World Cup to be held in Asia.

Both of these tournaments will be overshadowed by the 2030 World Cup, which will see games played in six countries across three continents to mark the 100th anniversary of the tournament.

The USA are set to take the bulk of the matches, while just five cities and stadiums have been selected across Mexico and Canada. The full list is as follows:

Mexico

• Guadalajara – Estadio Akron
• Mexico City – Estadio Azteca
• Monterrey – Estadio BBVA

Canada

• Toronto – BMO Field
• Vancouver – BC Place Vancouver

USA

• Atlanta – Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Boston – Gillette Stadium
• Dallas – AT&T Stadium
• Houston – NRG Stadium
• Kansas City – Arrowhead Stadium
• Los Angeles – SoFi Stadium
• Miami – Hard Rock Stadium
• New York – MetLife Stadium
• Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field
• San Francisco – Levi's Stadium
• Seattle – Lumen Field

World Cup 2026 format

The format of the 2026 World Cup will be completely different from that of all previous World Cups. The tournament will feature 48 teams, culminating in 104 games played across the host cities.

The 48 nations will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two in each group qualifying for the first knockout round as usual. The eight best third-placed teams will also qualify for the first knockout round, which will be a round of 32 rather than a round of 16.

The addition of the round of 32 means teams will have to win five knockout round matches to reach the final. It also means the champion will have to play eight matches across the group stages and knockout rounds.

With that, the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup will be the longest and most difficult to win

The greatest show in the world is ready. Are you? 🏆#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ISxLhuLUkm

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) April 1, 2026

World Cup 2026 groups

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage fixture draw is out. Below are the details.

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia

Group B: Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye

Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama