USA, Mexico and Canada set to host the biggest FIFA World Cup ever with 48 nations and 104 matches across North AmericaThe 2026 FIFA World Cup will officially kick off on Thursday, June 11, with Mexico taking on South Africa in the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
For the first time in football history, the tournament will be jointly hosted by three countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada — while also expanding from 32 to 48 teams, making it the biggest FIFA World Cup ever staged.
The competition will run from June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in North America, with the final scheduled to take place in the United States.
Under FIFA’s new format, the 48 participating nations have been divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from every group, alongside the eight best third-placed sides, will advance to the knockout rounds.
Football giants including Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Germany, Spain and Portugal have all secured qualification, while African nations such as Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire are also set to feature prominently.
Emerging football nations including Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde and Curaçao are expected to make headlines during the expanded tournament.
Full 2026 FIFA World Cup Groupings
Group A: Mexico South Africa South Korea Czechia
Group B: Canada Bosnia and Herzegovina Qatar Switzerland
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, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Congo DR
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Key Fixtures to Watch
June 11 — Mexico vs South Africa
June 12 — Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 12 — USA vs Paraguay
June 14 — Netherlands vs Japan
June 17 — England vs Croatia
June 23 — England vs Ghana
June 24 — Brazil vs Scotland
June 26 — Uruguay vs Spain
The tournament is expected to attract millions of fans from across the globe as North America prepares to host a month-long football festival featuring 104 matches and some of the world’s biggest stars.
With expanded participation, new rivalries and historic host venues, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to deliver one of the most memorable editions in football history.
