FAQ

The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 cities. This marks the first time in FIFA World Cup history that the tournament will feature so many host nations and venues.

The opening match is scheduled for June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, while the final will take place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will set a record with 48 participating teams, an increase from the previous 32. The number of matches will also rise to 104, compared to 64 in earlier tournaments.

Group Stage
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Each team plays in a round-robin format within its group (three matches per team).

From the group stage, 32 teams will advance to the knockout phase according to the following criteria:

• The first- and second-placed teams from each group (12 × 2 = 24 teams)

• Plus the eight best third-placed teams across all groups (based on points, goal difference, and other tiebreakers)

Knockout Stage

Starting from the Round of 32 — which features 32 teams — the knockout format begins. The tournament then progresses through the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the third-place match, and the final.

• For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, there are 3 countries hosting at the same time.

• Largest scale ever – 48 participating teams and 104 matches.

• New format – 12 groups of 4 teams, 32 teams in the knockout round.

• Huge commercial and media value: Total revenue is expected to exceed $11 billion, the highest in FIFA history. Global viewership could reach 5.5 billion.

Tickets for the 2026 World Cup are divided into four categories, ranging from Category 1 to Category 4. Category 4 offers the most affordable options, corresponding to the seats farthest from the pitch, priced between approximately $60 and $105 for a group stage match. In contrast, Category 1 tickets range from $345 to $620 for the same stage. Ticket prices increase progressively as the tournament advances, with Category 1 tickets for the final match costing up to $6,730.

Tickets for the 2026 World Cup will be sold in three phases.

Phase 1:
Starting from September 10, 2025, for people aged 18 and over who have registered an account on the official FIFA website and own a Visa card. The registration process will last until September 19, 2025.
FIFA will then conduct a random selection process to determine who is eligible to buy tickets and notify these people from September 29, 2025. From October 1, 2025 onwards, those selected can register to buy tickets on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

Phase 2:
Takes place at the end of October. FIFA continues the random selection process, and each selected person will have a ticket purchase slot.

Phase 3:
Starting after 5 December 2025, when the groups stage draw and the matches schedule are finalised, those selected will be able to apply for tickets for specific matches. Unclaimed tickets will be put on sale closer to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For more details, please read here.

The list of TV channels and websites broadcasting the FIFA World Cup 2026 is updated here.