For the first time in history, the men’s football World Cup will be played in three countries: Mexico, Canada and the United States. The 23rd edition of the competition, which takes place from June 11th to July 19th, will be the first with 48 teams, a considerable increase compared to the model adopted from 1998 to 2022, with 32 hopefuls for the trophy.
The change in format will allow the presence of nations with little football tradition, with four newcomers: Jordan, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Curaçao. The number of participants also brings other news, such as an increase in knockout matches and a record duration, totaling 39 days, and matches, with 104 games.
Check out the answers to some of the main questions about the tournament below.
Where will the World Cup be held?
The 2026 World Cup will be played in three countries: Mexico, Canada and the United States. It will be the first time that an edition of the event will take place in more than one country at the same time.
Why will the 2026 World Cup be held in three countries?
The main reason that led to the creation of the United 2026 coalition, formed by Canada, the United States and Mexico, was the increase in the number of countries participating in the 2026 World Cup, going from 32 to 48 teams.
With the change, thinking about infrastructure and logistics, more host cities became necessary to accommodate the delegations. Thus, the three countries announced a joint candidacy, a model approved by the FIFA Council in October 2016, taking advantage of the vast existing infrastructure, a legacy from previous editions, such as Mexico (1970 and 1986) and the USA (1994).
Which countries are going to the 2026 World Cup?
Canada, United States, Mexico, South Africa, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Qatar, Colombia, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Curaçao, Egypt, Ecuador, Scotland, Spain, France, Ghana, Haiti, Netherlands, England, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Norway, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Korea, Iran, Senegal, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.
What are the days and times of Brazil’s first games?
The Brazilian team will debut in the World Cup against Morocco on Saturday, June 13th, at 7pm (Brasília time), at MetLife Stadium. Afterwards, Carlo Ancelotti’s team will face Haiti, on June 19th, a Friday, at 9:30 pm, at Lincoln Financial Field.
The third game in Group C will be against Scotland, on June 24, at 7 pm, at the Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami. If the Brazilian team advances, the matches in the next phase will take place from June 29th.
How long will the 2026 World Cup last?
The 2026 World Cup will be the longest in the history of the men’s football competition. In total, there will be 39 days of competition, totaling 104 games in total.
When is the last World Cup game?
The final takes place on July 19th, a Sunday, at 4pm (Brasília time), at MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, near New Jersey and New York.
How does the World Cup work?
The 48 teams are divided into groups of four. The teams face each other once within the group, and the two highest ranked teams move on to the next phase. The eight best third-placed teams also remain in contention. Thus, 32 teams will qualify for the knockout stage, which starts in the round of 16. From then on, it’s a knockout game in a single game. If there is a draw, it goes to extra time and penalties.
Which countries have Brazil never beaten?
The Brazilian team has never beaten three countries in World Cup games: Portugal, Norway and Hungary. The latter, however, will not compete in the tournament this year. Until the World Cup in Qatar, the Swiss team was also on the list of tormentors already faced and never defeated by Brazilians. The Brazilian team beat the Swiss 1-0 on November 28, 2022.
Where to watch the 2026 World Cup?
The World Cup will be broadcast on a multiplatform basis. CazéTV, led by Casimiro Miguel, will broadcast all 104 games on YouTube, while Globo is expected to show 52 matches, including exclusive games on open TV and exhibitions in a package that includes the subscription channel SporTV and the online platform GE TV. SBT, in partnership with N Sports, will cover 32 games.
Who won the last World Cup?
Argentina was the champion of the 2022 World Cup after beating France in the final, in a penalty shootout, in Qatar.
See the 2026 World Cup table
Click here and access the table to find out all the days and times of the World Cup matches.
Who are the World Cup champions?
- Brazil – 5 titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002)
- Germany – 4 titles (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014)
- Italy – 4 titles (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006)
- Argentina – 3 titles (1978, 1986 and 2022)
- France – 2 titles (1998 and 2018)
- Uruguay – 2 titles (1930 and 1950)
- Spain – 1 title (2010)
- England – 1 title (1966)
