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The schedule for the 2026 Men’s World Cup has been announced as FIFA announces a huge tournament both geographically and in terms of sheer volume of football.
The tournament will be held in Mexico, Canada and the United States in an expanded format featuring 48 teams for the first time. The tournament will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams automatically advancing to the finals, and the top eight teams in the top three will also advance to the round of 32.
The World Cup will begin at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, where Diego Maradona scored his most famous and infamous goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. It was also the venue for two of his classic World Cup finals. In the 1970 Brazil vs. Italy victory, Carlos Alberto’s iconic team won 4-1 with his goal. In 1986, Argentina beat the Netherlands 3-1 in extra time, with Mario Kempes scoring twice.
Mexico and Canada will each host 13 games, and the United States will host 78 games. After the quarterfinals, all remaining matches will be hosted by the United States, with the final being held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
What are the dates for the 2026 World Cup?
The tournament will begin in Mexico on June 11th, with the finals to be held in New Jersey on July 19th.