The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, and ahead of the tournament’s kickoff, here’s everything you need to know—from the host cities and competition format to the groups and key dates.
The tournament begins on Thursday night as co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa, recreating the opening fixture from the 2010 World Cup. This year’s edition will feature a record-breaking 104 matches following the expansion from 32 to 48 teams.
Where Is The 2026 World Cup Being Held?
The tournament is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Matches will take place across 16 host cities, with 11 located in the United States, two in Canada, and three in Mexico. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will all be staged in the United States.
The host cities are:
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Dallas
- Guadalajara
- Houston
- Kansas City
- Los Angeles
- Mexico City
- Miami
- Monterrey
- New York/New Jersey
- Philadelphia
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Seattle
- Toronto
- Vancouver
The opening match will be played at the redeveloped Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
When Does The World Cup Take Place?
The tournament runs from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, July 19, making it the longest World Cup in history.
What Is The Tournament Format?
With 48 nations competing, FIFA has introduced a new format.
The teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group automatically qualify for the Round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams.
Third-placed teams will be ranked using:
- Points earned
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
From the Round of 32 onward, the competition follows a traditional knockout format.
2026 World Cup Groups
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Czechia, South Korea
Group B: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland
Group D: Australia, Paraguay, Turkey, USA
Group E: Curacao, Ecuador, Germany, Ivory Coast
Group F: Japan, Netherlands, 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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Which nations are making their World Cup debut?
Four countries will appear at a World Cup for the first time:
- Cape Verde
- Curacao
- Jordan
- Uzbekistan
Cape Verde’s qualification is particularly historic, as the nation of roughly 500,000 people becomes the smallest African country ever to compete at a FIFA World Cup.
Key Group Stage Fixtures
Thursday, June 11
- Mexico vs South Africa
Monday, June 15
- Ecuador vs Ivory Coast
- Spain vs Cape Verde
- Belgium vs Egypt
Tuesday, June 16
- France vs Senegal
Wednesday, June 17
- Portugal vs DR Congo
- England vs Croatia
Thursday, June 18
- Argentina vs Algeria
Sunday, June 21
- Ecuador vs Curacao
- Spain vs Saudi Arabia
- Belgium vs Iran
Monday, June 22
- Argentina vs Austria
- France vs Iraq
Tuesday, June 23
- Senegal vs Norway
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan
- England vs Ghana
Thursday, June 25
- Ecuador vs Germany
Friday, June 26
- Norway vs France
- Senegal vs Iraq
Saturday, June 27
- Uruguay vs Spain
- Belgium vs New Zealand
- England vs Panama
Sunday, June 28
- Colombia vs Portugal
Monday, June 29
- Argentina vs Jordan
How can fans watch the World Cup?
In the United Kingdom, every match will be broadcast live on either BBC or ITV, giving fans full access to all 104 matches throughout the tournament.
Across Africa, including Nigeria, fans can also follow the action live on DStv SuperSport, which will provide comprehensive coverage of the tournament from the opening match through to the final.
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