FIFA World Cup 2026 Kicks Off June 11 with 48 Teams for the First Time in History

Football's greatest tournament enters a new era. The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11 with 48 competing nations for the very first time — an expansion that adds 16 teams to the traditional 32-team format and dramatically reshapes the landscape of the tournament.

The co-hosting duties are shared among three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The final is scheduled for July 19 at the New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, with matches taking place across 16 cities in all three countries. The sheer scale of the operation — both logistically and in terms of fan travel — makes this the most ambitious World Cup in history.

Pre-tournament friendly matches have already thrown up surprises. Iraq earned a draw against Spain thanks to a stunning goal from Merchas Doski, while Côte d'Ivoire delivered a shock 2–1 win over France. The USMNT are due to face Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, building toward their Group phase campaign. Germany begin their tournament schedule on June 14 in Houston against Curaçao.

New rules introduced by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will come into effect with this tournament, designed to improve match pace and enhance the experience for players and fans. Among the changes are updated protocols around time-wasting and injury stoppages.

Bosnia-Herzegovina, who stunned Italy in the play-offs, will face Qatar on June 24. Their return to the World Cup stage after 12 years has captivated the country, with over 150,000 fans celebrating in the streets of Sarajevo when qualification was confirmed.

Meanwhile, FIFA confirmed that approximately 60 fans who purchased tickets for the tournament received their tickets for free due to a system error — a story that caused considerable amusement online, though FIFA said it was investigating the issue.