The FIFA World Cup 2026 commences on June 11, 2026, with the opening match at Mexico City Stadium, featuring host nation Mexico against South Africa. The tournament culminates on July 19, 2026, with the final match held at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

This edition marks a significant expansion, with 48 teams competing across 16 host cities in three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This is the first World Cup to be co-hosted by three countries and the first to feature an expanded field of 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32.

The group stage schedule sees matches taking place across the three host countries. For example, on June 11, Mexico faces South Africa in Mexico City, while on June 12, the United States plays Paraguay in Los Angeles.

The tournament's progression through the knockout stages leads to the final on July 19. The expansive schedule includes 104 matches played over 39 days.

The qualification process concluded on March 31, 2026, determining the final 45 teams to join the three automatic qualifiers: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Notably, Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan make their World Cup debuts.

The final draw for the tournament groups occurred on December 5, 2025, with the host nations, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, pre-allocated to Groups A, B, and D, respectively.