The 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USA throws its shadows ahead. What nations are there? How does the new game mode work with 48 teams for the first time? In which stadiums is played? Sport.de has put together the most important information about the mega event.
Football World Cup 2026: This is the new game mode
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the proven mode with 32 participants was played for the last time, which initially competed against each other in the group phase in eight groups of four.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as the World Cup tournament is officially called, the World Football Association has now considered a new mode with significantly more teams.
After discussed both internally at FIFA and publicly about different variants, finally sat down The following mode through:
- The 48 participants are initially divided into twelve groups of four. All teams in a group each play against each other.
- The group’s first and second in every group qualify for the KO phase. In addition, the eight best group thirds move into the next round.
- After the group phase, a sixteenth finals are now the first ko game. Afterwards, as usual, it continues in the eighth, quarter and semi-finals before the World Cup final is scheduled on July 19, 2026.
Football World Cup 2026: Who is safe?
At the XXL tournament in June and July 2026, the teams of Mexico,, Canada and the USA as an aligning countries as a World Cup participant. So far, they have qualified in a sporting way:
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Iran
- Argentina
The groups are drawn in early December. However, an exact date has not yet been determined. The location of the draw is still unclear.
Washington and Las Vegas are in conversation, where the groupless World Cup was also pulled at the 1994 World Cup.
Football World Cup 2026: Where is it played?
Not only the number of participants, but also the number of venues sets new standards at the 2026 World Cup. A total of 16 different stages is played, it goes from Vancouver in Canada to Mexico-City. All venues of the World Cup are at a glance here:
Canada
- Toronto: BMO field, 45,000 spectators
- Vancouver: BC Place Stadium, 54,000 spectators
USA
- Arlington: AT&T Stadium, 94,000 spectators
- Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 75,000 spectators
- East Rutherford: Melife Stadium, 82,500 spectators
- Foxborough: Gillette Stadium, 65,000 spectators
- Houston: NRG Stadium, 72,000 spectators
- Inglewood: Sofi Stadium, 70,000 spectators
- Kansas City: Arrowhead stage, 73,000 spectators
- Miami Gardens: Hard Rock Stadium, 65,000 spectators
- Philadelphia: Lincon Financial Field, 69,000 spectators
- Santa Clara: Levi’s stadium, 71,000 spectators
- Seattle: Lumen Field, 69,000 spectators
Mexico
- Guadalup: Estadio BBVA, 53,000 spectators
- Mexico-City: Facten stadium, 83,000 spectators
- Zapopan: Estadio Akron, 48,000 spectators
Football World Cup 2026: Numbers and facts
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup is that 23. World Championship In the history of football. After 1994, the United States is for the second time (co-) host country of a World Cup, Mexico even for the third time after 1970 and 1986. In contrast, World Cup games will be held on Canadian soil in 2026.
- The World Cup has been found every four years since 1930 instead of. So far there have been only two exceptions to this rule: Because of the Second World War and its consequences, no World Cup tournaments were held in 1942 and 1946.
- The first world champion was Uruguay in 1930who had also organized the tournament at the same time.
- Reign The defending champion is Argentina.
- Record world champion is Brazil With five titles (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002).
- Germany could have been in his story so far Four times world champion become (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
- Other previous title bearers are: Italy (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), Argentina (1978, 1986, 2022), France (1998, 2018), Uruguay (1930, 1950), England (1966) and Spain (2010)
Football World Cup 2026: The favorites
None of the big football nations has yet qualified for the final round. Nevertheless, the usual suspects are once more traded in the area of the top favorites.
As a reigning world champion, the Argentine national team is of course one of the hot aspirants on the final on July 19. Archrival and record world champion Brazil is also believed to be a strong role from South America.
From Europe, a handful of football nations is preparing to finally win the golden trophy again. In addition to the reigning European champion Spain and the two -time world champion France, especially England is also a fellow favorite with his German coach Thomas Tuchel.
The German selection, the individually very strong Portuguese as well as the Netherlands and Italy is also attributed to a strong role in the 2026 World Cup.
Football World Cup 2026: TV broadcast
Telekom has secured live rights at the 2026 World Cup. All 104 games are thus transferred exclusively from the MagentatV payment offer.
However, Telekom must ensure that not all games of the 2026 World Cup disappear behind a payment barrier. The Broadcasting State Treaty stipulates that all games of the German national team, the opening game as well as the semi -finals and the finals are broadcast on freely receiving television at World Championships.
World Cup 2026: Tickets
The official ticket sale for the 104 World Cup games has not yet started. It is advisable to register on the FIFA homepage in the ticket portal so that you can regularly inform about sales phases and prices. It will also be possible to purchase tickets from travel providers or professional ticket exchanges.
Some tickets have actually already been awarded: there were combination tickets for the club World Cup and the 2026 World Cup-probably also to boost the slow ticket sales for the former.
There is also an offer to be part of the final. The principle at “Follow-Your team”: For a fixed price, you can secure a ticket for the final on July 19 at the Metlife Stadium, provided the favorite team is there. At Germany, the price was $ 999 per card – but according to the FIFA portal, these are already out of print.
There are still available cards for some outsider teams. In the case of Wales, Norway or Jordan, the price is $ 299.
Football World Cup 2026: Entry to the USA, Canada and Mexico
At the last World Cup in Qatar you could enter freely with a valid ticket. German fans also have to apply for a visa in the United States. You can fill out the application online. Information is available on the US message website.
A similar procedure is necessary for entry to Canada. If you want to follow the World Cup in Mexico, a valid passport and a tourist card are enough. This can also be issued itself when entering.
Football World Cup 2026: Travel within the World Cup countries
Due to the large distances between the venues, you can’t avoid the plane. However, there are enough cheap airlines in the United States.
The hotels at the venues will probably be quite expensive. An option must be used by travel providers: these are quite expensive, but you can easily book a whole World Cup tour here.