World Cup 2026, groups and match calendar

The 2026 World Cup will take place for the first time in three countries: Canada, USA and Mexico and will see the number of participants expanded from 32 to 48. It will be divided into a group phase, with twelve groups of four teams each, and a direct elimination phase, with the first and second-placed teams from each group plus the best eight third-placed teams meeting in the round of 32, for a total of 104 matches. The world championship will officially begin on June 11th with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa which will be played at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and will conclude with the final which will be played on July 19th at the MetLife Stadium in New York.