2026 FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, also called FIFA World Cup 26, will be the 23rd edition. It takes place from June to July 19, 2026, hosted by 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States – the first World Cup with three hosts. Argentina is the current champion. This tournament includes 48 teams, up from 32, and was won by the United States over Morocco. It's the first multi-nation World Cup since 2002. Mexico has hosted twice before, while it's Canada's first time. The event returns to its traditional summer schedule, unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar held in November and December.
| Coupe du Monde de la FIFA - Unis 2026 Copa Mundial de la FIFA Unidos 2026 | |
|---|---|
| File:File:FIFA World Cup wordmark.svg | |
| Tournament details | |
| Host country | {{country data Canada United States Mexico|flag/core|name=Canada United States Mexico|variant= |size=}} |
| Teams | 48 (from 6 confederations) |
← 2022 2030 → | |
Venues
Teams
Qualification
The United Bid expected all three host countries to get automatic World Cup spots. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed this on August 31, 2022, with Canada, Mexico, and the United States securing spots as hosts.[3][4] The FIFA Council officially confirmed this on February 14, 2023. Before the 67th FIFA Congress, the FIFA Council met in Manama, Bahrain, and approved the slot allocation.[5][6] This includes a playoff tournament with six teams to decide the final two World Cup spots.
In the playoffs, there will be one team from each confederation except UEFA, and an extra team from the host countries' confederation, CONCACAF. Two seeded teams (based on World Rankings) will face off against the winners of two knockout games between the unseeded teams. These matches will take place in one or more of the host countries and serve as a test event for the World Cup.[7] This allocation also ensures that the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) gets a guaranteed spot in the tournament for the first time.[8] So, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first where all six confederations have at least one guaranteed spot, and all continents will have teams in the finals for the first time since 2010.[8]
AFC (2)
CONCACAF (3)
Canada (co-host)- File:Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico (co-host)
United States (co-host)
CONMEBOL (1)
OFC (1)
Draw
The group stage draw will take place in December 2025. While no host venue has been confirmed, Las Vegas and other cities have bid to host.[9] The four winners of the UEFA play-offs and the two winners of the inter-confederation play-off tournament will not be known at the time of the draw. This is because these matches are scheduled to occur in March 2026.
For the draw, 48 teams will allocated into four pots, based on the FIFA Men's World Ranking from November/December 2025. Pot 1 will contain co-hosts Mexico, Canada and United States (who were automatically assigned to position A1, B1, and D1, respectively) and the best nine teams. Pot 2 will have the next best twelve teams, with the next best twelve teams into pot 3. Pot 4 will consist of the six lowest-ranked teams, along with the placeholders for the two inter-confederation play-off winners and four UEFA play-off winners.
2026 FIFA World Cup Media
- 2026 world cup bid election.png
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- Soccer game at the Azteca Stadium.JPG
Soccer game at the Azteca Stadium
- Copa America game between Columbia vs Peru at the MetLife Stadium.jpg
Copa America game between Columbia vs Peru at the MetLife Stadium
- Cowboys stadium inside view 4.JPG
Cowboys stadium inside view 4
- 25 July 2010 Kansas City Wizards vs Manchester United friendly.jpg
25 July 2010 Kansas City Wizards vs Manchester United friendly
- 2017 Orlando City at Atlanta United MLS Game.jpg
2017 Orlando City at Atlanta United MLS Game
- SoFiStadiumSoccer.jpg
Interior view of SoFi Stadium during a soccer game.
- 2025 FIFA Club World Cup - Seattle Sounders FC vs. Botafogo - 03.jpg
2025 FIFA Club World Cup - Seattle Sounders FC vs. Botafogo - 03
- Entering Levi's Stadium.JPG
A view of Levi's Stadium on August 2nd, 2014 during its Inaugural Sporting Event. The San Jose Earthquakes played versus the Seattle Sounders and won.
References
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- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 "United 2026 bid book" (PDF). united2026.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ↑ "Los Angeles 2026". Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Presidente de la FIFA confirma cantidad de plazas de Concacaf para el Mundial de 2026". ESPN Deportes (in español). August 31, 2022. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Infantino anuncia cuántos cupos tendrá la Concacaf para el Mundial de 2026". CRHoy.com (in español). August 31, 2022. Archived from the original on August 31, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ↑ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. March 30, 2017. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ↑ "World Cup 2026: Fifa reveals allocation for 48-team tournament". BBC. March 30, 2017. Archived from the original on March 30, 2017.
- ↑ "FIFA Council prepares Congress, takes key decisions for the future of the FIFA World Cup". FIFA. May 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2017.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. March 30, 2017. Archived from the original on June 19, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ↑ Traub, Matt (February 26, 2025). "Las Vegas Among Candidates to Host FIFA 2026 World Cup Draw".