FIFA World Cup 2026
Completed · First 48-team edition · 16 host cities · 104 matches · 11 June – 19 July 2026.
News & updates
UEFA stands by WC boycott plan despite apology
UEFA has said its participating members could still boycott FIFA competitions, including the World Cup, despite Gianni Infantino's apology statement.
Hayes: Prioritize U20 WWC to boost youth pipeline
Emma Hayes urged US Soccer to prioritize the U.S. Under-20 Women's national team at this year's World Cup to help American youth players match the development of top European teams.
Spain 'deserve' WC final, not Morocco - minister
Spain "deserves" to host the 2030 World Cup final, according to the country's sports minister Milagros Tolón.
Uefa says boycott may still go ahead as FA withdraws Infantino support
Fifa's backing of president Gianni Infantino at a meeting on Wednesday "changes nothing", says European governing body Uefa.
Why Real Madrid signed Yan Diomande, and how he'll fit into star-studded attack
Why did Real Madrid spent big to add the World Cup star to an attack that already features Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior?
Men's transfer grades: Real Madrid get a B for Diomande
The 2026 summer transfer window is open. Here is how we rated the biggest deals.
All done deals in August 2026
Check out the significant signings and departures in the Premier League, Scottish Premiership, EFL and Women's Super League.
Argentina mark World Cup win over England with 'National Football Teams Day'
The Argentine Football Association announces 15 July as National Football Teams Day to mark Argentina's 2026 World Cup semi-final victory over England.
New contract in hand, Pochettino will now face a different pressure as USMNT boss
Now that he has four years to plan for another World Cup, the demands on Mauricio Pochettino will be entirely different than what he has encountered so far.
USMNT transfer grades: Arfsten gets a B+ for Boro move
The 2026 summer transfer window is well underway, with several U.S. players finding new homes. ESPN sets out to grade the biggest deals.
Enjoyed the World Cup? Here's your 101 guide to the club game
So, you're keen to extend your soccer love after a wonderful summer? Well, let Bill Connelly count 10 things you need to know before the new European seasons kick off in mid-August.
Who could challenge Gianni Infantino for FIFA presidency?
Rivals are reportedly circling in a bid to unseat Gianni Infantino as FIFA president following his disastrous plan to bring private equity into the World Cup. Who are they and what makes them viable candidates to run against him?
About the FIFA World Cup 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of football's flagship national-team tournament. It is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and the first co-hosted by three nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico — with matches played across 16 host cities. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 and features 104 matches in total, making it the largest World Cup ever staged.
Competition format
The 48 qualified teams are split into 12 groups of four. Each team plays the other three group members once. The top two from every group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to a 32-team knockout round, followed by a Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and the Final.
Qualification
Slots are distributed across confederations: AFC (8), CAF (9), CONCACAF (6 plus 3 host spots), CONMEBOL (6), OFC (1) and UEFA (16). Two additional places are decided through an intercontinental play-off tournament.
World Cup history & context
The FIFA World Cup has been held every four years since 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946. Brazil are the most successful nation with five titles, followed by Germany and Italy on four. Argentina are the defending champions after beating France on penalties in the Qatar 2022 Final. The 2026 edition is the first time the United States has hosted since 1994, Mexico's third time as host, and Canada's first.