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The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ is currently underway, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It marks a historic 23rd edition of the tournament as the first to be co-hosted by three nations—the United States, Mexico, and Canada—and the first to feature an expanded format of 48 teams playing a total of 104 matches.
Key Tournament Structure & Timeline
The expanded layout splits the 48 teams into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, progress to an all-new Round of 32 knockout phase.
- Group Stage: June 11 – June 27
- Round of 32: June 28 – July 3
- Round of 16: July 4 – July 7
- Quarter-finals: July 9 – July 11
- Semi-finals: July 14 – July 15
- Third-Place Playoff: July 18
- World Cup Final: July 19, hosted at MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey)
Official Group Distributions
The groups were drawn following the conclusion of the final qualifying rounds:
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia |
| Group B | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Group C | Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland |
| Group D | United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye |
| Group E | Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador |
| Group F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden |
| Group G | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand |
| Group H | Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay |
| Group I | France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway |
| Group J | Argentina, Austria, Jordan, Algeria |
| Group K | Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia |
| Group L | England, Ghana, Croatia, Panama |
Host Nations and Venue Operations
The logistical footprint of the tournament spans 16 host cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. To minimize travel burdens for teams and fans, FIFA grouped the host venues into three distinct geographical zones: Western, Central, and Eastern. Matchday operations began on June 11 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The tournament will reach its peak on July 19, with the World Cup Final scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Tournament Progression and Knockout Rules
The addition of 16 teams completely altered the classic tournament structure. Teams are split into 12 round-robin groups of four. Rather than only the top two advancing, this format opens up a brand new Round of 32 knockout bracket. The top two nations from every group automatically qualify, alongside the eight highest-performing third-place finishers. From the Round of 32 onward, games follow a traditional single-elimination setup where a draw at full-time triggers 30 minutes of extra time, followed by penalty kicks if necessary.
Standout Historic Moments
Individual and collective milestones are dominating the headlines in this year’s edition. Argentina‘s captain Lionel Messi kicked off his record-breaking sixth World Cup campaign with a stunning hat-trick against Algeria, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose for the most goals in tournament history at 16. On the team milestones front, Germany broke Brazil’s long-standing all-time World Cup scoring record during their 7-1 defeat of Curaçao, pushing their historical goal tally to 239 goals. Additionally, historical parity was tested early on as tournament debutants like Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cabo Verde, and Curaçao made their first-ever appearances on the global stage.