The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition of the tournament to be co‑hosted by three nations, marking a historic collaboration between the United States, Canada and Mexico.
With 48 teams now competing, the competition expands from the traditional 32‑team format, introducing 12 groups of four nations each.
The group stage is slated to begin in early June, with matches unfolding across a dozen host cities that stretch from the West Coast of the United States to the heart of Mexico.
Pathways to the semifinals
FIFA has introduced two distinct pathways to the semifinals, designed to keep the tournament balanced and to prevent the highest‑ranked teams from meeting before the latter stages.
Among the contenders, Spain enters as the top‑seeded side, followed closely by Argentina, while traditional powers such as Brazil, the United States, Canada and Mexico are also expected to make deep runs.
Fans can look forward to a vibrant festival of football, with broadcast windows tailored for global audiences and a series of cultural events planned in each host city.
Beyond the sport, the tournament is projected to generate significant economic activity, tourism influx and infrastructure upgrades in the participating regions.