After more than 1,250 days of waiting, football fans are getting ready for five weeks of World Cup action with the 2026 edition set to kick-off in North America on Thursday 11 June (7 pm CET).
Hosted for the first time by three countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico – this summer’s men’s World Cup will be the biggest in history, with a record 48 teams set to play a record 104 matches, culminating in the final in New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford) on Sunday 19 July (8 pm CET).
Argentina come into the tournament as defending champions, after their penalty shoot-out victory over France in the Qatar final in 2022. They are joined in the main draw by four nations making their World Cup debuts: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
In this Euronews guide, here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup…
Key dates for your World Cup diary
- 11-27 June: Group stage
- 28 June-3 July: Round of 32
- 4-7 July: Round of 16
- 9-11 July: Quarter-finals
- 14-15 July: Semi-finals
- 18 July: Third-place match
- 19 July: 2026 World Cup final
Tournament format
This year’s World Cup has been expanded to a 48-team format – up from 32 previously. All nations are guaranteed three matches in the group stage of the tournament. Teams have been assigned to 12 groups of four.
The top two teams from each group are guaranteed to advance, as will the eight best third-place teams. Teams finishing fourth in groups are eliminated.
The 32 teams that qualify from the group stage will then enter the knockout stages – single-match elimination rounds. The round of 32 is followed by the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The two losing teams from the semi-finals will play a third-fourth place match the day before the World Cup final.
What time do games kick-off for European viewers?
For fans in Europe, the expanded format and time difference means that alarm clocks could be a wise investment this summer.
The 2026 World Cup will have 13 different official kick-off times for viewers in Central European Time (CET/CEST). The kick-off slots range from 6 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm, and 9 pm to midnight, 1 am, 2 am, 3 am, 4 am, 5 am and even 6 am.
As well as the alarm clocks, you’d better get some coffee, too, or something stronger…
World Cup 2026 fast facts
- This World Cup is the first to feature 48 nations, who are representing six global confederations.
- It’s also the first to be hosted by three nations. Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the US were drawn into groups A, B and D respectively.
- Mexico City will host the opening match on 11 June, a group A clash between Mexico and South Africa. The legendary Estadio Azteca becomes the first stadium ever to host the opening match of three different men's FIFA World Cups, having previously staged the inaugurations in 1970 and 1986.
- A record 104 fixtures will be played in 16 host cities across the three host nations.
- Potential finalists will now have to play eight games from the group stage through to the final, rather than seven previously.
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will be played on Sunday 19 July in New York/New Jersey.
- Brazil will play in their 23rd men’s World Cup – they are the only nation to appear in every tournament since 1930. After the Seleção Canarinho, the countries with the most appearances at the World Cup finals are Germany (20), Italy (18), Argentina (18) and Mexico (17).
- Argentina are aiming to become just the third defending champion in history to retain the trophy.
- Lionel Messi, who captained Argentina to victory in Qatar, holds the all-time record for playing the most World Cup matches. He has played 26 games across five tournaments: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Which teams have qualified?
- Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, US
- Asian Football Confederation (AFC): Australia, Iraq, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- Confederation of African Football (CAF): Algeria, Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- Oceania Football Confederation (OFC): New Zealand
- Union of European Football Associations (UEFA): Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye
Host countries and cities
- Canada: Toronto, Vancouver
- Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City , Monterrey
- US: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle
Groups: Teams and fixtures (all kick-off times CET)
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia
- Thurs 11 June: Mexico vs South Africa 21:00 CET
- Fri 12 June: Korea Republic vs Czechia 04:00 CET
- Thurs 18 June: Czechia vs South Africa 18:00 CET
- Fri 19 June: Mexico vs Korea Rep 03:00 CET
- Thurs 25 June: South Africa vs Korea Rep 03:00 CET
- Thurs 25 June: Czechia vs Mexico 03:00 CET
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
- Fri 12 June: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 21:00 CET
- Sat 13 Jun: Qatar vs Switzerland 21:00 CET
- Thurs 18 June: Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina 21:00 CET
- Fri 19 June: Canada vs Qatar 00:00 CET
- Wed 24 June: Switzerland vs Canada 21:00 CET
- Wed 24 June: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar 21:00 CET
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- Sun 14 June: Brazil vs Morocco 00:00 CET
- Sun 14 June: Haiti vs Scotland 03:00 CET
- Sat 20 June: Scotland vs Morocco 00:00 CET
- Sat 20 June: Brazil vs Haiti 03:00 CET
- Thurs 25 June: Scotland vs Brazil 00:00 CET
- Thurs 25 June: Morocco vs Haiti 00:00 CET
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
- Sat 13 Jun: USA vs Paraguay 03:00 CET
- Sun 14 June: Australia vs Türkiye 06:00 CET
- Fri 19 June: USA vs Australia 21:00 CET
- Sat 20 June: Türkiye vs Paraguay 06:00 CET
- Fri 26 June: Türkiye vs USA 04:00 CET
- Fri 26 June: Paraguay vs Australia 04:00 CET
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
- Sun 14 June: Germany vs Curaçao 19:00 CET
- Mon 15 Jun: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador 01:00 CET
- Sat 20 Jun: Germany vs Ivory Coast 22:00 CET
- Sun 21 June: Ecuador vs Curaçao 02:00 CET
- Thurs 25 June: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast 21:00 CET
- Thurs 25 June: Ecuador vs Germany 22:00 CET
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
- Sun 14 June: Netherlands vs Japan 22:00 CET
- Mon 15 June: Sweden vs Tunisia 04:00 CET
- Sat 20 June: Netherlands vs Sweden 19:00 CET
- Sun 21 June: Tunisia vs Japan 06:00 CET
- Fri 26 June: Tunisia vs Netherlands 01:00 CET
- Fri 26 June: Japan vs Sweden 01:00 CET
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New Zealand
- Mon 15 June: Belgium vs Egypt 21:00 CET
- Tue 16 June: IR Iran vs New Zealand 03:00 CET
- Sun 21 June: Belgium vs IR Iran 21:00 CET
- Mon 22 June: New Zealand vs Egypt 03:00 CET
- Sat 27 June: New Zealand vs Belgium 05:00 CET
- Sat 27 June: Egypt vs IR Iran 05:00 CET
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
- Mon 15 June: Spain vs Cabo Verde 18:00 CET
- Tue 16 June: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay 00:00 CET
- Sun 21 June: Spain vs Saudi Arabia 18:00 CET
- Mon 22 June: Uruguay vs Cabo Verde 00:00 CET
- Sat 27 June: Saudi Arabia vs Cabo Verde 02:00 CET
- Sat 27 June: Uruguay vs Spain 02:00 CET
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
- Tue 16 June: France vs Senegal 21:00 CET
- Wed 17 June: Iraq vs Norway 00:00 CET
- Mon 22 June: France vs Iraq 23:00 CET
- Tue 23 June: Senegal vs Norway 02:00 CET
- Fri 26 June: Senegal vs Iraq 21:00 CET
- Fri 26 June: Norway vs France 21:00 CET
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
- Wed 17 June: Argentina vs Algeria 03:00 CET
- Wed 17 June: Austria vs Jordan 06:00 CET
- Mon 22 June: Argentina vs Austria 19:00 CET
- Tue 23 June: Algeria vs Jordan 05:00 CET
- Sun 28 June: Algeria vs Austria 04:00 CET
- Sun 28 June: Argentina vs Jordan 04:00 CET
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
- Wed 17 June: Portugal vs Congo DR 19:00 CET
- Thurs 18 June: Uzbekistan vs Colombia 04:00 CET
- Tue 23 June: Portugal vs Uzbekistan 19:00 CET
- Wed 24 June: Congo DR vs Colombia 04:00 CET
- Sun 28 June: Colombia vs Portugal 01:30 CET
- Sun 28 June: Congo vs Uzbekistan 01:30 CET
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
- Wed 17 June: England vs Croatia 22:00 CET
- Thurs 18 June: Ghana vs Panama 01:00 CET
- Tue 23 June: England vs Ghana 22:00 CET
- Wed 24 June: Croatia vs Panama 01:00 CET
- Sat 27 June: England vs Panama 23:00 CET
- Sat 27 June: Croatia vs Ghana 23:00 CET
Are there any rule changes at this World Cup?
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which is responsible for the laws of the game, has approved “a package of measures designed to enhance match tempo and reduce time-wasting across the game”, according to a FIFA report.
The changes, which will be implemented at the World Cup, include speeding up throw-ins or goal kicks, time-limited substitutions, and off-field treatment and assessment, which will see an injured player “required to leave the field of play and remain off for one minute once play (running clock) has restarted”.
The video assistant referee (VAR) system will also see some “adjustments”. According to FIFA, where there is clear evidence, the VAR will now be permitted to check and review:
- red cards arising from a clearly incorrect second yellow card;
- mistaken identity, when the referee penalises the wrong team for an offence resulting in a red or yellow card being shown to the wrong player; and
- competitions may allow VARs to review a clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick, provided that the review can be completed immediately and without delaying the restart
In April, IFAB and FIFA also confirmed red cards will be issued to players “covering their mouths in situations of confrontation with opponents” or to players “leaving the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision”.
All-time World Cup finals and winners
The last six World Cups have seen six different champions – Argentina in 2022, France in 2018, Germany in 2014, Spain in 2010, Italy in 2006 and Brazil in 2002. Such a run had never previously happened in World Cup history.
Argentina are trying to do something that hasn’t been done in generations: win back-to-back World Cups. The only nations to achieve that feat were Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962).
From Uruguay in 1930 to Argentina in 2022, here are all the winners and results of the previous World Cup finals.
- 1930: Uruguay 4 Argentina 2
- 1934: Italy 2 Czechoslovakia 1
- 1938: Italy 4 Hungary 2
- 1950: Uruguay 2 Brazil 1
- 1954: West Germany 3 Hungary 2
- 1958: Brazil 5 Sweden 2
- 1962: Brazil 3 Czechoslovakia 1
- 1966: England 4 West Germany 2 (after extra-time - AET)
- 1970: Brazil 4 Italy 1
- 1974: West Germany 2 Netherlands 1
- 1978: Argentina 3 Netherlands 1
- 1982: Italy 3 West Germany 1
- 1986: Argentina 3 West Germany 2
- 1990: West Germany 1 Argentina 0
- 1994: Brazil 0 Italy 0 (AET, Brazil won 3-2 on penalties)
- 1998: France 3 Brazil 0
- 2002: Brazil 2 Germany 0
- 2006: Italy 1 France 1 (AET, Italy won 5-3 on penalties)
- 2010: Spain 1 Netherlands 0
- 2014: Germany 1 Argentina 0
- 2018: France 4 Croatia 2
- 2022: Argentina 3 France 3 (AET, Argentina won 4-2 in penalties)
