The next men’s World Cup is going to look awfully different than its predecessor.
For starters, it’s going to take place across three North American countries, not one area with a smaller square mileage than Connecticut. It’ll have 48 teams, not 32. Infrastructure-wise, the stadiums are built with years to spare. A number of longtime stalwarts of the club and international game will likely be phased out by the time first kick takes place at city (or cities) TBD. You can expect that beer will be readily available.
In so many ways, the tournament that will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada in fewer than four years will look nothing like what just transpired in Qatar. But what, really, might the 2026 World Cup look like? With a significant runway, here’s what we know, what we think we know and what’s still left to be determined in due time before the competition returns to North American soil:
