The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11, and runs until July 19, promising nearly six weeks of non-stop football action. This year's tournament is the first to feature an expanded line-up of 48 teams, with a record-breaking 104 matches scheduled over 39 days, making it the biggest World Cup ever.
Tournament Overview
The tournament begins with Mexico taking on South Africa and concludes on July 19 with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Thanks to Daily Star Sport's World Cup wallchart, you can follow England's journey or that of your chosen nation to the final, along with every full-time result.
How to Use the Wallchart
Daily Star Sport has produced a World Cup wallchart with dates and kick-off times listed for each match, ensuring you won't miss a moment of the action. Download the free wallchart below to stay up-to-date with all the action from the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Group Stage and Knockout Format
The competing nations are divided into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, progress to the newly introduced round of 32. Once the group stage wraps up, all remaining matches are played in a knockout format.
There will be a staggering 40 more matches than the Qatar World Cup in 2022, with games taking place across 16 venues in the three host countries.
Team Preparations
The World Cup groups were confirmed following the final draw in December and the last qualifying matches in March. England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, along with the other 47 countries, have all finalised their ultimate 26-man squads in accordance with the recent June 1 deadline.
