The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 nations divided into 12 groups for the first time in the tournament's history. Co-hosts Mexico, the USA and Canada are top seeds in Groups A, B and D respectively. Scotland are in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti, while England are in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
The top two sides from each group will qualify for a new round of 32, along with the eight best third-place teams. This expansion means 104 matches will be played, 40 more than at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Just three points could be enough for some teams to reach the knockout stages.
The tournament will open at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, site of Diego Maradona's famous 'Hand of God' goal and his stunning solo effort against England in 1986. The venue also hosted two classic World Cup finals: Brazil's 4-1 win over Italy in 1970 and Argentina's 3-2 victory over West Germany in 1986.
Mexico and Canada will each host 13 matches, while the United States will host 78. From the quarter-finals onwards, all remaining matches will be in the US, culminating in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to play in their final World Cups, while England's new golden generation, defending champions Argentina, France's deep squad and Spain's evolving young side are among the favourites.
