The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 11 June, in Mexico City, with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. This year's tournament is jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, spanning 16 cities from Vancouver to Guadalajara. The competition features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, with each team playing the others once. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout stages, where matches are single-elimination and drawn games go to extra time and penalties.
The final will be held on 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, referred to by Fifa as New York/New Jersey. A total of 104 matches will be played across the three host nations. This expanded format, up from 32 teams in previous tournaments, has been criticised as a revenue-generating move by Fifa, which earned around $7.5bn from the 2022 World Cup. However, Fifa argues that the income supports grassroots development and gives underdog teams like Jordan, Curaçao, and England a chance to compete.
Controversy surrounds this year's event, with Fifa facing backlash over high ticket prices—the cheapest final tickets are nearly ten times more expensive than in 2022—and a 30% fee on resale sales. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has also drawn criticism for awarding a peace prize to Donald Trump, who is involved in conflicts with Iran and has threatened to annex Canada.
Among the favourites are Spain, European champions in 2024 and winners in 2010, boasting a mix of young talent and experienced players. France, finalists in 2022, are also strong contenders. Reigning champions Argentina are weaker than four years ago, while England are among the betting favourites, partly due to optimistic fans. Brazil and Germany, with nine titles between them, cannot be counted out despite not being at their peak.
Dark horses include Morocco, who reached the semi-finals in 2022 and could become the first African champions. Norway, with star striker Erling Haaland, are also tipped. Mexico, Canada, and the US are expected to reach the knockout stages but likely no further than the quarter-finals. Key players to watch include Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, though both are past their prime; Ousmane Dembélé is considered the world's best, while 18-year-old Lamine Yamal is the most exciting prospect. Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Haaland are prolific scorers.
