The 2026 FIFA World Cup is unlike anything football has seen before. This is the first edition with 48 participating nations, meaning 104 matches played across six weeks — nearly double the match count of previous tournaments. Three countries share hosting duties for the first time: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament opens on June 11 and closes with the final on July 19, 2026 — 39 days of football played across 16 venues in cities from Vancouver to Miami. Four nations debut at the World Cup stage: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Seven former champions are





