World Cup 2026 Expands to 48 Teams, Opens in Mexico City, Ends in New Jersey

TL;DR The 2026 FIFA World Cup will expand to 48 teams, run 39 days, kick off in Mexico City on June 11 and finish with the final at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19.

Context FIFA is increasing the field from 32 to 48 nations for the first time, and the tournament will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico. This marks the first World Cup with three host countries and the longest edition in days.

Key Facts The opening match is set for June 11 at 3 pm local time (21:00 GMT) at Mexico City’s stadium. The final will take place on July 19 at 3 pm (20:00 GMT) at MetLife Stadium, which will be branded as New York New Jersey Stadium for the event. The competition will span 39 days and include 104 matches across 16 venues.

What It Means More teams mean more matches, which expands broadcast inventory and ticket revenue. The longer schedule also spreads fan travel across three nations, potentially easing congestion in any single city. The format adds a round of 32 knockout stage before the traditional round of 16, increasing the number of elimination games.

What to watch next The official group draw, scheduled for early 2026, will determine which nations face each other in the opening round and set the stage for the tournament’s narrative.