The world’s biggest football tournament, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, kicks off today and will run until July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is the largest tournament in World Cup history, featuring 48 teams, whereas previous tournaments involved 32 teams. The three host nations qualified automatically, while the remaining 45 teams secured their spots through a two-year qualifying campaign.
This tournament will feature 12 groups, each consisting of four teams. The two best teams in every group automatically qualify for the knockout stage. The eight best third-placed teams across all groups will also qualify for the 32-team knockout stage. A total of 104 matches will be played, comprising 72 group-stage matches and 32 knockout-round matches. The final match will take place on July 19.
