The quadrennial festival of international football is finally back. The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in the opener at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium.
This is the 23rd edition of the World Cup and it will be the largest repeat of the tournament. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a world cup of international football where countries compete in group stages followed by knockouts for the coveted gold trophy.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled between June 11 and June 19, which in IST falls between June 12 and June 20. This year’s tournament returns to the conventional summer schedule, unlike the previous edition, which took place in winter in Qatar.
Full schedule of FIFA World Cup 2026: full list of matches, kick-off times. pdf download
Where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be played?
FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played in the United States of America (US), Mexico and Canada.
Where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be held in the USA?
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Atlanta: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium)
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Boston: Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium)
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Dallas: AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium)
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Houston: NRG Stadium (Houston Stadium)
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Kansas City: Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Stadium)
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Los Angeles: SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium)
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Miami: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium)
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New York/New Jersey: MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium)
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Philadelphia: Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium)
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San Francisco Bay Area: Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)
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Seattle: Lumen Field (Seattle Stadium)
Where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be held in Mexico?
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Guadalajara: Estadio Akron (Guadalajara Stadium)
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Mexico City: Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium)
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Monterrey: Estadio BBVA (Monterrey Stadium)
Where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be held in Canada?
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Toronto: BMO Field (Toronto Stadium)
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Vancouver: BC Place (Vancouver Stadium)
How many teams will play in FIFA World Cup 2026?
A record number of 48 teams will play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That is 16 more than the previous edition. Following are the teams that will play in FIFA World Cup 2026:
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Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czech Republic
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Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
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Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
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Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye
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Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Curaçao
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Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
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Group G: Belgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New Zealand
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Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
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Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
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Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
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Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo
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Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
How many matches will be played in FIFA World Cup 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will see 104 matches played, which is 40 more than Qatar’s 22. The first match will be played between Mexico and South Africa, while the final is scheduled to take place at the MetLife Stadium, known as the New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup.
Which ball will be used at the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA World Cup 2026 will use a ball called ‘TRIONDA’, and is manufactured by Adidas.
The name TRIONDA is Spanish for ‘three waves’. The ball’s design features a red, green and blue color scheme, which pays tribute to the three host countries, the US, Mexico and Canada, while a four-panel construction with flowing geometry mimics the waves referenced in the ball’s name.
Iconography representing each host country adorns the ball – maple leaf for Canada, eagle for Mexico and a star for the United States – and gold embellishments pay tribute to the FIFA World Cup Trophy.
What are the mascot characters for the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature three official mascots: Clutch, a bald eagle representing the United States; Zayu, a jaguar symbolizing Mexico; and Maple, a moose representing Canada.
The trio reflects the culture, history and national identity of the three co-host countries. Maple draws inspiration from the maple leaf, Canada’s most recognizable national symbol and the centerpiece of the flag. Clutch is based on the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, while Zayu, the jaguar, pays tribute to Mexico’s rich indigenous heritage and the animal’s significance in the ancient Mayan civilization.
What time does FIFA World Cup 2026 start?
FIFA World Cup 2026 will have three opening ceremonies, one in each of the host countries. Before the first match of the tournament, the ceremony will take place in Mexico at 3:00 PM ET/12:00 PM PT (10:00 PM IST).
Where can you watch FIFA World Cup 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup can be watched on Unite8 Sports in India, while select matches will also be available on DD. It can also be streamed live on ZEE5.
Published on June 11, 2026
