The biggest World Cup in history kicks off Thursday, as soccer's premier tournament opens for the first time across three host nations and with an expanded field of 48 teams.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. Matches will be played in 16 cities — 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico and two in Canada. It is the largest edition since the tournament began in 1930, growing from 32 teams to 48 and expanding to 104 matches over 37 days.
Mexico opens the tournament Thursday against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a rematch of the two sides' 1-1 draw to start the 2010 World Cup. The host nations begin play first: Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on Friday, while the United States opens the same day against Paraguay in the Los Angeles area, in a group that also includes Australia and Türkiye.
The new format features 12 groups of four teams. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-place finishers, advance to a 32-team knockout round. The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Among the storylines, England returns to the field on June 17 against Croatia, a rematch of their 2018 semifinal, while Scotland is appearing at a World Cup for the first time since 1998. In the U.S., the tournament will be broadcast in English on Fox and its networks, and in Spanish on Telemundo and Universo, with all 104 matches available to stream on Peacock.
The buildup has not been without friction. Questions have been raised about whether U.S. homeland security and travel measures could complicate entry for some international fans, and Iran's participation has become a point of contention in the host country. Iran, which qualified for the tournament, is drawn into a group stage that includes Belgium.
For now, the focus turns to the field, where 48 nations will begin their campaigns over the coming weeks in pursuit of the sport's biggest prize.
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