The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11 and runs through July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament will be staged in three countries. It is also the largest World Cup in history, with 48 national teams competing in 104 matches across 12 groups of four. The expansion from 32 to 48 teams was approved by FIFA’s Council in March 2023, extending the competition beyond the format used in recent editions.
This tournament is the 23rd World Cup since the inaugural event in Uruguay in 1930. Brazil remains the most successful nation in World Cup history with five titles, followed by Germany and Italy with four each. The 2026 edition adds a new knockout stage round, the round of 32, meaning elimination matches now begin earlier than the traditional round of 16 used in previous tournaments.
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FIFA expects more than 7 million tickets to be available for fans, aiming to surpass the all-time World Cup attendance record of 3.5 million tickets sold, set in 1994 when the United States last hosted the tournament. A total of 16 stadiums across the three host nations will stage matches, doubling the number used in Qatar 2022 and exceeding Russia 2018 by four venues.
The officiating team also reflects the scale of the event. Among the 52 selected referees from six confederations and 50 national federations are two women as main referees: American Tori Penso and Mexican Katia García. Their selection is part of a broader international officiating pool assembled for the expanded competition.
Ticket prices have become a major talking point. According to Football Supporters Europe, the lowest listed price for a match is $60, despite FIFA’s original bidding commitment to make tickets available from $21. Many fans have faced costs in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars during the various sales phases. The official resale platform has also drawn attention after a ticket for the July 19 final was listed at $2 million, highlighting extreme demand and speculation around the tournament’s biggest game.
Financially, the 2026 World Cup will also be the most lucrative in the competition’s history. FIFA has set the total prize pool at $871 million, more than twice the amount distributed at Qatar 2022. The eventual champion will receive $50 million. The combination of record ticket sales, expanded participation, more matches, and higher prize money makes the 2026 World Cup a milestone event for global football.
