Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Posted on December 02, 2025

A globe showing Earth with a soccer ball inside, on a grass field with the year 2026 written in white on the grass.

Fan of ball games? If you've always been fascinated with sports, there's a high chance that you are a World Cup fanatic. And even if you're just a casual fan, it's impossible to miss the FIFA World Cup. Just like Super Bowl LX, the FIFA World Cup is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. So expect only the grandest of activities and celebrity sightings on game days.

The final draw to determine the groupings and matchups took place on December 5. Whether you are a diehard fan or a first-time spectator, we would love to share the thrills of the game with you. Continue reading to know more about the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

A soccer player wearing blue socks and black shoes balances a soccer ball on the grass field.

The FIFA World Cup is an international soccer tournament organized by FIFA, held every four years. It crowns the men's world champion and is one of the most popular sports events worldwide. The tournament features a final competition for national teams that qualify through regional qualifiers.

In 2026, the 23rd FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will bring the biggest names in football, so it is going to be HUGE.

When is the FIFA World Cup happening in 2026?

It's going to be a long event! The 2026 FIFA World Cup games will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place?

Like we mentioned above, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three countries. This also means that matches will be done in multiple stadiums across Canada, Mexico, and the US. Here's a list of stadiums that will host the FIFA World Cup games.

Canada

  • Toronto Stadium
  • BC Place Vancouver

Mexico

  • Mexico City Stadium
  • Estadio Guadalajara
  • Estadio Monterrey

United States

  • Atlanta Stadium
  • Boston Stadium
  • Dallas Stadium
  • Houston Stadium
  • Kansas City Stadium
  • Los Angeles Stadium
  • Miami Stadium
  • New York/New Jersey Stadium
  • Philadelphia Stadium
  • San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
  • Seattle Stadium

How does the final draw work?

42 out of 48 World Cup teams will be placed in groups during the final draw, with 6 remaining spots to be filled in March 2026. The draw will set matchups and schedules for 16 North American host cities, running from June to July 2026. Mexico is Group A1, Canada is B1, and the U.S. is D1. Groups will be confirmed on draw day.

48 teams in 12 groups (A-L) will compete. The top two from each group and eight third-best teams advance to the round of 32. Five knockout stages follow, with teams playing eight matches and three days rest if they continue. 104 matches total for the tournament.

When is the final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place?

The FIFA World Cup 26™ Final Draw will be held on December 5, 2025 at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, where the group-stage matches will be revealed.

Can fans watch the final draw?

Three friends in orange soccer jerseys are excited and pointing at something while one holds a soccer ball, all smiling and enjoying a fun moment.

Of course! Fox Sports will broadcast the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the first time this event is shown on American TV. Live coverage starts at 11:30 a.m. ET, with the draw taking place between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. ET and lasting around 45 minutes.

What are the FIFA 2026 qualified teams?

According to FIFA, the nations represented in the final draw are as follows:

  • Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA
  • AFC: Australia, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
  • CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
  • Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
  • CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
  • OFC: New Zealand
  • UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland.

Important info about the 2026 FIFA World Cup tickets.

FIFA World Cup ticketing requires more effort compared to other sporting events with set ticket purchase times. As the event is so big, its ticketing may go through different phases.

  • 1. Tickets through FIFA's official website.

Tickets were officially sold on FIFA's official site. The last Early Ticket Draw was open until October 31 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Fans await confirmation of their purchase slots. More than a million tickets were sold in the Visa Presale and another million in the Early Ticket Draw. Fans had to log in to FIFA's site to participate, regardless of presale entry.

  • 2. Host Country Exclusivity (November 12–15, 2025)

Fans in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. have 72-hour early access to buy tickets for their games. During this period, 75% of tickets are reserved for local fans, giving them a better chance of securing seats before international sales begin.

  • 3. Global Lottery (Opens November 17, 2025)

The next chance is global. Fans in the Early Ticket Draw will be randomly chosen for time slots to purchase. A slot doesn't ensure a ticket—popular matches may sell out quickly.

  • 4. After the Final Draw (December 2025)

Following the Final Draw on December 5, 2025, the matchups and locations will be finalized. FIFA will hold a Random Selection Draw for games, allowing fans to apply for tickets once the teams and venues are announced.

  • 5. Last Minute Tickets (Spring 2026)

If you miss the lotteries, your last chance is during FIFA's "last-minute sales" in spring 2026. Tickets will be available on FIFA's website on a first-come, first-served basis without a lottery. Use your FIFA ID to buy tickets.

FIFA hasn't disclosed how many tickets will be released or for which games, so anticipate limited availability and fast sell-outs.

While waiting for your tickets (or a chance to get one), you can also watch other sporting events near you.

More interesting bits about the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The event will have three official mascots.

The official mascots, unveiled in September 2025, represent the host nations: Maple™ the Moose (Canada), Zayu™ the Jaguar (Mexico), and Clutch™ the Bald Eagle (USA). They embody each country's culture and spirit, symbolizing unity and a passion for soccer. Well, isn't this adorable?

All eyes on Argentina.

After the exciting happenings of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the team is now aiming to be only the third champion ever to keep hold of the trophy. Will they be able to bring the glory home for the second time?

Halftime show buzz

No names have been revealed yet for the official halftime show performance. But to stir some hype, CBS Sports listed possible options for the 2026 FIFA World Cup halftime show. Check out whether your favorite artists are mentioned.

  • Pitbull
  • Shakira
  • Kendrick Lamar
  • Coldplay
  • Oasis
  • Harry Styles
  • Jay-Z
  • Bad Bunny
  • Bruce Springsteen
  • Taylor Swift

Again, these names and guesses are just for fun, and no official announcement has been dropped yet. We will update you with more info about the 2026 FIFA World Cup for sure. But for now, here's everything we know (that you might also want to know) about this incredible sporting event. The excitement is already brewing; we can feel it.

Feeling sporty? Get into some athletic action before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Crowd cheering and raising hands in a stadium during a sporting event

With both Super Bowl LX and the 2026 FIFA World Cup happening soon, we know that you want to take the sporty spirit everywhere. Feel the thrill and action at the best sporting events in town. They are loud, exciting, and popular, so their tickets might sell out fast! Make sure to get your passes to some of the biggest ball games in the US.

Follow our blog and get sporty with us. See you at the games, FunExplorers!