The FIFA World Cup 2026 format is finally here, giving fans exactly what they have been waiting for. FIFA hosts some of the biggest tournaments of the entire year and has people on the edge of their seats, watching 48 teams from six federations compete in intense, nail-biting matches that see our favorite club players face off against one another.
Changes to Previous Years
Compared to previous World Cups, FIFA is already changing its format to keep the fans guessing. They have expanded the FIFA World Cup 2026 to 48 teams, increasing by a whopping 16 teams from the previous seven years. The Teams are split into four groups of 12 teams, with the top two in each group progressing to the new round. In addition, the third-best in select groups will progress to the round of 32 teams.
Instead of playing 64 games throughout the competition, teams will play 104 games, with the number of games played each time to reach the final four increasing to eight throughout the FIFA World Cup. Each team has to face off against rivals in three group matches to progress to the next round.
Hosting FIFA World Cup 2026
The voting for the location of the FIFA World Cup in 2026 came down to ballots held in June of 2018, with the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow. The United States, Mexico, and Canada earned 134 voters in round 1, followed by Morocco with 65 votes. Therefore, North America and Canada will host the World Cup.
The main venues of the FIFA World Cup 2026 include regions on the West Coast, like Los Angeles and Seattle, venues in Central America, like Dallas, Houston, and Mexico City, and cities on the East Coast, like New York and Philadelphia. The latest soccer-dedicated stadium is in Nashville, featuring 30,000 seats, with other huge fields, like the BMO Field in Toronto and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta being altered to accommodate a soccer field instead of another sports field.
FIFA World Cup Group Stage
For the FIFA World Cup 2026, Stadiums are assigned to each group, with certain teams being divided into various groups to progress out of the initial stages. For example, Mexico is in Group A, whereas Canada is in Group B, and the United States is in Group D. The host country will play in their respective group on their home field. So, the United States in Group D will play in Vancouver, Santa Clara, Seattle, and Inglewood.
The initial group stage matches begin on June 12th, 2026 and last until June 25, 2026. Once the group stages are over, the top two teams from each group progress to the knockout stage, with the third possible team progressing based on eh ranking. The knockout stage, known as the round of 32, will take place in various stadiums across the country.
The round of 16 is held between July 4th and July 6th, whereas the quarter-finals are held just a few days later on July 9th and 10th. The semi-finals are on July 14th in Arlington and July 15th in Atlanta, followed by the final game on July 19th in East Rutherford.
Tune in to the live broadcasting to check out FIFA World Cup 2026 games – or try and score tickets to one of your local stadiums in the U.S. or Mexico!
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
