World Cup 2026 Tickets
World Cup 26
The World Cup 26 will turn North America into the largest football festival ever staged. A record 48 national teams will play 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, over a 39-day window. Whether you chase every kick or drop in for a single blockbuster night, the expanded format makes it easy to link dream stadiums with iconic skylines—think a sunrise in Miami, a taco crawl in Mexico City or a sunset over Vancouver’s mountains.
World Cup History
The World Cup began modestly in 1930, when 13 invited teams met in Montevideo, Uruguay. Subsequent decades saw the tournament blossom into football’s global showcase.
North America has shaped that evolution. Mexico’s 1970 and 1986 editions introduced colour TV flair and the “Mexican Wave”, while the United States’ 1994 tournament still holds the attendance record—3.6 million spectators in 52 games. By 1998 the field had grown to 32 teams, unlocking even richer storylines.
In 2018 the “United 26” bid of the USA, Mexico and Canada defeated Morocco to win hosting rights, and in 2023 FIFA confirmed a revolutionary 48-team, 12-group format—the reason 2026 will run longer and feature 104 fixtures instead of 64.
Notable World Cup Players
From Pelé, Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane to Lionel Messi’s 2022 coronation, each era crowns new idols. Among the talents expected to light up 2026 are Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, Christian Pulisic and hometown hero Alphonso Davies, while legends like Messi may yet return for one final encore.
World Cup 2026 Schedule Information
The party kicks off on 11 June 2026 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and concludes on 19 July with the final at New York / New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium During that span, the new format delivers a group-stage round-robin, a fresh Round of 32 and five classic knockout rounds.
Match allocation leans heavily toward the United States (78 games), with Mexico and Canada hosting 13 each. Fixtures will be spread across 11 U.S. cities (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle), three in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey) and two in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver). Summer demand is fierce, so secure intercity flights and accommodation early—especially if you plan to cross borders during the knockout rounds.
