We’ve been hearing about 2026 FIFA World Cup months, and now it’s upon us.
There are many teams and stadiums that will host this year, and tickets to the World Cup games have been a hot topic since they were released, with many fans being cheap, and transportation to the US and the stadiums themselves became a barrier to attendance for some. That’s why you’ll find me watching every game from my house (or maybe at a local park or pub for a viewing party) when the tournament starts on June 11th.
The same will continue every day until July 19, and this year, you’ll be able to watch them all on Fox and FS1. You can catch every single game in Spanish Peacockagain.
Here’s a guide to everything else you might be wondering about this year’s World Cup, including which teams are playing, where the games will be played and who is leading the first World Cup break.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
This year’s World Cup begins on June 11 with a match between Mexico and South Africa, which will be held in Mexico City.
There will be 48 teams that will play in 104 games in a month. The championship final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium (also known as MetLife Stadium), home of the NFL’s Jets and Giants, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The group stage continues until June 27, after which the knockout stage begins. The Round of 32 will run from June 28-July 3, the Round of 16 is July 4-7, the semifinals are July 9-11 and the semifinals are July 14 and 15.
Which teams are in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
This year’s World Cup is the biggest in terms of the number of clubs that will participate in this tournament. In the first FIFA, 48 teams qualified, and, for the first time, there are three participating countries: Mexico, the US and Canada. Argentina return to the field as recent World Cup champions, having defeated France in 2022.
- Canada (host country)
- Mexico (host country)
- USA (host country)
- Algeria
- In Argentina
- Australia
- In Austria
- In Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Cabo Verde
- in Colombia
- Congo DR
- in Côte d’Ivoire
- Croatia
- Curacao
- Czechia
- In Ecuador
- Egypt
- In England
- France
- In Germany
- Ghana
- Haiti
- Iran
- Iraq
- Japan
- Jordan
- Morocco
- In the Netherlands
- New Zealand
- in Norway
- in Panama
- Paraguay
- In Portugal
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- In Scotland
- in Senegal
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- in Sweden
- in Switzerland
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
Many fans will be tuning in to see Cristiano Ronaldo in his sixth World Cup, but he is not the only player who is considered a favorite this year.
Players to watch at the 2026 World Cup
The top ranked teams going to the 2026 World Cup (in order) are France, Spain, Argentina and England, so it’s only natural that some of the top players to watch will be playing in those countries.
At 18, Spain’s Lamine Yamal is one of the youngest players in this year’s series (he’ll actually celebrate his birthday midway through the tournament). At the age of 17, Yamal was runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, which recognizes the best soccer player of the year, losing to France’s Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé is on his way to his third World Cup and has just won the UEFA Champions League with his club, Paris Saint-Germain.
Lionel Messi, one of the most famous footballers in the world, returns this year as the captain of the Argentine team (also known as La Albiceleste), in what may be his last World Cup. Messi, 39, and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, are the two oldest players in the competition and are among the most respected and famous players of all time. Even if Messi does not win the second title in a row, his performance in the World Cup may be the highlight of the tournament.
Harry Kane, who is the captain of England, will also be closely watched. Kane is England’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of the top goalscorers in every league he has played in, with an incredible 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich this season. However, the World Cup title has never been won by Kane and England — they last won in 1966.
Fans will also look to Japan’s Kaishū Sano, who has excelled as a midfielder in the Bundesliga which has earned him praise, and Nico Paz, a midfielder for the Argentine team, who is known for his dribbling and tactical play. Paz, 21, is making history as the first player in Argentina’s national team to play in the World Cup without having played for any of the national football clubs.
Other potential big names include Australia’s Nestory Irankunda and Ardon Jashari, the Swiss midfielder who has also starred for AC Milan.
Who is playing in the final FIFA World Cup halftime show?
Although we don’t know which teams will play in this year’s World Cup final, we know that there will be world-class excitement during the break.
With a lineup that rivals some of the best Super Bowl halftime shows, the 2026 World Cup finals show will be headlined by Madonna, Shakira and BTS. Just being one for these world artists would be great, but all three will share the stage on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium. If those words weren’t enough, the performance will be moderated by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and, yes, I buried the lede: The Muppets will also appear.
The cities that will host the 2026 World Cup
The US, Canada and Mexico are the host nations for this year’s tournament, and games will be played in 16 cities in three countries. The US last hosted the World Cup in 1994; it was an easy time at that time, since that year, only 24 teams participated in the games in nine places. Mexico has hosted twice before, in 1970 and 1986. This year, two locations are in Canada, three in Mexico and 11 in the US.
Estadio Monterrey (also known as BBVA Stadium) is one of the stadiums in Mexico that is hosting the World Cup matches this year.
One thing you will notice is that the venues have been temporarily renamed to match the big event, in line with FIFA branding guidelines. For example, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is called Atlanta Stadium, while Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is now Boston Stadium.
A statement on FIFA’s website explains: “All stadiums listed are provisional at this stage and are subject to change before the tournament. The official FIFA World Cup 2026 stadium names are matched to the Host City names and may differ from the general designation used in the area.”
- Toronto Stadium (BMO Field)
- BC Vancouver area
- Estadio Guadalajara (Estadio Akron)
- Estadio Monterrey (Estadio BBVA)
- Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca)
- Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
- Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium)
- Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium)
- Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium)
- Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium)
- Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium)
- Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium)
- New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)
- Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)
- San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium)
- Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field)
There are official World Cup songs as well
The first time I saw that the World Cup had an official song was in 1998, when Ricky Martin’s Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida) was released. The song became an international hit, and in the years since then, the World Cup has expanded not only to include an official anthem but also an official playlist featuring songs by several superstars.
This year’s single, Dai Dai, a collaboration between Shakira and Nigerian singer/producer Burna Boy, has amassed over 65 million views on YouTube in its first two weeks, and is one of the few singles on the soundtrack. Also out now are Game Time by Future with Tyla, Lighter by Jelly Roll with Mexican singer Carín León and Goals, a mix between international stars Lisa, Anitta and Rema.
Here is a list of all the 2026 world cup soundtracks; you can listen to the playlist on Spotify and Apple Music:
- Dai Dai by Shakira and Burna Boy (Official Song)
- Goals of Lisa, Anitta and Rema
- Lighting Jessie Reyez and Elyanna
- Echo by Daddy Yankee and Shenseea
- Por Ella by Los Ángeles Azules and Belinda
- Easy by Jelly Roll and Carín León
- Game time for the future with TYLA
Where to watch the 2026 World Cup matches
If you plan to watch all the action on TV at home, Fox will show every game of the US Men’s National Team, as well as every game from the round of 16 onward, including the tournament final. You’ll be able to catch another 34 matches on FS1. Fox and FS1 are available on services like DirecTV, YouTube TV and Fox One.
For fans who want to watch the games in Spanish, all games will be broadcast on Telemundo or Universo and will be broadcast flows into the Peacock. Free streaming service Tubi will also feature the opening game on June 11 and the USA vs. Paraguay on June 12.