The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to be hosted by three countries and featuring 48 teams, kicks off today. The tournament, hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, begins with an opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium. The final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York City, after six weeks of competition.
Tournament Structure and Venues
A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 stadiums in four different time zones. The United States will host 78 matches. The largest stadium is Dallas Stadium with a capacity of 94,000, while the smallest is in Toronto with 45,000 seats.
Participating Teams and Players
For the first time, 10 African countries and eight Arab countries are participating. Among them, Morocco is the only country that is both African and Arab. A total of 1,248 players from 48 countries will compete. While 357 players have been in a World Cup squad before, 891 will make their debut. The oldest player is Craig Gordon (Scotland, 43 years 162 days), and the youngest is Gilberto Mora (Mexico, 17 years 240 days). Twenty-two players are under 20, seven are over 40, and 22 are previous World Cup winners.
Record African and Arab Representation
Africa sends a record 10 teams: Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Cape Verde, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Eight Arab teams have qualified: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. This surpasses the four Arab sides in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Iran's Participation and Other Issues
Iran's participation amid tensions with the US has been a topic of discussion. FIFA rejected Iran's requests to move group matches to Mexico or Canada, stating matches must be played as scheduled in American cities.
First-Time Participants
With the expansion to 48 teams, Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will compete in the World Cup for the first time.
Group Stage Highlights
The host nation, the United States, faces Turkey, Paraguay, and Australia in Group D. The US qualified automatically as a host and has participated 11 times since 1930.
Fan Challenges
High ticket prices, accommodation costs, long flight times, and travel expenses make this World Cup challenging for fans. Traveling across three North American countries may require fans to cover thousands of kilometers.
Historic Mexico City Stadium
Mexico City Stadium, with a capacity of 83,000, will become the first stadium to host the World Cup opening match three times. It previously hosted the 1970 opener (Mexico vs. Soviet Union, 0-0) and the 1986 opener (Italy vs. Bulgaria, 1-1). The stadium saw Pele lift the trophy in 1970 and Maradona's 'goal of the century' in 1986. It now hosts Mexico vs. South Africa in 2026.
