Everything to Know About the 2026 World Cup

Sean NeumannMon, June 1, 2026 at 12:15 PM UTC

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2022 World Cup Final
Credit: Stephen McCarthy - FIFA/FIFA via Getty

The biggest World Cup in history is finally here!

FIFA’s quadrennial soccer tournament kicks off on June 11 and will feature 48 different national teams from across the globe competing in sports’ most anticipated tournament.

The world’s soccer organization is promising the 2026 World Cup to be “the biggest and most exciting edition of the tournament to date” with 104 matches across 16 different cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In total, the tournament will last 39 days and feature some of the world’s most popular athletes competing against one another for soccer’s most storied prize.

While the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team has dominated on the global stage, winning four of the nine World Cups to ever take place, the U.S. Men’s National Team is still seeking both its first title and its first trip to the World Cup Final. At the most recent 2022 edition of the tournament, the USMNT, led by captain Christian Pulisic, advanced as far as the Round of 16 before falling short to the Netherlands in the knockout stage.

“I'm thrilled about it,” Pulisic recently told PEOPLE about the tournament, the first time the World Cup has been hosted in the U.S. since 1994. “To have it in the U.S. is just extra special. It definitely feels like a once in a lifetime kind of thing to be able to play in a World Cup in the U.S., so I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be special.”

Here’s everything to know about the 2026 World Cup, including the biggest names to watch at this year’s tournament.

When is the 2026 World Cup?

Team France
Credit: Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty

The 2026 World Cup will take place from Thursday, June 11 until Sunday, July 19 across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. (They include: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, and Vancouver.)

What is the Format of the 2026 World Cup?

2022 World Cup Final
Credit: Stephen McCarthy - FIFA/FIFA via Getty

The 48 international teams will be split up into 12 different groups (Group A, Group B, Group C, etc.) and will play each of the other teams in their group once during the tournament’s group stage.

The knockout round will begin on June 29, and the single-elimination portion of the tournament runs until the World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Who is performing at the 2026 World Cup?

Shakira
Credit: Buda Mendes/Getty

FIFA recently announced a list of Super Bowl-level performers for this year’s World Cup tournament, starting with three opening ceremonies before each of the host countries’ first games and a star-studded halftime show for the World Cup Final on July 19.

"The Fifa World Cup is a moment the world shares, and that begins with how we open it," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said while announcing this year’s lineup, calling the string of opening ceremony concerts on June 11-12 a “powerful way to begin a truly global celebration.”

Three opening ceremony performances will start when J Balvin and Tyla kick off the tournament before the first game in Mexico at Estadio Azteca on June 11. Then, the next night, Katy Perry and Future will both perform at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., ahead of the first match held on U.S. soil, while Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette will also perform at BMO Field ahead of the tournament’s first game in Toronto.

But, of course, the tournament is saving its biggest show for the biggest stage with Shakira set to perform a mid-match concert alongside Madonna and BTS during halftime of the World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer, 49, also released the tournament’s official song, “Dai Dai,” in collaboration with Nigerian artist Burna Boy ahead of the tournament. (It joins other songs on the official FIFA World Cup 2026 playlist, including "Lighter" by Jelly Roll and Carín Leon, and "Goals" by Lisa, Anitta and Rema.)

Who are the players to watch for at the 2026 World Cup?

Lionel Messi

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Lionel Messi
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Arguably the most legendary player of his generation, Lionel Messi is looking to add yet another World Cup title to his trophy case. The Argentinian striker, 38, led his country to the 2022 World Cup Final, winning a thrilling dream match against France and its captain Kylian Mbappé in penalties. The Inter Miami star combined with Mbappé, 27, for five of the game’s six goals — including one each in extra time — before Argentina won the match in a penalty shootout, 4-2.

Kylian Mbappé

Kylian Mbappe
Credit: Oscar J. Barroso/Europa Press via Getty

The French superstar is perhaps the greatest player on the planet right now. The Paris native, who now plays for Real Madrid in Spain, was awarded the World Cup’s prestigious “Golden Boot” award after scoring eight goals in the tournament – four years after he led France to the 2018 World Cup title. Mbappé is hoping to deliver another epic performance and bring France back to the championship stage, and will receive an enormous helping hand with 29-year-old Ousmane Dembele, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner as the world’s best player, at his side. “There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” Mbappé recently told reporters, according to The Guardian. “Is it a stronger team? We’ll have to see the results, but we can really aim high with this team.”

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo
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Cristiano Ronaldo is already stealing headlines, whether the 41-year-old Portuguese superstar can finally deliver his country a World Cup title or not. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner will be playing in his record-breaking sixth World Cup come June — his last, he told reporters last year, according to Sky Sports. “It will be tough, of course,” Ronaldo said of retiring. “I probably will cry.”

Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic
Credit: Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty

Nicknamed “Captain America,” Pulisic has led the USMNT since late 2018 and is already nearly halfway to the USMNT’s all-time goal-scoring record (his 32 career goals are fifth all-time in U.S. history). The Pennsylvania native first began playing professionally in Germany’s top league at 17 years old and currently plays for AC Milan in Italy, one of the most decorated club teams in the world.

“I'm really blessed to be a part of this team, and having been around with the national team for close to a decade now, I just feel really proud to be American, to wear that crest, and to represent our country on the biggest stage,” Pulisic recently told PEOPLE. “I'm just honored that I get to do it. And I just can't wait for this tournament to begin.”

Harry Kane

Harry Kane
Credit: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty

One of England’s greatest goal scorers, Harry Kane is still defying odds. The English captain is coming off a record-breaking club season, scoring 36 goals for his German club team Bayern Munich, the most of any player in any top European league this year. The 32-year-old has been the captain of England’s national team since 2018 and is looking to deliver the soccer-crazed country its first World Cup title since 1966.

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal
Credit: Pablo Rodriguez/Quality Sport Images/Getty

Spanish striker Lamine Yamal is already the next biggest thing in soccer. The 18-year-old nearly won this year’s Ballon d'Or award with 16 goals and 11 assists in just 28 matches for his club team, FC Barcelona , less than two years removed from leading Spain to its last major title at the 2024 European Championship as a 16-year-old. Spain last won the World Cup in 2010 and is looking to ride a newfound wave of hope on the back of its teenage superstar. “He can win the World Cup all by himself,” Brazilian soccer star Vinicius Jr. recently said, according to BBC, adding, “He does incredible things.”

How to watch the 2026 World Cup?

Crowd at the 2022 World Cup Final
Credit: Stephen McCarthy - FIFA/FIFA via Getty

The World Cup will air across Fox, with 70 matches airing live on Fox’s main channel and the other 36 matches being broadcast on Fox Sports 1.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”