The 2026 FIFA World Cup is getting closer. The tournament will take place in the USA Canada and Mexico. Football fans around the world are eager to learn about the key dates ahead of this major event.
Many people want to know when they can buy tickets. Others are waiting for the World Cup draw to see which teams will play against each other. These dates are important for fans who want to watch games in person or follow them from home.
The World Cup is the biggest football event on Earth. The next edition will be special because it’s hosted by three countries for the first time.
Ticket sales will start soon & the tournament draw will happen in the coming months. If you want to be part of this huge sports event you need to know the important dates.
We have gathered all the key information about the 2026 World Cup schedule. This will help you plan ahead and not miss any important deadlines.
2026 World Cup Draw Date – When Will Teams Be Picked?
The 2026 World Cup draw is set for December 5 2025 in Washington DC. Ticket Prices, Lottery Dates, shared this news in August & called it the most important sports event ever. He plans to be part of the draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino will also join Trump on stage for this big event. Trump picked a good time to make this announcement since he wants to be involved in the ceremony. The draw will decide which teams play against each other in the tournament.
Total Teams in FIFA World Cup 2026 – How Many Nations Qualify?
The FIFA World Cup in 2026 will be bigger than before. Instead of 32 teams it will now have 48 teams playing. FIFA made this change in 2017 to let more countries join the tournament. They want teams from all parts of the world to have a better chance to play.
The bigger tournament helps FIFA spread soccer to new places. It gives smaller countries a shot at playing in the World Cup and makes the event more profitable too. The new setup gives different regions their own number of spots.
Europe gets 16 teams. Africa gets 9 teams. Asia gets 8 teams. South America gets 6 teams. North America & the Caribbean together get 6 teams including the host countries. Oceania gets 1 team. The last 2 spots will go to winners of special matches between 6 teams from different parts of the world.
Match Count for 2026 FIFA World Cup – How Many Games Will Be Played?
The 2026 World Cup will have many more games than before. FIFA shared the new schedule in February 2024. Players will compete in 104 matches during the tournament. This is a big change from past World Cups. Since 1998 in France teams only played 64 games in total. The extra matches will make the tournament longer and give fans more soccer to watch. This increase shows how the World Cup keeps getting bigger over time.
New Match Format for 2026 – What’s Changing This Time?
The 2026 World Cup will be different from past tournaments. The event will now have 48 teams instead of 32. These teams will play in 16 different cities across North America. The teams will start in 12 groups with four teams in each group. Two teams from each group will move forward to the next round. Some teams that finish third in their group will also get to continue playing. This creates a new round of 32 teams before the usual knockout stages begin. This new setup means more games and more chances for teams to advance in the tournament. It’s a big change from how the World Cup normally works.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Ticket Sale Timeline – Key Dates to Remember
The first chance to buy tickets starts September 10 until September 19. You need a Visa card and must sign up on FIFA’s website to join this lottery. FIFA will give out about one million tickets in this first round.
The second ticket lottery runs from October 27 to October 31. More fans can try their luck during this time.
After FIFA announces which teams play in which groups there will be a third lottery. This time you can pick specific games you want tickets for. The final chance to get tickets will be right before the World Cup starts.
During this last phase tickets will go to whoever buys them first. Each phase works differently but they all help fans get tickets to watch the games. Remember that having a Visa card is important for the first phase.
Host Cities for 2026 World Cup – Where Will the Action Be?
The 2026 World Cup will take place in 16 cities across North America. The tournament will be split into three areas:
West East and Central. The USA will host games in 11 cities while Canada gets two host cities and Mexico gets three. Here are all the stadiums by region: Western Locations: Vancouver’s BC Place holds 54500 fans Seattle’s Lumen Field fits 69000 people San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium can seat 68500 fans Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron holds 49850 people Los Angeles has SoFi Stadium with 70240 seats Central Locations:
Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium fits 76416 fans Dallas has AT&T Stadium with 80000 seats Houston’s NRG Stadium holds 72220 people Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA fits 53500 fans Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca holds 87523 people Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium seats 71000 fans Eastern Locations:
Toronto’s BMO Field will grow to fit 45500 fans Boston’s Gillette Stadium holds 68878 people New York’s MetLife Stadium fits 82500 fans Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field seats 69796 people Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium holds 64767 fans
Hosting History – Have These Countries Held the World Cup Before?
Mexico is making history by hosting the World Cup for the third time. They first hosted it in 1970 & then again in 1986. The United States is also breaking records. They will be the only country to host both men’s & women’s World Cups twice. The US hosted the men’s event in 1994 and the women’s tournaments in 1999 and 2003. Canada is joining the party too. While they hosted the Women’s World Cup in 2015 this will be their first time hosting the men’s tournament. Some cities have interesting World Cup stories. Toronto held qualifying matches back in 1957. The Mexican city of Guadalajara hosted games in 1970 & 1986. Now they’re getting ready to welcome the World Cup for a third time.
