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England’s next major men’s tournament after 2024 European Championship It will be the 2026 World Cup held in North America.
The tournament will break new ground by being organized by three countries (United States, Canada and Mexico), in addition to expanding to include 48 teams.
The state of pitches and training facilities in the United States came under scrutiny during the Copa America, with Uruguayan coach Marcelo Bielsa launching a furious broadside about the conditions.
Temperatures are also expected to rise at the 2026 World Cup, which will return to its usual summer schedule after a winter refresh in Qatar.
This is what we know so far.
Where will the next World Cup take place?
For the first time in a tournament, the World Cup will be held in three host countries after the candidacy of the North American trio rejected a strong proposal from Morocco.
The games will be played in 16 cities: 11 in the United States, two in Canada and three in Mexico. The quarterfinals, semifinals and final will be played in the United States.
Here is the list of cities that will host at least one World Cup match.
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Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver.
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the final on July 19, 2026. The venue has a capacity for 82,500 people.
The stadium, home of the New York Giants and Jets, has hosted the Super Bowl and recently sold-out shows by pop superstars such as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. It features luxurious indoor clubs with views of the New York skyline.
The semifinals will be played at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, while the quarterfinals will be at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City and the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Miami will also host the third place game.
Mexico will open the tournament on June 11, 2026 with its first group match at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
The United States will begin its campaign at SoFi in Los Angeles on June 12 and will remain on the West Coast for the group stage, with two games in Seattle. Canada will play its opening match in Toronto also on June 12.
Canada and Mexico are also guaranteed to play all of their group games at home, and Guadalajara and Vancouver will also host.
To limit travel by teams and fans, the three host countries have been divided into eastern, central and western regions, where teams will be located for the group stage.
When is the next World Cup?
The opening match will take place on June 11, when Mexico kicks off at the legendary Estadio Azteca (which will become the first stadium to host three World Cup openings) and the last of the 104 matches will be played at the Estadio MetLife of New Jersey. hosts the final on July 19.
The full match schedule and kick-off times will be confirmed following the final draw, which is expected to take place in late 2025.
How many teams will there be in the 2026 World Cup and what will the format be?
The 2026 World Cup will be contested by 48 teams instead of the usual 32.
FIFA said the decision to expand will increase participation and provide “more opportunities for footballers around the world.”
FIFA initially said there would be 16 groups of three teams, with the top two in each group advancing to a knockout round of 32.
However, reconsidered this position and will instead begin with 12 groups of four with the two best teams and the eight best third-placed teams qualifying for the round of 32. Under this format there will be 104 games in total, instead of the traditional 64, including an additional tie. round
How can I get tickets?
Fans can pre-register for tickets at fifa.com/tickets.
How does FIFA decide on the host country?
The host nation is decided through a bidding process. FIFA takes a number of factors into account when deciding which country or countries will host. Many of these criteria revolve around available infrastructure, including stadium capacities, fan accommodation, transportation systems, as well as facilities for teams and referees.
What about the 2030 and 2034 World Cups?
The 2030 World Cup will be held in six countries and three continents. Spain, Portugal and Morocco are the co-hosts, but the first three matches of the tournament will be played in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay.
FIFA says the continent-hopping event will be a celebration of the World Cup centenary. The inaugural edition, in 1930, was held in Uruguay.
The 2034 tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia after they switched last year from a bid for 2030 to 2034 to ensure it was the only participant.
The Football Association backed Saudi Arabia’s proposal after directly demanding in recent weeks that England’s LGBT fans not be arrested.