History will be made at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as 48 teams duel it out for the coveted gold trophy. The 2026 installment of the tournament takes place in North America, with the United States, Canada and Mexico co-hosting the event.
With 48 teams from six confederations playing in three host countries across 16 cities, this World Cup promises plenty of goals, drama and excitement. In the lead-up to the Soccer World Cup, Topbets has compiled this 2026 FIFA World Cup guide, previewing the global spectacle.
Host nations and venues
The 2026 World Cup is the first since 2002 to be hosted by more than one nation, and this time, we have three co-hosts, with games taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament begins on June 11, 2026, with the opening game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The World Cup Final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New York, United States.
There will be 104 games, with 78 matches in the United States and 13 each in Canada and Mexico. Below are the details of the host cities and stadiums used for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
| Stadium | Capacity | City |
| Estadio Azteca | 87,523 | Mexico City, Mexico |
| MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | New York, United States |
| AT&T Stadium | 80,000 | Texas, United States |
| Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 | Kansas City, United States |
| NRG Stadium | 72,220 | Houston, United States |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 | Atlanta, United States |
| SoFi Stadium | 70,240 | Los Angeles, United States |
| Lincoln Financial Field | 69,796 | Philadelphia, United States |
| Lumen Field | 69,000 | Seattle, United States |
| Levi’s Stadium | 68,500 | California, United States |
| Gillette Stadium | 65,878 | Boston, United States |
| Hard Rock Stadium | 64,767 | Miami, United States |
| BC Place | 54,500 | Vancouver, Canada |
| Estadio BBVA | 53,500 | Monterrey, Mexico |
| Estadio Akron | 49,850 | Guadalajara, Mexico |
| BMO Field | 45,736 | Toronto, Canada |
From 32 to 48 teams
The expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 teams has been much debated, but FIFA has approved the expansion, and starting from the 2026 World Cup, 48 teams will participate in the global event.
There will be 12 groups of four teams, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams progressing to the Round of 32. Besides adding more teams, groups and games, the format stays the same, with three group games, followed by a single-leg knockout stage with a Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Third play playoff and Final.
| Round | Schedule |
| Group Stage Matchday 1 | June 11-17, 2026 |
| Group Stage Matchday 2 | June 18-23, 2026 |
| Group Stage Matchday 3 | June 24-27, 2026 |
| Round of 32 | June 28 – July 03, 2026 |
| Round of 16 | July 04-07, 2026 |
| Quarterfinals | July 09-11, 2026 |
| Semifinals | July 14-15, 2026 |
| Third place playoff | July 18, 2026 |
| Final | July 19, 2026 |
Favourite teams to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup
With qualifying still taking place, several teams are still fighting for their place at the tournament. However, you can expect all the heavyweights to compete at the World Cup, and below are the latest betting odds for the favourites:
Spain
The defending Euro Champions are the narrow favourites to win the 2026 World Cup. Currently priced at 6.50, La Roja will bring a youthful team to the tournament that already has proved to know how to win on the big stage, and you can expect a big tournament for Barcelona playmaker Lamine Yamal.
Brazil
With former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti now at the helm for Brazil, much is expected from the five-time Champions. However, the pressure is on the Selecao as they have not won the tournament since 2022. Brazil is priced at 7.00 to win a record-setting sixth FIFA World Cup Crown.
France
After a lacklustre last few years, the French team needs to showcase their best as they try to send off their coach, Didier Deschamp, with another World Cup crown. The side enters the tournament with a nice blend of youth and experience, with Kylian Mbappe spearheading their attack and are 7.00 in the latest betting.
England
Now under the helm of German boss Thomas Tuchel, England will aim to finally win another World Cup after going desperately close under previous boss Gareth Southgate in recent years. Key to the English chances this World Cup will be the attack, and if Tuchel can get the team to be more attack-minded, then the 8.00 outright price on the Three Lions will be a popular choice among many bettors.
Argentina
Defending World Cup Champions Argentina enter the 2026 World Cup with much fanfare, especially surrounding star player Lionel Messi, who will compete at his final FIFA World Cup. At 9.00 in the outright betting, the Argentine team hopes to give Messi the perfect send-off to close out his amazing career.
Portugal
Much of the attention will be on Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2026 World Cup. Like Lionel Messi, this will be the final chapter of Ronaldo’s international career, and he has one last shot at winning the global crown. Ronaldo and his Portugal side are priced at 12.00 to win the event, and the team comes into the tournament in a jubilant mood after winning the UEFA Nations League.
FIFA World Cup 2026 FAQ
Where is the Soccer World Cup taking place?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place from 11 June 2026, and the tournament is held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?
There will be 48 teams participating at the World Cup.
When does the World Cup Final take place?
The World Cup Final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New York, United States.
Who is the favourite to win the World Cup?
Currently, Spain at 6.50 in the betting are the narrow favourites to win the World Cup.
