World Cup 2026 kicks off as 48 nations battle across three host countries

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun, with 48 nations spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico competing in the most expansive edition of the tournament ever staged. Over six weeks, the expanded field will produce group-stage drama, knockout tension and the crowning of a new world champion.

The tournament’s enlarged format — up from 32 teams at the 2022 edition in Qatar — means matches are taking place across multiple time zones simultaneously, with headlines and results arriving around the clock throughout the competition.

Correspondents including Miguel Delaney, Richard Jolly, Lawrence Ostlere and Kieran Jackson are reporting from venues across the United States, providing on-the-ground analysis and insight from inside the stadiums.

With 48 nations in the field, the group stage alone features more matches than entire previous tournaments, raising the stakes for every side and increasing the likelihood of upsets against established favourites. The expanded format also gives smaller footballing nations a greater chance of advancing deep into the competition.

England, among the pre-tournament contenders, will be closely tracked alongside traditional powerhouses as the competition progresses through the group stage and into the knockout rounds.

The final is scheduled to take place in the United States, bringing six weeks of intercontinental football to a close in what organisers have billed as the largest World Cup in the event’s history.