World Cup 2026 kicks off June 11 with 48 teams and 104 matches at expanded tournament

The 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway on June 11 when co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, opening a tournament expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches across nearly six weeks.

Defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, enter the competition as the side to beat after their triumph at Qatar 2022. They will face 47 rivals in the most expansive World Cup in the tournament’s history, with the United States and Canada joining Mexico as co-hosts.

The expanded format marks a significant shift from the 32-team, 64-match structure that defined the World Cup for decades. With 16 additional nations earning a place at the finals, the group stage alone will feature more matches than entire previous tournaments, giving fans an almost continuous schedule of football from mid-June through to the final.