The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be spread over three countries, Canada, the United States and Mexico, however all the games are poised to be within an hour's drive.
The soccer game will feature an additional 16 teams increasing competition and the number of games.

Additionally, the addition of 16 teams will increase competition and increase the number of games.

However, as of mid-June 2026, the tournament will still be completed within five weeks.

Concerns have been raised about travel requirements for participants and spectators, as the tournament will take place in 11 cities in the United States, in addition to three venues in Mexico and two in Canada. Sustainability is a key issue due to the high number of flights required to transport teams, fans, media and FIFA officials between the three countries.

The next Men's World Cup will feature 48 teams from the previous 32.

FIFA expects him to earn $11 billion from sponsorships, merchandising, ticket sales and broadcast revenue over his four-year cycle through December 2026. With football's growing popularity in North America, big crowds are expected for the next World Cup.

FIFA expects up to 5.5 million spectators to attend the upcoming tournament, breaking the previous record of 3.6 million set in 1994, with an average attendance of 68,000 for each match. Most of the increased profits will be used to fund projects that advance women's football around the world, according to the governing body. The expansion of the format will increase the number of participating teams from Asia and Africa.

Eleven teams from two federations participated in his 2022 final. Among them are Qatar, who automatically qualified to host the event, and Australia, who entered the Asian qualifier before defeating Peru in the intercontinental play-off.

In 2026, there will be at least 17 teams from both federations. There could be 19 teams depending on the two nations making it to the finals of the 6-team intercontinental playoff.

At least six Concacaf teams, including host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States, have qualified for the World Cup, plus he has two teams making the playoffs. The 16 venues were announced in June, but all sites are already under construction and most of the high-capacity stadiums are used by NFL teams across the country.

Some stadiums will be upgraded by 2026, while others will need turf laying as artificial turf is not allowed by FIFA.

As it stands, the 2026 format implies 80 matches across the tournament, but that is still subject to change. The United States will host his 60 games, including every match since the quarterfinals, while neighbours Canada and Mexico will each host 10 games.

The United States and Mexico have already hosted the World Cup, but most of the 2026 venues will be different. The United States does not use the 1994 stadium, while Mexico has only one stadium built in 1970 and 1986. Mexico City's legendary Estadio Azteca.

The geographical spread for the next World Cup has not yet been announced but it is likely that teams will play their group-stage games in regionalised zones.

The initial favoured option was to have 16 groups of three teams. Each team would play two group games, rather than three, with the first two teams progressing to a new round of 32.

But the downside to that could be that the two teams playing in the last fixture could play out a specific result to send both teams through. Given the success of the four-team group format in 2022, the structure for 2026 will be revisited, according to Fifa president Gianni Infantino.

The indications are that it will end up being 12 groups of four, effectively split into two halves (like two Euros in one go). Another possibility, though one that appears unlikely, is that group games may not be allowed to finish as a draw. A decision on where the final will be played will be taken next year.

"But every match will be like a final at this World Cup."

That will be a special centenary event, 100 years after the first Fifa World Cup in Uruguay, which was contested by just 13 teams. Uruguay has claimed for some time that it should be awarded the tournament, possibly in a joint bid with Argentina.

Spain and Portugal hope to be put forward by Uefa, but England dropped its interest in favour of bidding for Uefa Euro 2028 along with Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Saudi Arabia could be another potential bidder, though that could mean another winter tournament because of the high summer temperatures in the Middle East.

A decision on the hosts of the 2030 tournament will be made by the Fifa Council in 2024.