FIFA World Cup 2026
The biggest World Cup in history — 48 teams, 3 host nations, 104 matches. Goaltify has live scores, group tables, fixtures and analysis throughout the tournament.
Host nations
USA, Canada & Mexico
Teams
48 (expanded from 32)
Groups
12 groups of 4
Matches
104 total
Start date
11 June 2026
Final
19 July 2026 — MetLife Stadium
Venues
16 stadiums
Duration
39 days
World Cup 2026 live scores
All fixtures updated in real-time on our live scores page.
Everything you need for the FIFA World Cup 2026
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the 23rd edition of football's greatest tournament. Running from 11 June to 19 July 2026, the competition expands to 48 teams for the first time, split into 12 groups of four across 104 matches over 39 days.
Three nations share hosting duties: the United States — staging 78 matches including every knockout game from the quarter-finals onward — Canada and Mexico, each hosting 13 matches. The World Cup final on 19 July takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Defending champions Argentina (Group J) will look to retain the trophy. They face stiff competition from FIFA No. 1 France (Group I), Spain (Group H), England (Group L) and Portugal (Group K).
World Cup 2026 group stage — all 12 groups
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Group F
Group G
Group H
Group I
Group J
Group K
Top 2 from each group + 8 best third-placed teams advance to the round of 32. Click team names for squad guides.
England — World Cup 2026
Group L · FIFA Ranking #4 · Captain: Harry Kane
Key dates
World Cup 2026 — frequently asked questions
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 start?+
The tournament kicks off on 11 June 2026 with the opening match — Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. The tournament runs until 19 July 2026.
Where is the 2026 World Cup being held?+
Three nations co-host: the United States (78 matches, including all knockout games from the quarter-finals onward), Canada (13 matches) and Mexico (13 matches). Sixteen stadiums across 16 cities are used.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?+
48 teams — up from 32. They are divided into 12 groups of 4. The top 2 from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance to a new round of 32.
Who are the favourites to win?+
France (FIFA No. 1), Spain (No. 2), defending champions Argentina (No. 3), England (No. 4) and Portugal (No. 5) lead the rankings.
When is the World Cup 2026 final?+
The final is on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.
What group is England in?+
England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama. View the full England squad at goaltify.com/teams/england.
What group is Argentina in?+
Defending champions Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
Which big teams did NOT qualify?+
Italy (missing a third straight World Cup), Denmark, Poland, Serbia, Wales, Costa Rica and Cameroon all failed to qualify.
How does the World Cup 2026 format work?+
12 groups of 4 teams. Top 2 from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams = 32 teams enter a round of 32, then round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?+
104 matches in total across 39 days — up from 64 matches at Qatar 2022.
World Cup 2026 format explained
For the first time, the FIFA World Cup features 48 nations in 12 groups. Every team plays three group games. The top two from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance — 32 teams in total — to the new round of 32, then round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final on 19 July.
World Cup 2026 host cities
The US hosts across 11 cities: New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia and Kansas City. Mexico hosts in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Canada hosts in Toronto and Vancouver.
Follow on Goaltify
Goaltify covers the World Cup 2026 end-to-end: live scores updated in real-time, group tables, fixture lists, xG stats, tactical breakdowns and team squad guides including the full England squad. Bookmark us and subscribe to our newsletter for daily tournament updates.