What date in 2026 does the FIFA World Cup begin?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, a highly anticipated global sporting event, is set to kick off on June 11, 2026. This monumental tournament marks the 23rd iteration of the quadrennial international men's soccer championship. For the first time in its history, the World Cup will be jointly hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with matches spread across sixteen cities in these North American countries.

This edition of the FIFA World Cup will also be groundbreaking due to its expanded format. The tournament will feature 48 national teams, a significant increase from the previous 32, leading to a total of 104 matches played over 39 days, culminating in the final on July 19, 2026. The expanded format will see teams divided into twelve groups of four, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams progressing to a new Round of 32 knockout stage.

The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, making Mexico the first country to host the men's World Cup three times. Both Canada and the United States will host their first matches on June 12. This tournament also signifies a return to the traditional Northern Hemisphere summer schedule, unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar which was held later in the year.