The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the most ambitious football tournament ever staged. Three host nations. Sixteen cities. Forty-eight teams. One hundred and four matches. Thirty-nine days. Whether you're planning a trip, organizing a watch party, building a marketing campaign, or simply trying to keep track of where and when everything happens, this is the complete reference guide — every date, every team, every group, every venue, and every key fact about the tournament in one place. Bookmark it and come back. It covers everything.
Tournament Overview: The Essential Numbers
Official name: FIFA World Cup 2026™ (also marketed as FIFA World Cup 26)
Edition: 23rd FIFA World Cup
Host nations: United States, Canada, Mexico
Tournament dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
Duration: 39 days
Total teams: 48 (expanded from 32 in all previous editions since 1998)
Total matches: 104 (up from 64 in Qatar 2022)
Host cities: 16 (11 in the USA, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Canada)
Opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa — June 11, 2026, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Final: July 19, 2026, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Defending champion: Argentina (2022 World Cup winners, their third title)
First-time hosts: Canada (first men's World Cup hosting)
Historic milestone: First World Cup hosted by three nations. Mexico becomes the first country to host or co-host the men's World Cup three times (1970, 1986, 2026).
Official match ball: Adidas Trionda — the name translates from Spanish as "three waves," referencing the three host countries, with a red, green, and blue color scheme.
Total prize fund: 50% increase on Qatar 2022. Each team is guaranteed at least $10.5m (including $1.5m preparation costs). Exact breakdown confirmed at FIFA Council meeting in Doha, December 2024.
Broadcaster (USA): FOX (70 matches) and FS1 (34 matches), streaming live on FOX One and the FOX Sports App
Final draw ceremony: December 5, 2025, Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
Tournament Format Explained
The 2026 format is significantly different from all previous World Cups. Here is how it works:
Group stage: 48 teams divided into 12 groups of 4. Each team plays three group matches. The top two teams from each group (24 teams) plus the eight best third-place teams (8 teams) advance — 32 teams total proceed to the knockout stage.
Tiebreakers: In order — goal differential, goals scored, head-to-head record, fair play record, drawing of lots.
Knockout stage (new for 2026): For the first time in World Cup history, the knockout stage opens with a Round of 32 (16 matches), before proceeding to the Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Third Place Match, and Final. Teams that finish in the top half of the knockout bracket cannot meet the teams in the opposite half until the Semifinal — a design choice that ensures the top four ranked teams (Spain, Argentina, France, England) cannot face each other until the semifinals.
Match distribution: The United States hosts 78 of 104 total matches, including all matches from the Quarterfinals onward. Canada and Mexico each host 13 matches.
Matches to reach the Final: 8 (one more than in previous editions).
Key Tournament Dates at a Glance
June 11: Tournament opens. Opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (3:00 p.m. ET on FOX)
June 11–27: Group stage (Matchdays 1, 2, and 3)
June 18–23: Group stage Matchday 2
June 24–27: Group stage Matchday 3 (all games within each group kick off simultaneously)
June 28–July 3: Round of 32 (new round, first time in World Cup history)
July 4–7: Round of 16
July 9–11: Quarterfinals (all in the United States)
July 14: Semifinal 1 — AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (Dallas area)
July 15: Semifinal 2 — Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
July 18: Third Place Match — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
July 19: Final — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (3:00 p.m. ET)
All 16 Host Venues
Due to FIFA regulations prohibiting commercial naming rights during the tournament, all venues will use official FIFA tournament names for the duration of the event. Both the real name and tournament name are listed below, along with capacity and notable facts.
United States (11 venues)
MetLife Stadium — New York New Jersey Stadium
Location: East Rutherford, New Jersey
Capacity: 82,500
Home teams: New York Giants and New York Jets (NFL)
Opened: 2010
Key matches: Final (July 19). Also hosts Group C opener (Brazil vs. Morocco, June 13).
Notes: Largest soccer crowd at the venue was 82,566 for Manchester United vs. West Ham United in July 2025. Accessible from Manhattan via NJ Transit (~40 minutes from Penn Station).
AT&T Stadium — Dallas Stadium
Location: Arlington, Texas (Dallas area)
Capacity: 92,967 (largest venue in the tournament)
Home team: Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
Key matches: Semifinal (July 14). Hosts 9 matches total — more than any other venue.
Notes: Retractable roof and climate control. Known informally as "The Death Star."
SoFi Stadium — Los Angeles Stadium
Location: Inglewood, California
Capacity: 70,000
Home teams: Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers (NFL)
Opened: 2020 (most recently built venue in the tournament)
Key matches: USA vs. Paraguay (June 12, Group D opener). Also hosts a Quarterfinal.
Notes: Designed to host the opening and closing ceremonies of the LA 2028 Olympics.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta Stadium
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Capacity: 75,000
Home teams: Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Key matches: Semifinal (July 15). Also hosts Group A and Group H matches.
Notes: Retractable roof stadium. Hosted the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship and multiple major soccer events.
Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Stadium
Location: Miami Gardens, Florida
Capacity: 65,000
Home team: Miami Dolphins (NFL). Also hosts F1 Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open tennis.
Key matches: Third Place Match (July 18). Also hosts Group H matches.
Notes: Natural Bermuda grass already installed — no turf replacement needed. $500 million renovation in 2016.
NRG Stadium — Houston Stadium
Location: Houston, Texas
Capacity: 72,220
Home team: Houston Texans (NFL)
Key matches: Round of 16 (July 4). Also hosts Group E opener (Germany vs. Curaçao, June 14).
Notes: Retractable roof with climate control, important for Houston's summer heat and humidity.
Levi's Stadium — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Location: Santa Clara, California
Capacity: ~68,500
Home team: San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
Key matches: Group B matches (Qatar vs. Switzerland, June 13; Group D Matchday 3 matches).
Notes: Also hosts a Round of 32 match (Group D winner vs. best third-place team, July 1).
Gillette Stadium — Boston Stadium
Location: Foxborough, Massachusetts
Capacity: ~65,000 (renovated ahead of tournament)
Home teams: New England Patriots (NFL) and New England Revolution (MLS)
Key matches: Haiti vs. Scotland (Group C, June 13). Also hosts a Quarterfinal.
Notes: Previously hosted matches at the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia Stadium
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Capacity: ~69,000
Home team: Philadelphia Eagles (NFL)
Key matches: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (Group E, June 14); Brazil vs. Haiti (Group C, June 19); France vs. Iraq (Group I, June 22).
Lumen Field — Seattle Stadium
Location: Seattle, Washington
Capacity: 69,000
Home teams: Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
Key matches: USA vs. Australia (Group D, June 19). Also hosts Group G opener (Belgium vs. Egypt, June 15) and a Round of 32 match.
Notes: Horseshoe-shaped bowl with views of the Seattle skyline. Regularly hosts CONCACAF Gold Cup and Champions Cup matches.
Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City Stadium
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Capacity: ~76,000
Home team: Kansas City Chiefs (NFL)
Key matches: Ecuador vs. Curaçao (Group E, June 20); Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Group F Matchday 3, June 26). Also hosts a Round of 32 match (July 3).
Notes: Holds the Guinness World Record for loudest outdoor sports stadium crowd (142.2 decibels, 2014).
Mexico (3 venues)
Estadio Azteca — Mexico City Stadium
Location: Mexico City
Capacity: 87,500 (post-renovation)
Home team: Club América and Mexico national team
Key matches: Opening match — Mexico vs. South Africa (June 11). Also hosts Mexico vs. Korea Republic (June 18) and Czechia vs. Mexico (June 24). Round of 32 match (July 1).
Notes: The only stadium in tournament history to host matches at three separate World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026). Famously hosted both the 1970 and 1986 World Cup Finals. Closed May 2024 for renovation, reopened March 28, 2026 after 665 days. Sits approximately 2,200 meters above sea level — altitude is a notable factor for visiting teams.
Estadio Akron — Guadalajara Stadium
Location: Zapopan, Jalisco (western edge of Guadalajara metropolitan area)
Capacity: ~49,000
Home team: CD Guadalajara (Chivas)
Key matches: Korea Republic vs. Czechia (Group A, June 11); Mexico vs. Korea Republic (June 18); Uruguay vs. Spain (Group H Matchday 3, June 26).
Notes: Volcano-shaped architecture. The only venue that hosts no knockout stage matches. New grass, LED video boards, and audio system installed ahead of the tournament.
Estadio BBVA — Monterrey Stadium
Location: Guadalupe, Nuevo León (within Monterrey metropolitan area)
Capacity: ~53,500
Home team: CF Monterrey
Key matches: South Africa vs. Korea Republic (Group A Matchday 3, June 24); Sweden vs. Tunisia (Group F, June 14); Tunisia vs. Japan (Group F, June 20); France vs. Senegal (Round of 32, June 29).
Notes: Built in 2015. Dramatic backdrop of the Cerro de la Silla mountain range. The Tunisia vs. Japan match on June 20 is the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history.
Canada (2 venues)
BMO Field — Toronto Stadium
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Capacity: 45,736 (expanded from 30,000 specifically for this tournament)
Home teams: Toronto FC (MLS) and Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
Key matches: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B opener, June 12). Also hosts Group E (Germany vs. Ivory Coast, June 20) and a Round of 32 match (July 2).
Notes: Smallest venue in the tournament. This is where Canada famously qualified for Qatar 2022 by beating Jamaica, ending a 36-year World Cup absence.
BC Place — Vancouver Stadium
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Capacity: 54,000
Home teams: Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) and BC Lions (CFL)
Key matches: Australia vs. Türkiye (Group D, June 13); Canada vs. Qatar (June 18); Switzerland vs. Canada (June 24). Also hosts Group G Matchday 3 and a Round of 32 match.
Notes: Retractable roof. Main venue for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Located on the shores of False Creek.
Host City Regions
To minimize travel for teams and fans, the 16 host cities were grouped into three geographic clusters:
Western Region: Vancouver (Canada), Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles
Central Region: Guadalajara (Mexico), Mexico City (Mexico), Monterrey (Mexico), Houston, Dallas, Kansas City
Eastern Region: Atlanta, Miami, Toronto (Canada), Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey
All 48 Qualified Teams by Confederation
Host Nations (automatic qualification)
United States, Canada, Mexico
UEFA — Europe (16 teams)
Spain, France, England, Germany, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Scotland, Sweden, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia
Notable absences: Italy (lost playoff final to Bosnia and Herzegovina on penalties — first former champion to miss three consecutive World Cups), Denmark, Poland, Serbia, Wales.
CONMEBOL — South America (6 teams)
Argentina (defending champion), Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
AFC — Asia (9 teams)
Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Iraq
CAF — Africa (9 teams + 1 via inter-confederation playoff)
Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Tunisia, South Africa, Cape Verde, DR Congo (via playoff)
CONCACAF — North and Central America + Caribbean (3 additional beyond hosts)
Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
OFC — Oceania (1 team)
New Zealand
World Cup Debutants in 2026
Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, Uzbekistan — all appearing in their first-ever World Cup. Curaçao is the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup. Qatar qualifies for the first time through the qualification process (having previously debuted as hosts in 2022).
Notable Returns
Iraq — returning for the first time since 1986; Norway — first World Cup since 1998; Scotland — first World Cup since 1998; Austria — first World Cup since 1998; Türkiye — first World Cup since 2002; Czechia — first World Cup since 2006 (20-year gap); South Africa — first World Cup through qualifying since 2002 (appeared as hosts in 2010); DR Congo and Haiti — second appearances, both having previously played in 1974.
All 12 Groups
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Colombia, Panama, Algeria
Group K: Portugal, Croatia, Ghana, Ecuador (to be confirmed with final playoff slots)
Group L: England, Netherlands, Austria, (playoff slot)
Complete Group Stage Match Schedule
All times Eastern. FOX unless noted.
Group A
Thu, June 11, 3 p.m.: Mexico vs. South Africa — Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
Thu, June 11, 10 p.m. (FS1): Korea Republic vs. Czechia — Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
Thu, June 18, 12 p.m.: Czechia vs. South Africa — Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Thu, June 18, 9 p.m.: Mexico vs. Korea Republic — Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
Wed, June 24, 9 p.m.: Czechia vs. Mexico — Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
Wed, June 24, 9 p.m. (FS1): South Africa vs. Korea Republic — Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
Group B
Fri, June 12, 3 p.m.: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — BMO Field (Toronto)
Sat, June 13, 3 p.m.: Qatar vs. Switzerland — Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
Thu, June 18, 3 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
Thu, June 18, 6 p.m. (FS1): Canada vs. Qatar — BC Place (Vancouver)
Wed, June 24, 3 p.m.: Switzerland vs. Canada — BC Place (Vancouver)
Wed, June 24, 3 p.m. (FS1): Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar — Lumen Field (Seattle)
Group C
Sat, June 13, 6 p.m. (FS1): Brazil vs. Morocco — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Sat, June 13, 9 p.m. (FS1): Haiti vs. Scotland — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)
Fri, June 19, 6 p.m.: Scotland vs. Morocco — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
Fri, June 19, 8:30 p.m.: Brazil vs. Haiti — Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Wed, June 24, 6 p.m.: Scotland vs. Brazil — Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Wed, June 24, 6 p.m. (FS1): Morocco vs. Haiti — Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Group D
Fri, June 12, 9 p.m.: United States vs. Paraguay — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
Sat, June 13, 12 a.m. (FS1): Australia vs. Türkiye — BC Place (Vancouver)
Fri, June 19, 3 p.m.: United States vs. Australia — Lumen Field (Seattle)
Fri, June 19, 11 p.m. (FS1): Türkiye vs. Paraguay — Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
Thu, June 25, 10 p.m.: Türkiye vs. United States — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
Thu, June 25, 10 p.m. (FS1): Paraguay vs. Australia — Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
Group E
Sun, June 14, 1 p.m.: Germany vs. Curaçao — NRG Stadium (Houston)
Sun, June 14, 7 p.m. (FS1): Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador — Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Sat, June 20, 4 p.m.: Germany vs. Ivory Coast — BMO Field (Toronto)
Sat, June 20, 8 p.m. (FS1): Ecuador vs. Curaçao — Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
Thu, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1): Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast — Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Thu, June 25, 4 p.m.: Ecuador vs. Germany — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Group F
Sun, June 14, 4 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Japan — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
Sun, June 14, 10 p.m. (FS1): Sweden vs. Tunisia — Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
Sat, June 20, 1 p.m.: Netherlands vs. Sweden — NRG Stadium (Houston)
Sat, June 20, 12 a.m. (FS1): Tunisia vs. Japan — Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
Thu, June 25, 7 p.m. (FS1): Japan vs. Sweden — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)
Thu, June 25, 7 p.m.: Tunisia vs. Netherlands — Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
Group G
Mon, June 15, 3 p.m.: Belgium vs. Egypt — Lumen Field (Seattle)
Mon, June 15, 9 p.m. (FS1): Iran vs. New Zealand — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
Sun, June 21, 3 p.m. (FS1): Belgium vs. Iran — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
Sun, June 21, 9 p.m. (FS1): New Zealand vs. Egypt — BC Place (Vancouver)
Fri, June 26, 11 p.m. (FS1): Egypt vs. Iran — Lumen Field (Seattle)
Fri, June 26, 11 p.m.: New Zealand vs. Belgium — BC Place (Vancouver)
Group H
Mon, June 15, 12 p.m.: Spain vs. Cape Verde — Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Mon, June 15, 6 p.m. (FS1): Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay — Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Sun, June 21, 12 p.m.: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia — Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Sun, June 21, 6 p.m. (FS1): Uruguay vs. Cape Verde — Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
Fri, June 26, 8 p.m. (FS1): Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia — NRG Stadium (Houston)
Fri, June 26, 8 p.m.: Uruguay vs. Spain — Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
Group I
Tue, June 16, 3 p.m.: France vs. Senegal — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Tue, June 16, 6 p.m.: Iraq vs. Norway — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
Mon, June 22, 5 p.m.: France vs. Iraq — Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
Mon, June 22, 8 p.m.: Norway vs. Senegal — (venue TBC)
Knockout Stage Schedule
Round of 32: June 28 – July 3
16 matches across all host cities. First Round of 32 in World Cup history.
Round of 16: July 4–7
8 matches across US venues (with select matches in Canada and Mexico).
Quarterfinals: July 9–11
4 matches, all in the United States.
Semifinal 1: July 14
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (Dallas area)
Semifinal 2: July 15
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Third Place Match: July 18
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Final: July 19, 3:00 p.m. ET
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Historical Context: Records and Firsts
First World Cup hosted by three nations. The only previous multi-host tournament was Japan and South Korea in 2002.
First World Cup with 48 teams. Previous format since 1998: 32 teams. The expansion adds 16 more nations and 40 more matches.
First World Cup with a Round of 32. All previous 32-team editions went directly from groups to a Round of 16.
Mexico becomes the first nation to host or co-host the men's World Cup three times (1970, 1986, 2026).
Estadio Azteca becomes the first stadium to host matches at three different World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026). No other stadium in history has achieved this.
First World Cup in which all six FIFA confederations have at least one guaranteed berth.
Curaçao becomes the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Italy fails to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup — the first former champion to achieve this unwanted milestone. Italy were the only former champion to miss out in 2018 and 2022 as well.
Most matches ever hosted in a single World Cup. 104 matches surpasses all previous editions.
The 1,000th match in World Cup history will be played on June 20, 2026: Tunisia vs. Japan, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey.
Canada hosts the men's World Cup for the first time ever. Canada's previous men's World Cup appearances: 1986 (group stage exit) and 2022 (group stage exit).
Ticket Information
Official ticket sales are handled exclusively through FIFA and On Location (the official hospitality partner). As of April 2026, prices on the official direct sale platform range from approximately $60 to $10,990 per ticket depending on the match, seat category, and FIFA's dynamic pricing model. FIFA made a limited number of $60 tickets available across all 104 matches in response to fan criticism over initial pricing. Tickets purchased through unauthorized resellers are at the buyer's risk. Official website: fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026.
Halftime Show
FIFA confirmed that the 2026 World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium will feature a halftime show — the first in World Cup history, inspired by the NFL's Super Bowl halftime tradition. Coldplay has been confirmed as part of the production for the Final.
Player Release Dates
The final matchday at club level for players named in final squads is May 24, 2026. Clubs must release their players by May 25, 2026. Exceptions are granted to players participating in continental club competition finals up until May 30, 2026.
Quick Reference: Host Nation Group Stage Schedules
Mexico (Group A)
June 11: Mexico vs. South Africa — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
June 18: Mexico vs. Korea Republic — Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
June 24: Czechia vs. Mexico — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
United States (Group D)
June 12: USA vs. Paraguay — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 19: USA vs. Australia — Lumen Field, Seattle
June 25: Türkiye vs. USA — SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Canada (Group B)
June 12: Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina — BMO Field, Toronto
June 18: Canada vs. Qatar — BC Place, Vancouver
June 24: Switzerland vs. Canada — BC Place, Vancouver
Everything Else Worth Knowing
Turf: Eight of the sixteen venues have permanent artificial turf that has been replaced with natural grass under FIFA's direction, using a University of Tennessee / Michigan State University research program. Cooler-climate venues use a hybrid of 84% Kentucky bluegrass and 16% perennial ryegrass. Warmer-climate venues use Bermuda grass.
Referees: On April 9, 2026, FIFA announced 52 referees, 88 assistant referees, and 30 video assistant referees for the tournament.
Weather: The tournament runs through June and July — peak North American summer. Warm-weather venues include Miami, Dallas, Houston, Guadalajara, and Kansas City. Four US venues (Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Vancouver) have retractable roofs with climate control. Los Angeles has a translucent open-air roof without climate control. Plan accordingly for outdoor watch parties and fan zones.
Broadcasting: In the United States, all 104 matches air live across FOX and FS1, with every match streaming on FOX One in 4K. This is the most comprehensively broadcast World Cup in US television history.
Previous North American host: The last time North America hosted the men's World Cup was 1994, when Brazil defeated Italy on penalties. None of the 1994 host stadiums are being used in 2026.
Planning Your 2026 World Cup Campaign
With 48 nations, 16 host cities, and a month-long tournament window, the 2026 World Cup creates more commercial activation opportunities than any previous edition. Whether you're sourcing branded merchandise for a fan zone, building a corporate hospitality kit, or planning watch party giveaways across multiple matches, the tournament's scale means the planning window matters more than ever — production capacity for quality promotional products tightens significantly as June approaches.
Browse the full 2026 World Cup promotional products collection — including the Fringed Sublimated Scarf, Knitted Stadium Scarf, Cooling Scarf, Rally Towel, Felt Pennant, and Full Color Hoodies.
The tournament opens June 11. Everything you need to know is above.