The greatest World Cup of all time.
- 16 hours ago
- 8 min read
With 48 teams, three host countries and a brand new format, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to mark a new era in the history of world football.
The XXIII FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held – for the first time – in 16 cities, with 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico and 2 in Canada.
Also for the first time, the World Cup will have the largest expansion in its history, with the participation of 48 national teams , a 50% increase compared to the 32 teams in the last World Cup, held in 2022.
Since there are more teams, the competition format will also be expanded from a total of 64 to 104 matches.
The first World Cups were held with 13 to 16 participants, in 1930, 1934, 1938 and 1950. From 1954 onwards, the tournament featured 16 teams until it was increased to 24 for Spain '82, and then 32 for France '98. The competition with 48 national teams was announced by FIFA in 2017, which defended the change stating the interest in accelerating the development of football in countries that rarely qualify for the World Cup.
The competition will feature, in its first phase , the participation of 48 national teams, distributed into 12 groups of four , with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams qualifying , for a total of 72 matches in this initial phase.
From the second phase onwards , which will include the 32 qualified teams, we will have direct elimination matches between two teams (knockout) , with the same system being applied to the round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match and final.
For the first time in the Cup's history, the finalists will play eight matches , one more than the traditional seven.
Awards
It's impressive how the prize money for the FIFA World Cup has increased significantly over the years, reaching its current standard. Older tournaments offered more prestige than financial rewards. Today, the World Cup is one of the richest sporting competitions on the planet.
Observe how the payments to the winners have grown over time:
Year | Winners | Prize Money (US$) |
1982 | Italy | Around $2.2 million |
1986 | Argentina | Around $2.8 million |
1990 | West Germany | Around $3.5 million |
1994 | Brazil | Around $4 million |
1998 | France | Around $6 million |
2002 | Brazil | Around $8 million |
2006 | Italy | Around $20 million |
2010 | Spain | Around $30 million |
2014 | Germany | Around $35 million |
2018 | France | $38 million |
2022 | Argentina | $42 million |
2026 | USA-Canada-Mexico | 50 million |
Source: Sofascore
The prize money for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost double what recent champions earned just a few World Cups ago. The leap between 2002 and 2006 completely changed the financial landscape. FIFA approved the increase in prize money for the 2026 World Cup after expanding the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. More games mean greater broadcast revenue with more global television viewership, more ticket sales, more sponsorship deals, and more robust commercial growth. Furthermore, the rise of digital streaming, global sponsorships, and social media engagement has only accelerated this growth.
FIFA believes that the expanded World Cup will lead football to penetrate deeper into new markets, especially in Asia, Africa, and North America.
Of the US$871 million that FIFA will distribute to the nations participating in the 2026 World Cup, US$703 million will be paid as financial prizes.
Each participating team in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is guaranteed to receive at least US$12.5 million , with US$2.5 million allocated to cover preparation costs and US$10 million simply for participating in the first phase, as per the table below which details prize money by phase and also provides prize money for the other phases:
Source: DAZN
FIFA's prize money for the World Cup is not cumulative across stages , as is the case in some club competitions. The table published by FIFA indicates the final amount corresponding to the team's final position in the World Cup.
“FIFA is proud to be in its strongest financial position ever, which allows us to help all of our Member Associations in an unprecedented way,” said Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, in announcing the increase in prize money in April.
World Cup Stadiums
All 16 World Cup stadiums and their respective host countries - Source: Facts Info
Mexico
The opening match of the World Cup will be held in Mexico City, at the Azteca Stadium, on June 11, 2026 , making Mexico the first country to host a World Cup for the third time. Mexico will host 13 matches of the tournament.
Compared to other countries, such as Qatar, host of the last World Cup, Mexico had the advantage of not needing to build the stadiums that will host 13 international matches.
In addition to the Azteca Stadium , the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara and the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey will also host matches of the XXIII FIFA World Cup. The latter two venues "are relatively new and were built according to very modern standards." Furthermore, Mexico is one of the most visited countries in terms of tourism, and in this sense, the three selected cities have adequate infrastructure, according to Francisco San José of the School of Sports Sciences at Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico.
Canada
Canada has never hosted the men's World Cup, although it attempted to bid for the 1986 edition after Colombia, the original choice, said it could not host the tournament for financial reasons. The country chosen that time was Mexico.
In Canada, the World Cup will feature 13 matches, spread between the cities of Toronto and Vancouver.
In Toronto, the World Cup will take place at BMO Field stadium, which has received extra seating and now has a capacity of 45,000 seats.
In Vancouver, the games will take place at BC Place , which has a capacity of 54,000 people.
United States
In the United States , 78 World Cup matches will be held. The matches in the US will take place in venues that were specifically built for NFL (National Football League) games¹. This presented a unique challenge, as many venues use artificial turf for American football, and it was necessary to replace it with natural grass.
Lumen Field in Seattle replaced its artificial turf with a natural grass surface, as did BC Place in Canada, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas), Mercedes Benz Stadium (Atlanta), MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford), Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts), NRG Stadium (Houston), and SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California).
The change in grass wasn't the only adaptation made to stadiums in the United States. NFL fields were 53.3 yards wide. FIFA required a playing field at least 68 meters (74.4 yards) wide, with a total grass field area of at least 85 by 125 meters (93 by 136.7 yards).
Most, if not all, of the 11 US venues removed side and corner seats temporarily and specifically for the World Cup. In any case, stadium costs were limited to adjustments and adaptations, without new construction, which resulted in a significant reduction in costs.
Climate concerns
A report by World Weather Attribution (WWA) warns that nearly a quarter of matches could be played in potentially dangerous heat for players and fans, prompting FIFA to plan cool-down breaks and other protective measures.
FIFA World Cup 2026: new rules for refereeing and VAR
Five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks.
Red cards for players who cover their mouths during confrontations.
Sanctions for teams that abandon the field in protest.
Mandatory one-minute intervals for off-field medical attention.
VAR ² He can intervene if a foul is committed before the ball is in play during a set piece.
VAR will be updated with artificial intelligence and 3D tracking to make offside decisions in seconds. It will be able to overturn yellow cards and corner kicks that were wrongly awarded.
Final match
MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey, United States
The World Cup final will be held on July 19, 2026 , at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey , which has a capacity of 82,500 people.
Halftime show
In an unprecedented move, FIFA has decided to introduce a musical performance during the halftime show of the final match, inspired by formats common in major US sporting events, such as the Super Bowl. The halftime musical event, lasting approximately eleven minutes, will feature artists acclaimed by the public: Madonna, Shakira, and the boy band BTS. The show will be directed by Chris Martin of Coldplay and produced by Global Citizen .
The music of the World Cup
According to FIFA, " Dai Dai " is the official song of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and brings together global sounds and the energy of Shakira and Burna Boy in a vibrant celebration of football, culture and unity.
Teams participating in the group stage
Group A : Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia
Group B : Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C : Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D : United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Group E : Germany, Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F : Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
Group G : Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H : Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I : France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J : Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K : Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, Congo DR
Group L : England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Plan ahead by checking the dates and times of all the games >>> click here .
Grand event
The 2026 World Cup will have the additional cost of 40 more matches than were played in the last World Cup, but the host countries have stadiums that can meet the new demand for games, and the overall infrastructure is quite favorable.
The opening for cost mitigation by the three host countries is a positive development and helps to make the mega-event, the World Cup, viable. It is expected to be a complete success, both in sporting and economic terms.
By Luiz Cincurá
Founder and Editor
This article was produced entirely by the author, based on independent research, critical analysis, and original writing, with citations to the sources consulted and without the use of artificial intelligence.
Notes:
¹ The National Football League is the professional American football league in the United States. It consists of 32 teams, divided equally between two conferences: the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference.
² Video Assistant Referee ( VAR ). The VAR structure consists of a committee made up of referees who analyze video images in real time to assist the main referee in important decisions, such as goal plays, penalties, direct red cards, identification errors and offsides, in the latter case, when they are linked to a goal play or a possible penalty.
Sources:
CARIBBEAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION . FIFA 2026 World Cup airing on CBC TV8. Accessed on June 10, 2026.
DAVIDSON, Neil. CBC. Canada to stage 13 games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Toronto and Vancouver. Accessed on: April 26, 2024.
DAZN. SCHULLER, Rudi. World Cup stories: How much prize money do the winners and each team get? Accessed on 09.Jun.2026.
ESPN. What the World Cup will look like in 2026: 48 teams, more groups, more venues, more games . Accessed on: April 16, 2024.
EURONEWS. SALAKO, Tokunbo. Halftime hits: FIFA reveals star-studded squad for historic World Cup final show . Accessed on 08.Jun.2026.
FIFA. Council approves record-breaking FIFA World Cup 2026™ financial contribution . Accessed on June 10, 2026.
FIFA World Cup 2026 . What is the format for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ tournament? Accessed on 09.Jun.2026.
FOOTBALLCOUNTER. New rules at the upcoming FIFA World Cup! Accessed on 09.Jun.2026.
INSIDE FIFA. FIFA Council approves international match calendars . Accessed on: April 16, 2024.
NBC SPORTS. What is the 2026 World Cup schedule? When and where are the games? How will it work? What is the format? Accessed on April 17, 2024.
ROADTRIPS. 2026 World Cup Schedule – USA, Canada and Mexico. Accessed on 09.Jun.2026.
SOFASCORE NEWS. How much money do FIFA World Cup winners get? Accessed on June 10, 2026.
TRAEDER. Viloa. D.W. Will Mexico succeed as host of the 2026 World Cup? Accessed on: April 25, 2024.
USSOCCER. World Cup Returns to North America in 2026 - What You Should Know . Accessed on: April 17, 2024.
VIJAYKUMAR. Ajit The National News. FIFA World Cup 2026 in US, Mexico and Canada: Venues, capacity and schedule . Accessed on: March 30, 2024.
Wikipedia. National Football League . Accessed on: April 6, 2024.
YAHOO NEWS. CBC. What you need to know about the World Cup coming to Vancouver in 2026. Accessed on: April 26, 2024.
Y! SPORTS. 2026 World Cup schedule: Everything we know about locations, dates, times, teams, tickets and more . Accessed on: April 17, 2024.
Comments