The 2026 football World Cup will be held across the USA, Mexico and Canada between 11th June and 19th July 2026.
This is the first expanded tournament with 48 teams taking part—an increase from the limit of 32 nations which has been in force since 1998.
The teams will be split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two in each group, as well as the eight best third-placed teams, will progress to a knockout round of 32 teams.
With the increase in teams, the number of matches in the World Cup finals will rise from 64 to 104.
World Cup 2026 group stage
The draw for the World Cup 2026 group stage was held on 5th November at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C, USA.
The composition of the 12 groups of four teams is listed below.
Group A
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
Group A match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico vs South Africa | 11th June | 19:00 |
| South Korea vs Czech Republic | 12th June | 02:00 |
| Czech Republic vs South Africa | 18th June | 16:00 |
| Mexico vs South Korea | 19th June | 01:00 |
| Czech Republic vs Mexico | 25th June | 01:00 |
| South Africa vs South Korea | 25th June | 01:00 |
Group B
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 🇶🇦 Qatar
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
Group B match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 12th June | 19:00 |
| Qatar vs Switzerland | 13th June | 19:00 |
| Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina | 18th June | 19:00 |
| Canada vs Qatar | 18th June | 22:00 |
| Switzerland vs Canada | 24th June | 19:00 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar | 24th June | 19:00 |
Group C
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- 🇭🇹 Haiti
- 🏴Scotland
Group C match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil vs Morocco | 13th June | 22:00 |
| Haiti vs Scotland | 14th June | 01:00 |
| Scotland vs Morocco | 19th June | 22:00 |
| Brazil vs Haiti | 20th June | 01:00 |
| Scotland vs Brazil | 24th June | 22:00 |
| Morocco vs Haiti | 24th June | 22:00 |
Group D
- 🇺🇸 USA
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇹🇷 Turkey
Group D match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| USA vs Paraguay | 13th June | 01:00 |
| Australia vs Turkey | 13th June | 04:00 |
| Turkey vs Paraguay | 19th June | 04:00 |
| USA vs Australia | 19th June | 19:00 |
| Turkey vs USA | 26th June | 02:00 |
| Paraguay vs Australia | 26th June | 02:00 |
Group E
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇨🇼 Curaçao
- 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador
Group E match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Germany vs Curaçao | 14th June | 19:00 |
| Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador | 14th June | 23:00 |
| Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire | 20th June | 20:00 |
| Ecuador vs Curaçao | 21st June | 00:00 |
| Ecuador vs Germany | 25th June | 20:00 |
| Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire | 25th June | 20:00 |
Group F
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia
Group F match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands vs Japan | 14th June | 20:00 |
| Sweden vs Tunisia | 15th June | 02:00 |
| Netherlands vs Sweden | 20th June | 17:00 |
| Tunisia vs Japan | 21st June | 04:00 |
| Japan vs Sweden | 25th June | 23:00 |
| Tunisia vs Netherlands | 25th June | 23:00 |
Group G
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇪🇬 Egypt
- 🇮🇷 Iran
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
Group G match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium vs Egypt | 15th June | 19:00 |
| Iran vs New Zealand | 16th June | 01:00 |
| Belgium vs Iran | 21st June | 19:00 |
| New Zealand vs Egypt | 22nd June | 01:00 |
| Egypt vs Iran | 27th June | 03:00 |
| New Zealand vs Belgium | 27th June | 03:00 |
Group H
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
Group H match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Spain vs Cabo Verde | 15th June | 16:00 |
| Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | 15th June | 22:00 |
| Spain vs Saudi Arabia | 21st June | 16:00 |
| Uruguay vs Cabo Verde | 21st June | 22:00 |
| Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia | 27th June | 00:00 |
| Uruguay vs Spain | 27th June | 00:00 |
Group I
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇸🇳 Senegal
- 🇮🇶 Iraq
- 🇳🇴 Norway
Group I match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| France vs Senegal | 16th June | 19:00 |
| Iraq vs Norway | 16th June | 22:00 |
| France vs Iraq | 22nd June | 02:00 |
| Norway vs Senegal | 23rd June | 00:00 |
| Norway vs France | 26th June | 19:00 |
| Senegal vs Iraq | 26th June | 19:00 |
Group J
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- 🇩🇿 Algeria
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇯🇴 Jordan
Group J match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina vs Algeria | 17th June | 01:00 |
| Austria vs Jordan | 17th June | 04:00 |
| Argentina vs Austria | 22nd June | 17:00 |
| Jordan vs Algeria | 23rd June | 03:00 |
| Algeria vs Austria | 28th June | 02:00 |
| Jordan vs Argentina | 28th June | 02:00 |
Group K
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- 🇨🇬 DR Congo
- 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
- 🇨🇴 Colombia
Group K match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal vs DR Congo | 17th June | 17:00 |
| Uzbekistan vs Colombia | 18th June | 02:00 |
| Portugal vs Uzbekistan | 23rd June | 17:00 |
| Colombia vs DR Congo | 24th June | 02:00 |
| Colombia vs Portugal | 27th June | 23:30 |
| DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | 27th June | 23:30 |
Group L
- 🏴 England
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- 🇬🇭 Ghana
- 🇵🇦 Panama
Group L match schedule
| Match | Date | Kick-Off (GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | 17th June | 20:00 |
| Ghana vs Panama | 18th June | 23:00 |
| England vs Ghana | 23rd June | 20:00 |
| Panama vs Croatia | 24th June | 23:00 |
| Panama vs England | 27th June | 21:00 |
| Croatia vs Ghana | 27th June | 21:00 |
World Cup Guide 2026: Latest odds
| Nation | Odds |
|---|---|
| Spain | 5.90 |
| England | 6.90 |
| France | 7.70 |
| Brazil | 8.90 |
| Argentina | 9.50 |
| Portugal | 9.90 |
| Germany | 13.75 |
| Netherlands | 22.00 |
| Norway | 29.00 |
| Belgium | 38.00 |
| Switzerland | 46.00 |
| USA | 46.00 |
| Colombia | 53.00 |
| Morocco | 61.00 |
| Uruguay | 67.00 |
| Japan | 69.00 |
| Croatia | 81.00 |
| Mexico | 86.00 |
| Ecuador | 91.00 |
| Senegal | 106.00 |
| Turkey | 106.00 |
| Canada | 121.00 |
| Sweden | 151.00 |
| Austria | 165.00 |
| Paraguay | 165.00 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 226.00 |
| Scotland | 240.00 |
| South Korea | 276.00 |
| Czech Republic | 301.00 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 315.00 |
| Egypt | 315.00 |
| Algeria | 426.00 |
| Ghana | 451.00 |
| Tunisia | 451.00 |
| Australia | 525.00 |
| Iran | 575.00 |
| DR Congo | 901.00 |
| Qatar | 1151.00 |
| Saudi Arabia | 1151.00 |
| South Africa | 1151.00 |
| Iraq | 1751.00 |
| New Zealand | 1751.00 |
| Panama | 1751.00 |
| Cabo Verde | 2251.00 |
| Curaçao | 2251.00 |
| Uzbekistan | 2251.00 |
| Jordan | 2751.00 |
| Haiti | 3501.00 |
World Cup 2026 Qualification
Each of the six confederations is guaranteed representation at the 2026 World Cup finals. In each confederation, except UEFA, there were inter-confederation playoff slots, which served as a second chance for some nations to earn a place in the finals.
Which teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup 2026?
After the play-off finals on 31st March, the following 48 teams have booked their places in the World Cup finals…
Host Nations (all CONCACAF)
- 🇺🇸 USA
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇨🇦 Canada
AFC
- 🇮🇷 Iran
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇺🇿 Ukbekistan
- 🇰🇷 South Korea
- 🇯🇴 Jordan
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇶🇦 Qatar
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
- 🇮🇶 Iraq
CAF
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia
- 🇪🇬 Egypt
- 🇩🇿 Algeria
- 🇬🇭 Ghana
- 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire
- 🇸🇳 Senegal
- 🇨🇬 DR Congo
CONCACAF
- 🇵🇦 Panama
- 🇭🇹 Haiti
- 🇨🇼 Curaçao
CONMEBOL
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇴 Colombia
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
OFC
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
UEFA
- 🏴 England
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🏴 Scotland
- 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇹🇷 Turkey
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
AFC (Asian Football Confederation)
The AFC has been awarded eight direct qualifying slots for the finals and one inter-confederation playoff slot.
Following the conclusion of the AFC qualifying groups, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Japan and Australia were confirmed as World Cup finalists after finishing in the top two places of their respective groups at the end of the third round. They were joined by Qatar and Saudi Arabia, who topped their groups in the fourth round.
Iraq defeated Bolivia in their two-legged inter-confederation play-off final to take their place in the finals.
CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation)
CONMEBOL has been awarded six direct qualifying slots for the finals and one inter-confederation playoff slot.
The CONMEBOL qualification took the form of a single group of 10 teams. The group has now concluded.
Each team played the others in their group home and away. The top six teams qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup, whilst the seventh-place team has earned a place in the inter-confederation playoffs.
Argentina were the first team to assure themselves of qualification, after a decisive 4-1 home victory over Brazil on Matchday 14 guaranteed a top-six finish in the table. Ecuador and Brazil then confirmed their qualification for the World Cup finals in the next round of matches. Colombia, Uruguay and Paraguay all secured their places in the finals over the last two matchdays.
Bolivia finished in seventh place in the table but were eliminated in their inter-confederation play-off final.
CAF (Confederation of African Football)
The CAF has been awarded nine direct qualifying slots for the finals and one inter-confederation playoff slot.
The CAF qualifiers took the form of nine groups, each with six teams. Each team played the others in their group home and away.
The nine group winners qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup, whilst the four best group runners-up progressed to a play-off round (semi-final and final) to determine which team will earn a place in the inter-confederation playoffs.
Morocco and Tunisia were the first African teams to book their place in the finals, with Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Cabo Verde, Ivory Coast, Algeria and Ghana joining them after the final two rounds of matches.
The four teams that progressed to the second round for a place in the inter-confederation playoffs were Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and DR Congo. DR Congo were the victors after defeating both Cameroon and Nigeria, and after beating Jamaica in the inter-confederation playoff final, they will compete in the World Cup finals.
OFC (Oceania Football Confederation)
The OFC has been awarded one direct qualifying slot for the finals and one inter-confederation playoff slot.
This is the first World Cup in which the OFC has a direct qualification slot for the World Cup finals.
The OFC qualifying has now been completed, with New Zealand qualifying directly for the 2026 World Cup. New Caledonia were unable to reach the final tournament after losing to Jamaica in their semi-final in the inter-confederation play-offs.
UEFA (Union of European Football Associations)
UEFA has been awarded 16 direct qualifying slots for the finals.
The European qualifying schedule featured 12 groups of four or five teams. The 12 group winners qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup.
The play-off stage saw the 12 group runners-up joined by the four best Nations League group winners (based on the Nations League overall ranking) that finished outside the top two in their WC qualifying group. These sixteen teams were drawn into four paths and played two rounds of single-match playoffs (semi-finals and a final). The four path winners qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
England were the first European team to be assured of a place in the World Cup Finals. Across the final two matchdays, they were joined by the following group winners: France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Scotland and the Netherlands.
The 16 teams who contested the play-off stage for the four remaining UEFA places are: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland.
The four teams that advanced from the play-off round and will compete in the 2026 World Cup finals are Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Turkey, and the Czech Republic.
CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football)
The three host nations, USA, Mexico and Canada, are all from CONCACAF and qualify automatically.
The host nations aside, CONCACAF have been awarded a further three direct qualifying slots for the finals and two inter-confederation playoff slots.
The 12 teams that have made it through to the third round in the CONCACAF qualifying have been split into three groups of four teams each.
The group winners were not determined until the final round of matches, after which Panama, Curaçao and Haiti confirmed their places in the 2026 World Cup.
The two best-ranked runners-up, Jamaica and Suriname, qualified for the inter-confederation playoffs. However, neither team were able to progress to the World Cup finals.
Inter-confederation playoff format
The inter-confederation playoffs decided the final two places in the 2026 World Cup and gave six teams who failed to qualify through their confederations a second chance to reach the big stage.
The six participating teams consisted of one team from each confederation, excluding UEFA, and one additional place for the confederation of the host countries.
The six teams that had a second chance at qualifying through the inter-confederation playoffs were:
- Bolivia (CONMEBOL)
- DR Congo (CAF) – seeded team
- Iraq (AFC) – seeded team
- Jamaica (CONCACAF)
- New Caledonia (OFC)
- Suriname (CONCACAF)
DR Congo and Iraq were seeded based on their world rankings and received a bye in the first round of matches. The four unseeded teams played knockout matches in Mexico, with the winners advancing to play one of the seeded teams. The two victorious nations, claiming the 47th and 48th spots in the 2026 World Cup finals, were DR Congo and Iraq.
World Cup 2026 FAQs
When will the 2026 World Cup take place?
The opening match is on the 11th of June 2026, with the final taking place on the 19th of July 2026.
Where will the 2026 World Cup be held?
Three countries will host the final tournament: USA, Mexico and Canada.
How many countries will compete in the 2026 World Cup?
48 teams will compete in the finals, an increase of 16 over recent tournaments.
How many matches will there be in the 2026 World Cup?
With the increase in teams, the number of matches in the World Cup finals will rise from 64 to 104.
Where will the 2026 World Cup final be played?
The 2026 World Cup final will be played at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. The stadium is the home ground for the New York Giants and New York Jets in the NFL and opened in 2010.
How many cities will be hosting 2026 World Cup matches?
There will be 16 host cities in the World Cup. Eleven are in the USA, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
Where was the 2022 World Cup held?
The 2022 World Cup was held in Qatar. It caused some controversy, as it was the first tournament held outside the traditional summer months due to the extremes of Qatar’s climate at that time of year.
Who are the defending World Cup champions?
Argentina defeated France 4-2 on penalties in the 2022 World Cup final after the match ended 3-3 at the conclusion of extra-time. This fantastic game was notable for a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick and a brace for Lionel Messi.
When were substitutes allowed in World Cup matches?
It was not until the 1970 World Cup that substitutes were allowed. Until then, the starting XI in any World Cup could not be changed once the match had begun.
Last 10 World Cup finals
| Year | Host Country | Winners | Runners-Up | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Mexico | Argentina | West Germany | 3-2 |
| 1990 | Italy | West Germany | Argentina | 1-0 |
| 1994 | United States | Brazil | Italy | 0-0* |
| 1998 | France | France | Brazil | 3-0 |
| 2002 | South Korea/Japan | Brazil | Germany | 2-0 |
| 2006 | Germany | Italy | France | 1-1** |
| 2010 | South Africa | Spain | Netherlands | 1-0 (a.e.t.) |
| 2014 | Brazil | Germany | Argentina | 1-0 (a.e.t.) |
| 2018 | Russia | France | Croatia | 4-2 |
| 2022 | Qatar | Argentina | France | 3-3*** |
World Cup winners
Since the first tournament in 1930, eight different teams have held the famous World Cup trophy.
| Winners | Number of titles | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 5 | 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 |
| Germany (incl. West Germany) | 4 | 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014 |
| Italy | 4 | 1934, 1938, 1982, 2006 |
| Argentina | 3 | 1978, 1986, 2022 |
| France | 2 | 1998, 2018 |
| Uruguay | 2 | 1930, 1950 |
| England | 1 | 1966 |
| Spain | 1 | 2010 |
Top scorers in World Cup final tournaments
| Player | Goals Scored | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Miroslav Klose | 16 | Germany |
| Ronaldo | 15 | Brazil |
| Gerd Müller | 14 | Germany |
| Just Fontaine | 13 | France |
| Lionel Messi | 13 | Argentina |
| Kylian Mbappé | 12 | France |
| Pelé | 12 | Brazil |
| Sándor Kocsis | 11 | Hungary |
| Jürgen Klinsmann | 11 | Germany |
| Helmut Rahn | 10 | Germany |
| Gabriel Batistuta | 10 | Argentina |
| Gary Lineker | 10 | England |
| Teófilo Cubillas | 10 | Peru |
| Thomas Müller | 10 | Germany |
| Grzegorz Lato | 10 | Poland |
Check the Marathonbet Sportsbook for the latest outright odds on the FIFA 2026 World Cup, as well as the group stage match betting.
You’ll discover a range of predictions and guides on some of the top sporting events in the Sports Betting Predictions section of the blog.
