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2026 World Cup: 48 Teams, US-Canada-Mexico Host

6/16/2026

29 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first 48-team tournament, is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It runs June 11–July 19, 2026, with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Matches air on Fox, FS1, Telemundo and Universo, with streams on Fox One, Peacock, FuboTV and YouTube TV.
Betting markets list France and Spain as top favorites, followed by Portugal, England, Argentina and Brazil, with no clear runaway.

History

Historical Context

On July 4 1988 FIFA awarded the World Cup to the United States, noting its existing stadiums and the chance to grow soccer in a non-traditional market. The 1994 tournament expanded to 24 teams, set a record attendance of 3,587,538 and proved financially successful, prompting future growth. That model underpins the 2026 co-hosted event, now expanding to 48 teams with the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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Story summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first 48-team tournament, is jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It runs June 11–July 19, 2026, with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Matches air on Fox, FS1, Telemundo and Universo, with streams on Fox One, Peacock, FuboTV and YouTube TV.
Betting markets list France and Spain as top favorites, followed by Portugal, England, Argentina and Brazil, with no clear runaway.

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