The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams, and Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot. Other teams could follow in the current international window.

The FIFA 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 countries, expanded from the usual 32-team tournament. Sixteen cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico will combine to host 104 ...

As confirmed by FIFA back in 2018, the 2026 World Cup is set to unfold across North America, featuring 80 exhilarating matches scattered across the three largest nations on the continent.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11, 2026 and runs through to July 19, 2026. The opening game will see co-hosts Mexico face as-yet-unconfirmed opposition at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

TOM COLLOMOSSE: As if being thrashed by their greatest rivals were not painful enough, Brazil had to stand and watch as world football's biggest wind-up merchant rubbed salt into the wound.

The biggest World Cup in history will be here before you know it. More teams. More games. More hype. The field has been increased from 32 to 48 for the first time since 1998. As host nations ...

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon with next summer’s showpiece set to be an incredible spectacle. For the first time, the tournament will feature 48 teams in an expanded format.