Levi Rothermund
2026 World Cup: hosts, dates, tickets and what fans need to know
England booked their place at the 2026 World Cup after a qualification win over Latvia, giving Three Lions supporters time to plan for next summer — whether they travel or watch at home.
When and where
The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the first time three nations have staged the finals together. The opening match is scheduled for 11 June 2026 in Mexico City. The final will be held on 19 July 2026 in New Jersey.
Format and schedule
FIFA has expanded the finals to 48 teams. The event will run a record 39 days. The group stage will consist of 12 four‑team groups, followed by an extra knockout round — the round of 32 — before the usual last‑16 and beyond.
Host cities
Sixteen cities will stage matches: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. They are:
- USA: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle
- Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
- Canada: Toronto, Vancouver
The United States will host 78 of the 104 fixtures, including the final.
The draw
The group-stage draw will take place on Friday 5 December 2025 at 16:00 GMT, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Host nations are pre-assigned to positions: Mexico A1, Canada B1, USA D1.
Tickets and pricing
The first batch of tickets went on sale in early October. More than 4.5 million fans entered an initial application draw. FIFA has split general admission into four categories; online listings from successful applicants indicate wide price ranges.
- First-match tickets in the USA have been listed between $560 and $2,235.
- The cheapest tickets for the final start at around $2,030, with top-tier seats listed near $6,000. Hospitality tickets have not yet gone on sale and will be significantly higher.
- Some early-stage matches in less central venues show a few seats at $60.
Key ticket phases: an Early Ticket Draw ran from 27 to 31 October 2025. After the groups are drawn, a randomised selection will allow fans to apply for specific matches. A final sales window will open closer to the tournament for any remaining inventory on a first‑come, first‑served basis.
FIFA is using a dynamic pricing model, so prices for high‑demand matches could rise in later sales phases. A ‘Right To Buy’ option is also offered to guarantee tickets, typically at a premium.
Who has qualified so far
As of now 28 teams have secured places, including hosts and the reigning champions. The confirmed sides are:
- Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
- Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Asia/Oceania: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan, New Zealand
- Europe: England
- South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Three nations have reached the World Cup for the first time: Cape Verde, Jordan and Uzbekistan. Suriname and Curaçao remain in contention to make debut appearances.
Security, politics and logistics
The United States will host the majority of fixtures but there are political and social tensions that have already affected planning. The build‑up has included reports of political assassinations in 2025 and more than 500 mass shootings across the country in 2024, according to public reporting. Increased deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and National Guard deployments in some cities have prompted large protests in several locations, including Los Angeles, which is due to host eight matches.
President Donald Trump has warned he could move matches from cities he deems “unsafe” and said in March that political and economic tensions with co‑hosts Canada and Mexico would be good for the tournament, after imposing tariffs on imports from both neighbours.
Weather and kick‑off times
Heat was a feature of this summer’s Club World Cup in the USA. Managers and players reported near 40°C conditions in Los Angeles. FIFA is expected to stagger kick‑offs to reduce heat exposure for players, which may mean many matches involving major European nations start late UK time. Kick-offs could follow a pattern used at the Club World Cup: earliest games at 17:00 BST, then 20:00, 23:00 and 02:00.
What fans should do now
Decide whether you will travel, register for ticket draws and check visa requirements early. With dynamic pricing and limited low‑cost seats, booking travel and accommodation sooner rather than later will help secure options and control costs.