The biggest World Cup tournament the earth has ever seen will be held in 2026 – right here in North America.
On the eve of the men’s 2018 FIFA World Cup opening match in Russia, soccer’s world governing body FIFA awarded the right to host the men’s 2026 World Cup to the United Bid featuring Canada, Mexico and the United States. It will be the first World Cup tournament held across three nations, featuring an expanded field of 48 teams and a record 80 matches.
The North American unified bid defeated the lone competing bid from Morocco, winning the first-ever public vote involving all 203 eligible FIFA member nations by a 134-65 tally, claiming 67 percent of the vote.
The 2026 edition will be the second World Cup hosted on US soil, and the first one in 1994 still holds the record for the most tickets sold and the most revenue ever generated in addition to leading to the launch of Major League Soccer just two years later. Mexico has served as host on two occasions – in 1970 and 1986 – while Canada has never hosted the men’s World Cup.
Below is an FAQ regarding the next steps associated with bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to North America.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The exact dates will be set by FIFA in the future.
What are the Official Host Cities of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
FIFA will decide the host cities in 2020 or 2021. We included 23 candidate host cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States as part of our offer to FIFA to provide maximum flexibility and leverage when making the best choice for where and how to stage the Competition.
Will Canada, USA and Mexico automatically have a spot in the 2026 World Cup?
That decision will be made by the FIFA Council in the future.
How many teams will compete in the competition?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup™ will be the first with 48 teams – the largest ever.
How many games will each country host?
Under the current plan, the United States will host 60 matches, while Canada and Mexico will host 10 each.
What is the schedule for the competition?
Those details will be decided by FIFA in the future.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup Official Draw?
Those details will be decided by FIFA in the future. We anticipate it will take place in December 2025.
What is the qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Those details will be decided by FIFA in the future.
When and where do Canada/USA/Mexico play their matches?
The schedule will be decided by FIFA once the host cities have been decided, the teams have qualified, etc.
When and how can I purchase tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and how much will they cost?
That will be decided by FIFA in the future.
How will I be able to follow my team across international borders?
We are committed to all fans being able to visit North America, attend games and enjoy the experience of what we plan on making the best World Cup in history.
Will VISAs be provided for all three countries?
Given that Canada, Mexico and the United States have just been awarded the right to host in 2026, it is still a bit early to outline or comment on VISA policies and practices. What we can say is we are committed to all fans being able to visit North America, attend games and enjoy the experience of what we plan on making the best World Cup in history. It would have been impossible to have pursued the privilege of hosting without a firm pledge and commitment to make the 2026 FIFA World Cup accessible to all.
