2026 World Cup to feature record 104 matches across three host countries
2 sources • 2 min read • Latest: Jun 9, 2026, 10:31 AM
Last updated Jun 9, 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will include 48 teams and 104 matches over 39 days. This tournament marks the largest World Cup to date, expanding from the previous 32 teams format. It will introduce a new knockout round with 32 teams and will feature matches played in 16 stadiums. The tournament opens on June 11 with Mexico hosting South Africa, while the U.S. faces Paraguay the following day. A total of 1,248 players from various clubs worldwide will participate, with players like Cristiano Ronaldo aiming to break records.
- •The tournament will have 11 venues in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
- •Cristiano Ronaldo leads all players with 226 international caps.
- •Major League Soccer will have a record 44 players participating.
- •The tournament begins with 48 teams in a new format featuring four additional groups.
- •Brazil is the only country to appear in all 23 previous World Cups.
- 10:31 AMYahoo Sports — 🏆 Just 22 of the 1,248 players at the 2026 World Cup have won it
- 12:19 AMYahoo Sports — World Cup by the numbers: 104 matches, 48 teams and 3 countries make this the largest ever
"This year's edition of the World Cup will be the biggest ever with an expanded field of 48 teams, three host countries and 16 stadiums staging the record 104 matches over the 39-day tournament. The tournament being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico is the first since FIFA expanded the field from 32 teams to 48, adding four more groups in the initial stage and a new round of 32 in the knockout portion. The World Cup last expanded for the 1998 tournament with the last seven editions featuring 32 teams and 64 games.
"The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest ever, in terms of number of teams and players!With the unprecedented expansion to 48 national teams, the pitches of the United States, Mexico, and Canada wi...
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsJun 9, 2026, 10:31 AM🏆 Just 22 of the 1,248 players at the 2026 World Cup have won it
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest ever, in terms of number of teams and players!With the unprecedented expansion to 48 national teams, the pitches of the United States, Mexico, and Canada wi...
- Yahoo SportsJun 8, 2026, 12:19 AMWorld Cup by the numbers: 104 matches, 48 teams and 3 countries make this the largest ever
This year's edition of the World Cup will be the biggest ever with an expanded field of 48 teams, three host countries and 16 stadiums staging the record 104 matches over the 39-day tournament. The tournament being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico is the first since FIFA expanded the field from 32 teams to 48, adding four more groups in the initial stage and a new round of 32 in the knockout portion. The World Cup last expanded for the 1998 tournament with the last seven editions featuring 32 teams and 64 games.
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