The 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is the first to feature an expanded 48-team format and 104 matches across 16 cities. The host nations have automatically qualified, and 42 of the total 48 spots are already filled. The final six teams will be determined by the playoffs in March 2026.
This is the first time the men’s World Cup is hosted by three nations.
The tournament will feature 48 teams
There will be 104 matches in total.
The final match is scheduled for 19 July 2026.
Countries Already Qualified
As of late 2025, these teams have secured their places:
Hosts (automatic): United States, Canada, Mexico
AFC (Asia): Australia, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
CAF (Africa): Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
CONMEBOL (South America): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
CONCACAF (besides hosts): Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
OFC (Oceania): New Zealand
UEFA (Europe): Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
That leaves 6 spots still to be decided through playoff tournaments.
️ Host Cities & Venues — Where Matches Will Be Held
The 2026 World Cup will use 16 host cities across the three countries: (Goal)
United States (11 cities)
New York/New Jersey — MetLife Stadium (final likely here)
Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium
Dallas — AT&T Stadium
Houston — NRG Stadium
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Seattle — Lumen Field
San Francisco Bay Area — Levi’s Stadium
Miami — Hard Rock Stadium
Philadelphia — Lincoln Financial Field
Boston — Gillette Stadium (renamed “Boston Stadium” for the tournament)
Kansas City — Arrowhead Stadium
Canada (2 cities)
Toronto — BMO Field
Vancouver — BC Place
Mexico (3 cities)
Mexico City — Estadio Azteca (historic World Cup stadium)
Guadalajara — Estadio Akron
Monterrey — Estadio BBVA
Expected Ticket Prices
Because this will be the first time the men’s World Cup uses dynamic pricing, ticket costs will vary depending on demand.
The cheapest tickets (for early-phase or low-demand group matches) reportedly start at US $60.
For the final at MetLife Stadium, published base prices range by seating category:
Category 1: about US $6,370 (Mundo Deportivo)
Lower-tier seats (Category 4) roughly US $2,030. (Mundo Deportivo)
So, a “typical” single group-stage match could feasibly start at around $60 (though most reasonable seats likely higher), while the final could cost several thousand dollars, depending on seat category.
Who’s Favored to Win — Top Contenders for 2026
Based on recent betting odds, expert analysis, and recent form, the countries most often cited as favorites are:
Spain national football team — considered the front-runner by many sportsbooks.
France national football team — deep squad, strong talent pool, and recent high-level performance.
England national football team — among top 5 favorites, especially with talent and motivation to go far.
Brazil national football team — always a contender when healthy, with rich squad depth and World Cup pedigree.
Argentina national football team — defending champions (from 2022) and a respected footballing powerhouse, likely to be competitive again.
Also in the “dark-horse / solid outsider” group: Germany national football team, Portugal national football team, and Netherlands national football team — all with attractive odds and histories of strong performances.
What Remains Uncertain / Things to Watch
There are still six qualification spots left to be decided via playoffs.
Because of dynamic pricing, ticket costs (especially for popular matches or later stages) may rise significantly above the published minimums.
Final team performance — injuries, form, group draw, travel between cities/time-zones, and climate (summer in some U.S. and Mexico venues) — will influence who ultimately wins; top odds don’t guarantee success.
How many people can watch live fifa world cup from the Studium?
Itdepends on which stadium hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, but if the final is held at MetLife Stadium (which has been widely discussed as a candidate), the full-capacity seating is roughly 82,500 spectator .
Note :- Among the 48 countries there will be 12 groups and each groups contains 4 teams.