United States · Canada · Mexico — 11 June to 19 July 2026
📜 History, Format & Venues
Everything that frames the 2026 finals — how we got here, how the new format works, and where it all happens.
A new era: 48 teams
The 2026 World Cup is the largest in the tournament's history and the first to be co-hosted by three nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico. The field expands from 32 teams to 48, organised into 12 groups of 4. It is also the first men's World Cup to be staged across 16 cities and three countries simultaneously.
The top two from every group advance, joined by the eight best third-placed teams — a total of 32 sides reaching a brand-new Round of 32. From there it is straight knockout football: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final, with 104 matches played in all. Mexico City's Estadio Azteca becomes the first stadium ever to host matches at three different World Cups, having also featured in 1970 and 1986.
🥇 Most successful nations
🏆 Every World Cup champion
| Year | Champion | Runner-up | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Argentina | France | Qatar |
| 2018 | France | Croatia | Russia |
| 2014 | Germany | Argentina | Brazil |
| 2010 | Spain | Netherlands | South Africa |
| 2006 | Italy | France | Germany |
| 2002 | Brazil | Germany | South Korea / Japan |
| 1998 | France | Brazil | France |
| 1994 | Brazil | Italy | United States |
| 1990 | West Germany | Argentina | Italy |
| 1986 | Argentina | West Germany | Mexico |
| 1982 | Italy | West Germany | Spain |
| 1978 | Argentina | Netherlands | Argentina |
| 1974 | West Germany | Netherlands | West Germany |
| 1970 | Brazil | Italy | Mexico |
| 1966 | England | West Germany | England |
| 1962 | Brazil | Czechoslovakia | Chile |
| 1958 | Brazil | Sweden | Sweden |
| 1954 | West Germany | Hungary | Switzerland |
| 1950 | Uruguay | Brazil | Brazil |
| 1938 | Italy | Hungary | France |
| 1934 | Italy | Czechoslovakia | Italy |
| 1930 | Uruguay | Argentina | Uruguay |
🏟️ The stage: 16 host cities
Capacities are approximate, publicly reported figures. FIFA uses sponsor-free venue names during the tournament (shown in brackets).
United States · 11 cities
Mexico · 3 cities
Canada · 2 cities