2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday with 48 teams, 3 host nations

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to be hosted by three countries and to feature 48 teams, kicks off on Thursday. The tournament will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with the opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium. The final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. A total of 104 matches will be played in 16 stadiums across four time zones, with the US hosting 78 matches. The largest venue is Dallas Stadium (94,000 capacity) and the smallest is in Toronto (45,000).

Record participation

For the first time, 10 African countries and eight Arab countries are participating. Morocco is the only nation that is both African and Arab. A total of 1,248 players from 48 countries will compete, including 22 under the age of 20 and seven over 40. The oldest player is Scotland’s Craig Gordon (43 years, 162 days), and the youngest is Mexico’s Gilberto Mora (17 years, 240 days). Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan are making their World Cup debuts. The US, as a host nation, will face Türkiye, Paraguay, and Australia in Group D.

Controversies and history

FIFA rejected Iran’s request to move its group matches to Mexico or Canada due to the ongoing US-Iran war. High ticket prices, accommodation costs, and long travel distances have made the tournament challenging for fans. Mexico City Stadium makes history as the first venue to host three World Cup opening matches (1970, 1986, 2026). For Türkiye, which returns to the World Cup after missing several editions, the match against the US is highly anticipated. Turkish fans are traveling in large numbers, despite geopolitical tensions.