2026 FIFA World Cup: A Complete Guide to the Tournament

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Rodri raises the FIFA World Cup trophy above his head as jubilant Spain teammates crowd around him on the winners' podium, cheering and celebrating their victory. Gold confetti fills the air while FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump stand nearby on the stage during the trophy presentation following Spain's win over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final

The FIFA World Cup trophy stands on display at FIFA Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025, ahead of the 2026 World Cup and European Play-Off draws. The golden trophy shines brightly, symbolising international football competition and achievement.

Photo and labeled diagram of the Trionda soccer ball used in FIFA 2026, featuring red, blue, and green panels for host countries, four aerodynamic panels, a motion sensor chip, and counterweights for balance.

June 2026 calendar showing 2026 FIFA World Cup match days with colored dots for host countries: green for Mexico, red for Canada, and blue for United States.

Lionel Messi, wearing Argentina number 10 jersey, looks upward with his hands raised in prayer as he celebrates scoring his team second goal during a FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri.

Infographic summarizing FIFA World Cup history, including record attendances, top players and teams by appearances and goals, a map of 2026 host cities, and a timeline of past winners and milestones.

Diagram of a football penalty kick showing a ball on the penalty spot, a yellow aiming line toward the center of the goal, and a simplified goalkeeper standing in front of the net.

Fans in yellow Brazil jerseys gather in Times Square, waving large banners with illustrations of soccer legends Pele and Mario Zagallo ahead of the 2026 World Cup match.

Cape Verdes players and staff celebrate on the pitch after finishing as runners-up in Group H during the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Houston Stadium in Texas.

Curacao football supporters, including superfan Roald Balentien with his face and beard painted blue, cheer and pose with a Curacao flag in a stadium crowd.

2026 FIFA World Cup: A Complete Guide to the Tournament: Media

football (soccer) tournament

Images

Rodri raises the FIFA World Cup trophy above his head as jubilant Spain teammates crowd around him on the winners' podium, cheering and celebrating their victory. Gold confetti fills the air while FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump stand nearby on the stage during the trophy presentation following Spain's win over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final

Spain, 2026 FIFA World Cup Champions

Captain of the Spanish football team Rodri lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy alongside...

© Evrim Aydin—Anadolu/Getty Images

The FIFA World Cup trophy stands on display at FIFA Home of Football in Zurich on November 20, 2025, ahead of the 2026 World Cup and European Play-Off draws. The golden trophy shines brightly, symbolising international football competition and achievement.

2026 World Cup

The trophy is awarded to the winner of the quadrennial FIFA World Cup tournament.

© Fabrice Coffrini—AFP/Getty Images

Photo and labeled diagram of the Trionda soccer ball used in FIFA 2026, featuring red, blue, and green panels for host countries, four aerodynamic panels, a motion sensor chip, and counterweights for balance.

Inside the Trionda: The 2026 FIFA World Cup Ball

An annotated image of the Trionda, the official match ball of the 2026 FIFA World...

© Noushad Thekkayil—NurPhoto/Getty Images; Photo illustration Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Lionel Messi, wearing Argentina number 10 jersey, looks upward with his hands raised in prayer as he celebrates scoring his team second goal during a FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium in Missouri.

Lionel Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrating after scoring his second goal during the FIFA...

© Omar Vega/Getty Images

Infographic summarizing FIFA World Cup history, including record attendances, top players and teams by appearances and goals, a map of 2026 host cities, and a timeline of past winners and milestones.

World Cup

Explore this infographic to learn some facts about the men's World Cup.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Fans in yellow Brazil jerseys gather in Times Square, waving large banners with illustrations of soccer legends Pele and Mario Zagallo ahead of the 2026 World Cup match.

Brazilian fans in Times Square

Brazilian football (soccer) fans gathering in Times Square ahead of the team's 2026...

© Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images

Cape Verdes players and staff celebrate on the pitch after finishing as runners-up in Group H during the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Houston Stadium in Texas.

Cabo Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Members of the Cabo Verde football team celebrating their team's advancement to the...

© Michael Steele/Getty Images

Curacao football supporters, including superfan Roald Balentien with his face and beard painted blue, cheer and pose with a Curacao flag in a stadium crowd.

Curaçao fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Curaçao superfan Roald Balentien (center), known as “Captain Blue Face,” at his country's...

© Ronaldo Schemidt—AFP/Getty Images

Congo DR fan Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, known as Lumumba Vea, stands still in a red jacket and blue pants amid cheering fans at a FIFA World Cup match in Guadalajara Stadium.

Democratic Republic of the Congo superfan

Michel Nkuka Mboladinga from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, also known as...

© Ryan Pierse—FIFA/Getty Images

Luis Díaz of Colombia, wearing a yellow jersey, jumps to head the ball during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Venezuela at Estadio Monumental de Maturin.

Luis Díaz at a 2026 World Cup qualifier match

Colombia's Luis Díaz in action during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against...

© Edilzon Gamez/Getty Images

Three England soccer fans wearing lion manes and team jerseys cheer and pose with fists raised before a FIFA World Cup match at a stadium.

English fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

English fans dressed as lions posing for photographs ahead of the team's 2026 FIFA...

© Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Four USA soccer fans in red and white striped shirts pose together, two wearing bald eagle masks and two wearing Statue of Liberty crowns, before a World Cup match in Seattle.

American soccer fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Fans of the United States World Cup soccer team, dressed as bald eagles and wearing...

© Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Bruno Fernandes of Portugal, wearing a red jersey with number 8, controls the ball during a FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Hungary in Lisbon.

Bruno Fernandes at a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier

Portugal's Bruno Fernandes in action during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against...

© Eric Verhoeven—Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Erling Haaland of Norway runs toward the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Italy at San Siro Stadium in Milan.

Erling Haaland at a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland chasing the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier...

© Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images—LightRocket/Getty Images

A Japan World Cup fan in face paint and costume collects trash in a blue bag among empty stadium seats after the match between Tunisia and Japan in Monterrey, Mexico.

Japanese fan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

A Japanese football team fan clearing trash from the stands after his team's 2026...

© David Ramos/Getty Images

England's Harry Kane, wearing the white number 9 jersey, runs with the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Albania at Air Albania Stadium in Tirana, Albania, on November 16, 2025.

English football team captain Harry Kane has been one of the standouts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Kane and the English team are looking to win the country's first World Cup since...

© Francesco Scaccianoce—UEFA/Getty Images

Kylian Mbappé of France, wearing a blue jersey with number 10, runs with the ball during a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.

Kylian Mbappé, 2026 World Cup qualifiers

French forward Kylian Mbappé in action during a 2026 World Cup European qualifier...

© Ibrahim Ezzat—NurPhoto/Getty Images

Merlin the Duck, a white Peking duck, wears a green Mexico national soccer team jersey and black socks while walking on a paved surface in Mexico City.

Mexico's unofficial World Cup mascot

Merlin the Duck became the breakout, unofficial mascot of Mexico at the 2026 FIFA...

© Luke Hales/Getty Images

A Mexico fan in a colorful luchador mask and Mexican flag holds up a replica World Cup trophy, celebrating in a stadium before a football match.

Mexican flair at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

A Mexican fan wearing a wrestling (luchador) mask and holding a replica of the World...

© Ulises Ruiz—AFP/Getty Images

Norwegian fans and the “Viking Row”

Norwegian fans and the “Viking Row”

Norwegian football fans cheering their team by doing the “Viking Row” during a 2026...

© Timothy A. Clary—AFP/Getty Images

Pedri of Spain, wearing a red and yellow jersey with number 20, controls the ball on the field during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Bulgaria.

Pedri during 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Spanish football player Pedri is expected to be one of the mainstays in central midfield...

© Luciano Lima/Getty Images

A Portugal supporter in a stadium holds a banner depicting Cristiano Ronaldo as a saint, surrounded by fans wearing red at a 2026 World Cup match in Houston.

Portuguese fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

A Portugal team supporter posing with a banner depicting superstar Cristiano Ronaldo...

© Ronaldo Schemidt—AFP/Getty Images

Soccer player Raphinha of Brazil, wearing a yellow jersey and blue shorts, jumps and pumps his fist in celebration after scoring during a World Cup qualifier match.

Raphinha, 2026 FIFA World Cup

Brazilian football player Raphinha celebrating after scoring a penalty kick to net...

© Mateus Bonomi—Anadolu/Getty Image

Argentina supporters cheer in a stadium beneath a large banner showing illustrations of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, both wearing number 10 Argentina jerseys.

Argentine fans at the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Supporters of the Argentina football team cheering in front of a banner depicting...

© Paul Ellis—AFP/Getty Images

Football (soccer) player Lamine Yamal of Spain, wearing number 19, controls the ball midair during a World Cup European qualifier match at Konya Stadium in Turkiye.

Lamine Yamal

Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal in action during the 2026 FIFA World Cup European...

© Huseyin Yavuz—Dia images/Getty Images

Interactives

June 2026 calendar showing 2026 FIFA World Cup match days with colored dots for host countries: green for Mexico, red for Canada, and blue for United States.

2026 FIFA World Cup calendar

Fixtures and results from the 2026 World Cup listed by date and venue.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Diagram of a football penalty kick showing a ball on the penalty spot, a yellow aiming line toward the center of the goal, and a simplified goalkeeper standing in front of the net.

Physics kick: Curve your shot

Step onto the football pitch and discover the science behind scoring amazing free...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Interactive map of North America with blue soccer ball icons marking the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

2026 FIFA World Cup host cities

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski

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