The FIFA World Cup is one of the most highly anticipated tournaments that football fans eagerly await every four years. The last tournament was held in Qatar in 2022 and the next one will be hosted in North America – U.S., Canada, and Mexico – in 2026. The tournament has returned to North America after a 32-year absence.
With qualifying matches underway for most confederations, we are yet to determine the full list of 48 nations. The countries that have already qualified are Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, and the hosts, US., Mexico and Canada.
10 spots are available for African nations, and nine for Asia. This depends on the winners of the intercontinental play-offs. In all, 48 teams will be vying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 title. Participating nations for the upcoming tournament will come from all six FIFA confederations – UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America & the Caribbean), and OFC (Oceania).
FIFA World Cup 2026 Format
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature a brand-new format. The tournament will be played between 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four teams. This new format replaces the 32-team, eight-group format. The top two teams in each group, including the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32.
The team that triumphs in the final on July 19 will have played eight games in order to be crowned champions, this means one more than at the FIFA Qatar 2022. This comes after the inclusion of an additional round of 32 knockout phases.
Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Clash of Continents, Canada, US, Mexico To Co-Host Tournament
FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets
Football fans are looking forward to the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup to be kicked off in the United States. Some of the world’s greatest footballers, like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe, among others will play against each other. The battle will be for the prestigious Jules Rimet trophy.
Tournament tickets are currently unavailable for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as its more than 12 months away. However, football enthusiasts can register their interest for the tickets on FIFA’s website.
Fans wanting to watch the matches live in the stadiums will face restrictions as the availability of tickets will be split into three categories. The first set of tickets will go to fans on the loyalty basis of supporters, the second set will be given to sponsors and VIPs, and the third and final set will be given on general sale.
If you are wondering about the prize of the tickets, here’s a breakdown:
| Stage | Estimated Price Range |
| Opening Match | $5 – $310 |
| Group Stage | $15 – $230 |
| Round of 16 | $20 – $290 |
| Quarter-Final | $85 – $450 |
| Semi-Final & Final | $140 – $960 |
| Third-Place Play-off | $85 – $450 |
