2026 World Cup — Data Briefing
Key figures, what changed in 2026 and a fact timeline for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — numbers and sources only, no opinion.
📰 Stories
⚽ Thu, Jun 11
Day 1 Recap: Mexico Cruise, South Korea Stage a Comeback
The 48-team era opened at the Azteca — and by the end of the night, Mexico and South Korea owned Group A.
Read the story →📜 Thu, Jun 11
A Night of Records: the Firsts and Fastests of Opening Day
Day one of the first 48-team World Cup rewrote the record book — from the fastest goal to the most red cards.
Read the story →Key figures
What changed in 2026
Compared with Qatar 2022
| 2022 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | 32 | 48 |
| Groups | 8 | 12 |
| Matches | 64 | 104 |
| Host nations | 1 | 3 |
| Host cities | 5 | 16 |
| Knockout starts at | Round of 16 | Round of 32 (new) |
| Tie-break | Goal difference | Head-to-head first |
Timeline
Verified facts, newest first
Final
Scheduled at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
Opening match
Hosts Mexico open the tournament at the Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.
26-player squads named
All 48 nations have registered their final 26-player rosters.
Final draw
48 teams were drawn into 12 groups of four (Washington, D.C.).
Match ball “Trionda”
adidas unveiled the official ball; the name means “three waves” for the three hosts.
Mascots: Maple · Zayu · Clutch
A moose (Canada), a jaguar (Mexico) and a bald eagle (USA).
Glossary
Round of 32
New first knockout round: the top two of each group plus the eight best third-placed teams — 32 in all.
Best third-placed
Among the 12 third-placed teams, the eight with the best records advance.
Tie-break order
In 2026: points, then head-to-head result, then goal difference.
Sources
FIFA · adidas
※ Compiled from public announcements (FIFA, adidas). Objective figures only — no evaluation or opinion. Not affiliated with FIFA; we don't republish third-party articles.