The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — the tournament marks a significant expansion from the 32-team format used in the previous seven World Cup editions. Matches will be played in 16 stadiums across North America, including 11 venues in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada; Reigning world champions Argentina and 2022 runners-up France are among the top favorites, according to the Opta supercomputer.

Host Nations and Tournament Structure

The 2026 World Cup is the first men’s edition hosted in North America since 1994 and the first to take place in three different countries, though the group stage will consist of 12 groups of four teams, with the top two in each group advancing to the knockout rounds. Also, the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the new-look last 32. The tournament will open on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and conclude with the final on July 19 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Entrada sales for the opening match. Which will be held at the Estadio Azteca, have followed a multi-phase process; a Visa pre-sale took place between September 10 and 19, and an early access phase was available from October 27 to 31. Winners of the early access draw received a specific schedule to purchase tickets starting November 17.

Technological and Gaming Partnerships

Before the start of the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has outlined a wide-ranging digital football strategy involving multiple gaming platforms and studios; Partners include Roblox, Epic Games, Konami, and EA Sports FC, with games such as Rocket League and FIFA Rivals set to feature the World Cup. In addition, FIFA and Netflix have announced a collaboration for a video game titled FIFA World Cup – Launch Edition, which is scheduled to launch this summer. This game will serve as a starting point for future iterations.

The FIFA Games strategy emphasizes non-exclusive licensing agreements with game studios and publishers, allowing various developers to create content around the World Cup. This approach marks a shift from the previous exclusive FIFA brand licensing, which was held by Electronic Arts until the partnership ended several years ago.

Merchandise and Cultural ImpactLevi’s has released a 2026 FIFA World Cup collection featuring retro-style raglan T-shirts inspired by 13 countries. The collection includes nations such as Argentina, Germany, Spain, and Brazil, and a capsule version for the Japanese market will focus on the U.S., Brazil, France, England, and Japan. The T-shirts are designed with contrasting-colored necks and sleeve cuffs to evoke a 1970s sports apparel aesthetic, making them suitable for everyday wear rather than just performance-focused uniforms.

The Levi’s collection will be released in two phases. A pre-sale for Levi’s Red Tab™ members begins on May 28 via a live channel, followed by a general release on June 1. The collection will be available on Levi’s official websites and in select Levi’s stores.

The 2026 World Cup could also mark the final appearances of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the tournament, with both players expected to compete in their sixth World Cup. Euro 2024 winners Spain are the Opta supercomputer’s top pick to win the tournament, followed closely by England, who finished as runners-up in that same European Championship. England’s chances of winning their first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup will be a key storyline to follow.