All Set: Definitive List of the 48 Countries and 16 Locations of the 2026 World Cup
Everything is ready to go for the biggest sports event the world has ever seen. Just this Tuesday, the final six spots of the 2026 World Cup were decided, definitively setting the groups of national teams that will face each other starting this June. Given that this is the biggest and first World Cup hosted by three different countries, it is only natural to feel a bit confused about who will be playing whom, and when and where it will be held. In this article, you will find all the key information on the World Cup, so you can watch and follow the event without feeling completely lost.
Final Qualifications Closed
First things first; just last Tuesday, the final six teams of the World Cup were decided through playoffs. Two different sets of playoffs took place last week and the week before that: the FIFA Playoff Tournament, which hosted six non-European nations, and the European Playoffs, which hosted countries from this continent. From the Playoff Tournament, Iraq and DR Congo emerged champions after facing Bolivia and Jamaica, respectively. From the European playoffs, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, and Czechia earned a spot after winning two games each. These six countries were the last cohort to qualify for the World Cup.
How the World Cup Works
The World Cup is divided into several phases. The group stage consists of twelve different groups made up of four teams, which will each play one another once. Points are based on whether the team wins, draws, or loses, earning three, one, or zero points respectively. Because of the size of this World Cup, FIFA introduced a new phase: the 32-team knockout round. The two highest-placing teams from each group, in addition to the best eight third-place teams, qualify for the round of 32. The combinations of teams for this phase are quite complicated, but no winner from any group will face another winner, and no third-place team will face another third-place team. From this stage onwards, the format will be the same as always: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
Where and When will the USMNT Play?
Regarding the location, all 12 groups are based in a particular region, with the matches being played in different cities from that area. The U.S. men’s team, as the host team, will be playing all of its games on home soil, although other teams in its group will play in Vancouver. Group D, the USMNT’s group, will be playing across the West Coast, opening in the LA Rams stadium, SoFi Stadium, against Paraguay on June 12th. The following game will be against Australia, and will take place in the Seattle Seahawks stadium, Lumen Field, on June 19th. Finally, the last group stage game will be against Turkey at SoFi Stadium on June 25th. The quarterfinals, semi-finals matches, and final game will all be held in U.S. territory, with the World Cup final scheduled to take place on July 19th, at MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Final Thoughts
A total of 104 matches will be played in this year’s World Cup. All US group stage games will be available to watch on FOX Sports, Peacock TV, and Telemundo, among others. This year’s edition of the World Cup promises to be one to remember, so staying up to date with the results is highly advised for soccer fans. Only 68 days to go until the start of a monumental event!
