World Cup 2026: Where to Watch, Who is Playing & the $50 Million Prize

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Soccer is taking its shot on the world’s biggest stage.

The FIFA World Cup begins on June 11th in Mexico City with Mexico playing South Africa, and South Korea taking on the Czech Republic in Guadalajara. These are the first matches of the group stage. The U.S. team will play their first game on June 12th.

The world’s attention will be focused on Mexico, Canada, and the United States as 48 teams battle it out in the largest men’s soccer tournament ever. A total of 104 games will be played in 16 cities.

The U.S. is adding its own special touch to the event with a halftime show during the July 19th final match at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It promises to be an unforgettable night featuring Shakira’s signature dance moves, all the music you’d expect from Madonna, and BTS’s smooth choreography.

This event is a significant achievement, marking the first time three different countries have hosted this major sporting competition. But what’s driving the games’ expansion into North America?

This year’s World Cup has expanded to include 48 teams, up from the traditional 32. This increase required more stadiums and training facilities, which actually benefited the North American bid from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Carlos Cordeiro, then president of U.S. Soccer and co-chair of the United Bid, stated that hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup was a significant opportunity to showcase the unifying power of sports. He expressed gratitude for the confidence shown by FIFA and highlighted the strong collaboration between the three host countries.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, here’s a guide to help you prepare and follow the tournament.

How Does the World Cup Work?

As a huge soccer fan, I’m so excited for the World Cup! It all starts on June 11th, and this year it’s bigger than ever – 48 teams will be competing! They’ve been split into 12 groups of four, and each team gets to play three games, facing every other team in their group once. It’s going to be amazing!

On June 24th, the knockout stage begins. The top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-place teams, will move on to compete in the Round of 32.

The tournament starts with the Round of 32 on June 28th, where teams will compete in elimination games. Winners will advance to the Round of 16, taking place from July 4th to 7th. Next, eight teams will battle it out in the quarterfinals from July 9th to 11th, ultimately leading to the four teams that will compete in the semifinals on July 14th and 15th.

The teams that didn’t win will compete for third place in Miami on July 18th, while the winning teams will play the championship game at MetLife Stadium on July 19th.

How Can I Watch the World Cup?

From June 11th to July 19th, you can watch and support your favorite national teams on Fox, Fox Sports 1, and Fox Sports 2. For Spanish-language coverage, tune in to Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock.

World Cup Makes History With Halftime Show Featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS

As a lifestyle expert, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news! We’re used to incredible halftime shows at the Super Bowl, but now the FIFA World Cup is joining the fun! For the very first time, they’re hosting their own show at MetLife Stadium on July 19th, and the lineup is amazing – we’re talking BTS, Shakira, and Madonna all on one stage! It’s a huge moment for soccer fans and music lovers alike.

The star-studded set—curated by Coldplay‘s Chris Martin—is just as good as gold.

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the Halftime Show will benefit a good cause: the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. Announced on Instagram in May, this new program aims to raise $100 million to help children worldwide get access to both quality education and the chance to play football.

The opening ceremonies will feature a lineup of exciting performances. J. Balvin and Tyla will perform in Mexico City on June 11th, while Katy Perry and Future will take the stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The next day, June 12th, Michael Bublé and Alanis Morissette will perform in Toronto.

Where Is the World Cup Taking Place?

This is the first time the event will be held at the same time in three different countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

You can see your favorite teams play live in several cities, including Toronto, Vancouver, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, New York/New Jersey, and Kansas City, Kansas.

Which Countries Are Competing at the World Cup?

This summer’s World Cup will feature 48 teams from across the globe. These countries earned their spots through qualifying games played from February 2023 to March of this year.

As a huge fan, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the list of competing nations, and it’s incredible! We’re going to see teams from Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland, Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland, the U.S., Paraguay, Australia, Turkey, Germany, Curaçao, the Ivory Coast, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia, Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand, Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway, Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia, England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama battling it out. It’s going to be an amazing competition with such a diverse group of countries represented!

Which World Cup Team Ranks the Highest?

With almost 50 teams competing for the championship, a handful are considered the favorites. Spain, France, Argentina, England, and Brazil are expected to be strong contenders. In the 2022 final, Argentina, with Lionel Messi leading the way, won against France in a penalty shootout.

What Do Winners Take Home After the World Cup?

FIFA announced in December that the winning team of the tournament will receive $50 million, in addition to an 18-karat gold trophy.

The second-place team will receive $33 million, while third and fourth place each get $27 million. Teams finishing fifth through eighth will earn $19 million, and those from ninth to sixteenth place will receive $15 million. Finally, teams placing 17th through 32nd will win $11 million, and those from 33rd to 48th place will each take home $9 million.

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2026-06-03 20:19