2026 World Cup: 6 things you need to know
Key takeaways
- The 2026 World Cup is to be bigger than all of its predecessors.
- Forty-eight teams taking part means many more games, a total of 104 compared to 64 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when only 32 nations were involved.
- There will be 12 groups of four teams, compared to eight four years ago.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The 2026 World Cup is to be bigger than all of its predecessors. Whether it will be better is an entirely different question. DW fills you in on what you need to know.
https://p.dw.com/p/5DMVGWhat they play for: The FIFA World Cup Trophy Image: Infinity News Collective/image BROKER/picture alliance Advertisement1. Three hosts with strained ties This World Cup will be the first to be hosted by three countries – the United States, Canada and Mexico – as opposed to the usual single nation. 2002 was an exception, when Japan and South Korea broke new ground by sharing the hosting duties. This year's cohosts have usually enjoyed good relations, but these have become more difficult since US President Donald Trump began his second term in office. His threats to annex Canada as the "51st" US state and punitive tariffs have soured the mood between two historically close allies. US ties with Mexico have been strained over several issues including their shared border and Trump threatening, tacitly at least, to use military force to combat drug cartels operating in Mexico.
Forty-eight teams taking part means many more games, a total of 104 compared to 64 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when only 32 nations were involved. The opening match will be between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City on June 11.