June 11, 2026. The whistle blows. The biggest World Cup in history begins. Every second from now until that moment counts.
Mexico vs South Africa · Estadio Azteca · June 11, 2026 · 8:00 PM ET
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams — a 50% increase from the 32-team format used since 1998. This expansion means a longer tournament, more matches, and new nations experiencing the World Cup stage for the very first time. Over 5 million tickets will be issued across 16 stadiums. The group stage alone contains 72 matches — more than entire previous World Cups.
Three host nations sharing the tournament — the United States, Canada and Mexico — means an unprecedented geographic spread. The longest possible travel distance between host cities exceeds 2,500 miles. Fans following their teams across multiple cities face journeys that rival international travel in previous editions. The logistical scale of this World Cup has no historical comparison.
The final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City, will take place in front of a capacity crowd of over 82,500 people — making it potentially the highest-attended World Cup final in the modern era. Plan your summer around these dates. The countdown is real.