48 Teams Ready for 2026 World Cup in North America as FIFA Expands Field by 16
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 7
48 Teams Ready for 2026 World Cup in North America as FIFA Expands Field by 16
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 7
Summary
The 2026 World Cup field is set at 48 teams, with all qualified nations entering final preparations for the tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The expansion from 32 teams creates the biggest World Cup yet, bringing in more debutants and countries that have rarely appeared on the global stage.
Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States qualified automatically, while the enlarged format also reshaped qualification paths across every confederation.
The full field mixes established powers such as Brazil, France, Argentina and Spain with first-timers and long-absent returnees, setting up a broader and less familiar tournament landscape.
With squads, tactics and key players now in focus group by group, the expanded format will test whether greater access also changes the balance of power at the World Cup.
As legends like Messi and Ronaldo fade, which new global superstar will emerge from the expanded 48-team format?
With four debutant nations, will the new format produce a shocking underdog story, or will the traditional powers still dominate?
Will this World Cup be won by the best team, or the one that best endures the grueling travel and summer heat?
2026 FIFA World Cup: Inside the Biggest Tournament in History—Expansion, Hosts, and Controversies
Overview
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest and most ambitious tournament in football history, taking place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time, it will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, reflecting the sport’s global appeal and setting a new standard for international cooperation. The event will unite fans and nations across a vast geographical area, showcasing a month-long celebration of football. The official match ball, Trionda, symbolizes this unity and innovation, highlighting the unique identity and scale of this historic World Cup.