You read that right. The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off on Thursday, 11 June at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico face South Africa in the tournament’s opening match. For the next 39 days, football will consume the world, and this edition promises to be unlike any World Cup that has come before it.
For the first time in history, 48 national teams will compete at a World Cup, up from 32 at previous tournaments. The teams are split into 12 groups of four, with each side playing three group stage matches. More teams mean more matches, more upsets, and more nations experiencing the World Cup stage for the first time. A new Round of 32 also changes the tournament rhythm.
The tournament is jointly hosted across three countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—with 16 host cities in total. Eleven cities are in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The final takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, 19 July. The sheer scale of the operation is breathtaking. Teams and fans will criss-cross an entire continent across six weeks of football.
England are in the tournament for the third consecutive time and arrive with genuine hope under Thomas Tuchel. Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka will all be at their second World Cup, while the squad also features Marcus Rashford, fresh from winning La Liga with Barcelona. England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, a draw that gives them a genuine chance of progressing deep into the tournament. France, England, Spain, and Argentina have been kept apart until the semi-finals, should they all win their groups, ensuring the biggest clashes are saved for the very end.
The favourites are familiar names. Defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi at what will almost certainly be his final World Cup, are among the frontrunners. France, Spain, and Brazil are all considered genuine contenders. England, buoyed by a Premier League title at Arsenal and a Champions League final appearance, travels to North America with real belief.
The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across 16 host cities. For UK viewers, the BBC and ITV will share broadcasting rights, meaning every single match is available to watch for free. England will be based in Kansas City throughout the tournament, using Swope Soccer Village as their training headquarters.
