Who Is Hosting the 2026 World Cup, and Where Can You Watch It?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup made history before a single ball was kicked: for the first time ever, the tournament is being co-hosted by three countries at once. With the expanded 48-team format now underway, here’s a breakdown of who’s hosting, which cities are involved, and how to catch every match.
Who Is Hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — the first time in the tournament’s history that three nations have shared hosting duties. Matches are being played across 16 host cities spread across all three countries, with the tournament running from June 11 through July 19, 2026.
Mexico holds a notable distinction as the only country to host the World Cup three times (previously in 1970 and 1986), while this marks the first time Canada has hosted World Cup matches.
The 16 Host Cities
Matches are spread across cities in all three host nations, including major venues in Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, and Boston in the United States, along with Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey in Mexico, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
The tournament opened on June 11 with Mexico hosting South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — a stadium that has now hosted World Cup matches across three different tournaments. The final is scheduled for July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Why Three Host Countries?
The joint United States-Mexico-Canada bid was selected years ahead of the tournament, largely driven by the 2026 expansion to 48 teams (up from 32 in previous tournaments) — a format change that significantly increases the number of matches and venues needed. Spreading the tournament across three countries allowed organizers to draw on a larger pool of large-capacity stadiums already built for American football and other major sporting events, several of which have been adapted for World Cup play.
How Many Teams and Groups?
The 2026 tournament features 48 national teams divided into 12 groups of four — a significant expansion from the 32-team, 8-group format used in recent tournaments like Qatar 2022. Each team plays the other three teams in its group, with the top two from each group advancing automatically, plus the eight best third-place teams also progressing to the round of 32.
Where to Watch the 2026 World Cup
In the United States, all 104 tournament matches are airing across Fox and FS1, with every match also available to stream live and on-demand through the Fox Sports app. For Spanish-language coverage, Telemundo and the streaming service Peacock carry matches, while Fox ONE provides an additional streaming option for English-language viewers.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa streamed for free, giving viewers a preview of the broadcast setup before the tournament moved into its full group-stage schedule.
Tournament Format Recap
| Detail | 2026 World Cup |
| Host countries | United States, Mexico, Canada |
| Host cities | 16 across all three countries |
| Number of teams | 48 (expanded from 32) |
| Number of groups | 12 groups of 4 |
| Tournament dates | June 11 – July 19, 2026 |
| Opening match | Mexico vs. South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Final venue | New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada — the first time three countries have shared hosting duties for the tournament.
How many host cities are there for the 2026 World Cup?
There are 16 host cities spread across the three host nations, including major cities in the United States, plus Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey in Mexico, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.
Where can I watch the 2026 World Cup in the US?
All 104 matches air across Fox and FS1, with streaming available through the Fox Sports app, Fox ONE, Telemundo, and Peacock (the latter two offering Spanish-language coverage).
Is the World Cup always held every 4 years?
Yes — the World Cup has been held every four years since 1930, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, when the tournament was not held due to World War II. The 2026 tournament continues this four-year cycle, following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
How many teams are competing in the 2026 World Cup?
48 national teams are competing in 2026, an increase from the 32-team format used in 2022 and previous tournaments. The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four for the group stage.
Which country has hosted the World Cup the most times?
Mexico is now the only country to have hosted (or co-hosted) the World Cup three times — in 1970, 1986, and now 2026, making it the most-frequent World Cup host in the tournament’s history.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 World Cup’s three-country hosting format and expanded 48-team field mark the biggest structural changes in the tournament’s history, spreading matches across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada over more than five weeks. With coverage available across Fox, FS1, Telemundo, Peacock, and Fox ONE, there’s no shortage of ways to follow the action from kickoff on June 11 through the final on July 19.