The World Cup 2026 begins this week, offering football fans six weeks of gripping action across North America. This edition marks the tournament's first expansion to 48 teams, with 104 matches played over 39 days, making it the largest World Cup ever. The action starts on Thursday, June 11, with Mexico facing South Africa, and concludes on July 19 with the final.
Free Wallchart for Every Match
Thanks to WalesOnline's World Cup wallchart, you can track each nation's path to the final along with every full-time result. The wallchart includes dates and kick-off times for each fixture, ensuring you never miss a game. Download your free wallchart below to keep up with all the action from the United States, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Tournament Format
The 48 nations are split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to a new round of 32. After the group stage, all remaining matches follow a knockout format. There are 40 more matches than the 2022 Qatar World Cup, held across 16 venues in three host nations. The groups were confirmed after the final draw in December and the last qualifying matches in March.
What's Next
All 48 nations have confirmed their final 26-man squads, and they are now set to compete for football's biggest prize. To enhance your viewing experience, consider upgrading your TV setup with the Sky Glass TV, which is designed for football. Sky is offering a 20% discount on its entire range of Glass TVs to celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can get the Sky smart TV from £4.50 per month when bundled with a Sky TV and Netflix package. This article contains affiliate links, and we may receive a commission on any sales generated.
