The 2026 World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams for the first time. England have been drawn in a group with Croatia, Panama, and Ghana, as confirmed in December 2025. The tournament is expected to be the largest and most ambitious yet, with organisers aiming for a spectacle that rivals the best in history.
Notable players making their likely final World Cup appearances include Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while rising stars such as Lamine Yamal and Erling Haaland will debut. Debutant nations include Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Brazil, aiming for a sixth title, will participate in their 23rd World Cup, while England seek their first since 1966.
Algeria, returning after missing the last two tournaments, are led by manager Vladimir Petkovic and feature star Riyad Mahrez, who may be playing his last World Cup at 34. Other key players include Rayan Ait-Nouri and Mohamed Amoura. Argentina, defending champions, are managed by Lionel Scaloni and will rely on Lionel Messi, though Julian Alvarez is in top form. Australia, under Tony Popovic, qualified automatically for the first time in two cycles, with Aiden O'Neill a player to watch.
