FILE-This photograph shows the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 and will host 48 teams and is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The U.S. is expected to host 78 of the 104 matches at the World Cup, and here's what you need to know.
How to watch the World Cup
What you can do:
Outside of watching the championship on live TV, there are several options audiences can choose from to enjoy the soccer matches.
One free option is through FIFA+ and select YouTube streams. It will also be available for free on Australia’s SBS On Demand.
Other paid options include:
Where are the 2026 World Cup matches being played?
Dig deeper:
The United States will host games in Arlington, Texas; Atlanta; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Houston; Inglewood, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami Gardens, Florida; Philadelphia, Seattle; and San Jose, California.
Two Canadian cities will have World Cup games: Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia.
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In Mexico, games will be played in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.
FIFA World Cup 2026 format
Why you should care:
The World Cup group stage format for 2026 was changed to 12 groups of four teams from 16 groups of three teams, increasing the total to 104 matches from 64 in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
To win a World Cup, a nation will have to play eight games, up from the seven in place since 1974.
The top two teams in each group and the top eight third-place teams will advance to a new round of 32 that starts the knockout phase. Advancement for third-place teams was eliminated for 1998, when the tournament expanded from 24 teams to 32.
Additional matches mean more content for television broadcasters and more tickets to sell, increasing revenue for FIFA.
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When is the World Cup final?
Timeline:
The World Cup final will take place July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the culmination of a month-long tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by previous FOX Local reporting. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.