2026 FIFA World Cup facts for kids
| FIFA World Cup 26 Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026 (Spanish) Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2026 (French) |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Tournament details | |
| Host countries | Canada Mexico United States |
| Dates | June 11 – July 19 |
| Teams | 48 (from 6 confederations) |
| Venue(s) | 16 (in 16 host cities) |
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a huge international soccer tournament happening right now! It's the 23rd time this exciting event has taken place, bringing together men's national teams from all over the world. The tournament kicked off on June 11, 2026, and the final match will be played on July 19. For the first time ever, three countries are hosting it together: Canada, Mexico, and the United States, across 16 different cities. This World Cup is also special because it has more teams than before – 48 instead of 32!
The three host countries worked together to win the chance to host this World Cup. They won against a bid from Morocco. This is the first time since 2002 that more than one country is hosting the World Cup. Mexico is making history as the first country to host or co-host three times, having also hosted in 1970 and 1986. The United States hosted in 1994, but this is Canada's very first time! This tournament is back to its usual summer schedule, unlike the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which happened in winter.
Because they are the hosts, Canada, Mexico, and the United States automatically got a spot in the tournament. Some teams, like Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, are playing in the World Cup for the very first time! Argentina is the defending champion, meaning they won the last World Cup in 2022.
There have been some discussions about how travel arrangements for teams and fans are handled, and how ticket prices for the games are set.
The very first goal of this World Cup was scored by Julián Quiñones from Mexico! He scored it against South Africa in the opening match on June 11, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It was a special moment because it was the first time a player from a North American team scored the first goal of a World Cup!
Contents
Tournament Format and Rules
More Teams and Matches
The idea of having more teams in the World Cup was suggested as early as 2013. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also supported this idea in 2016. Some people worried that more teams might make the games less exciting. They also thought there were already too many matches.
Starting with this tournament, the FIFA World Cup now has 48 teams. This is 16 more teams than before. The teams are divided into twelve groups of four. The top two teams from each group will move on. Also, the eight best third-placed teams will join them in a new round of 32. This new format was approved on March 14, 2023. It is the first big change to the tournament format since 1998.
The total number of matches increased from 64 to 104. Teams that reach the final four will play eight matches instead of seven. The tournament lasts 39 days, which is longer than the 32 days of the 2014 and 2018 tournaments. Each team still plays three group matches.
New Soccer Rules for 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduced several new rules. These rules are mainly designed to stop players from wasting time during games. Here are some of the new rules:
- 10-second substitutions: When a player is replaced, they have 10 seconds to leave the field. If they take longer, their replacement must wait one minute before entering the game.
- 5-second restarts: Referees can show a 5-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks. If the ball isn't put into play in time, the other team gets possession.
- Medical treatment: If a player gets medical help on the field, they must leave the field. They have to wait for 1 minute before they can return to play.
- Expanded VAR: The video assistant referee (VAR) can now review more situations. This includes clear mistakes on second yellow cards and wrongly given corner kicks.
- Mouth-covering red cards: Players who cover their mouth while arguing with an opponent will get a red card. This stops them from hiding what they are saying.
Teams and Qualification
The three host countries, Canada, Mexico, and the United States, automatically qualified. This was confirmed by the FIFA Council on February 14, 2023. Six teams from North and Central America (CONCACAF) qualified in total.
FIFA also approved a playoff tournament for the last two World Cup spots. Six teams played in these playoffs. This included one team from each confederation (except Europe) and an extra team from CONCACAF. The playoffs were held in Mexico. This is the first World Cup where all six football confederations have at least one guaranteed spot.
Of the 48 qualified teams, 26 also played in the 2022 World Cup.
- Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan are playing in the World Cup for the first time.
- Qatar qualified through games for the first time. Their only previous appearance was as host in 2022.
- DR Congo and Haiti are back after last playing in 1974.
- Iraq returns after their only previous tournament in 1986.
- Austria, Norway, and Scotland are back after last playing in 1998.
- Turkey qualified for the first time since finishing third in 2002.
- Czech Republic qualified for the first time since 2006.
- New Zealand, Paraguay, and South Africa (2010 World Cup host) return after last playing in 2010.
Four-time champion Italy did not qualify. They lost in a playoff, making it their third World Cup in a row to miss. Italy was the only former champion not to qualify.
The qualified teams are listed below by region:
AFC (Asian Football Confederation) (9)
- Australia (27)
- Iran (20)
- Iraq (57)
- Japan (18)
- Jordan (63) (debut)
- Qatar (56)
- Saudi Arabia (61)
- South Korea (25)
- Uzbekistan (50) (debut)
CAF (Confederation of African Football) (10)
- Algeria (28)
- Cape Verde (67) (debut)
- DR Congo (46)
- Egypt (29)
- Ghana (73)
- Ivory Coast (33)
- Morocco (7)
- Senegal (15)
- South Africa (60)
- Tunisia(45)
CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) (6)
- Canada (30) (co-host)
- Curaçao (82) (debut)
- Haiti (83)
- [Mexico]] (14) (co-host)
- Panama (34)
- United States (17) (co-host)
CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) (6)
OFC (Oceania Football Confederation) (1)
- New Zealand (85)
UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) (16)
- Austria (24)
- Belgium (9)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (64)
- Croatia (11)
- Czech Republic (40)
- England (4)
- France (3)
- Germany (10)
- Netherlands (8)
- Norway (31)
- Portugal (5)
- Scotland (42)
- Spain (2)
- Sweden (38)
- Switzerland (19)
- Turkey (22)
The World Cup Draw
.jpg)
The draw ceremony happened on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.. The 48 teams were placed into four groups, called "pots," based on their world ranking. The three host nations were put into specific groups for scheduling. Mexico was in Group A and played the opening match on June 11. Canada was in Group B and the United States in Group D. They both played their first matches on June 12.
Awards and Prizes
Prize Money
In April 2026, FIFA announced the prizes for all teams. The total prize money for this tournament is $871 million. This is $431 million more than the previous tournament. Each qualified team also gets a $10 million payment for qualifying and a $2.5 million fee for preparation.
| Place | Teams | Amount (in millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per team | Total | ||
| Champions | 1 | $50 | $50 |
| Runners-up | 1 | $33 | $33 |
| Third place | 1 | $29 | $29 |
| Fourth place | 1 | $27 | $27 |
| 5th–8th place (quarter-finals) | 4 | $19 | $76 |
| 9th–16th place (round of 16) | 8 | $15 | $120 |
| 17th–32nd place (round of 32) | 16 | $11 | $176 |
| 33rd–48th place (group stage) | 16 | $9 | $144 |
| Total | 48 | $655 | |
Individual and Team Awards
These awards will be given out at the end of the tournament:
- Golden Boot: For the player who scores the most goals.
- Golden Glove: For the best goalkeeper.
- Golden Ball: For the best overall player.
- FIFA Young Player Award: For the best player under 21 years old.
- FIFA Fair Play Trophy: For the team with the best sportsmanship record that reached the knockout stage.
Official Branding
The official emblem was revealed on May 17, 2023, in Los Angeles. It shows the FIFA World Cup Trophy in front of the numbers "26". This is the first time the actual trophy has been used in the emblem. Each host city also has its own version of the emblem, with colors and designs that show local culture.
In March and April 2025, FIFA showed 16 posters for each host city. These were designed by local artists. On March 3, 2026, the official tournament poster was revealed. Three artists from Canada, Mexico, and the United States worked together on it.
Broadcasting the Games
On February 12, 2015, FIFA renewed broadcasting rights for Fox Sports (US English), Telemundo Deportes (US Spanish), and Bell Media (Canada). This means they will show the 2026 World Cup. The International Broadcast Centre (IBC) is located at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
FIFA also made deals with TikTok and YouTube to share video content. Broadcasters can stream parts of matches on TikTok. They can also stream select matches and the first 10 minutes of every match on YouTube.
Sponsors
| FIFA financial partners | FIFA World Cup financial sponsors | FIFA World Cup financial supporters |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| North American financial supporters | South American financial supporters | European financial supporters | Asian financial supporters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Fan Festivals
FIFA will host fan festivals in cities across the host nations. These events will show matches on big screens and have live entertainment. Some confirmed locations include Liberty State Park in Jersey City, Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, and Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.
Tournament Symbols
Mascots
The official mascots were revealed on September 25, 2025. They are Maple, Zayu and Clutch. Maple is a moose from Canada, Zayu is a jaguar from Mexico, and Clutch is a bald eagle from the United States. They represent the cultural heritage of their countries.
Match Ball
.jpg)
The official match ball is called Adidas Trionda. Its design features red, green, and blue, which are the colors of the three host countries' flags. A white wave connects these colors, and "Trionda" means "three waves" in Spanish. The ball also has national symbols like a maple leaf for Canada, a golden eagle for Mexico, and a five-pointed star for the United States. Gold details represent the World Cup Trophy.
Music
The tournament's official instrumental theme music was composed by Zachary Aaron Golden. In March 2025, FIFA released remixes of the theme for each host city by local producers. The Vancouver version includes traditional welcome songs from local First Nations communities.
The official song "Dai Dai" by Colombian singer Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy was released on May 15, 2026. The official anthem "DNA (More Than a Game)" by French DJ David Guetta, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, South Korean-American singer Ejae, and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion was released on June 10, 2026.
See also
In Spanish: Copa Mundial de Fútbol de 2026 para niños
