Next: Mexico v South Africa · Estadio Banorte · Jun 11, 7:00 PM
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⏱️Mexico v South Africa · Jun 11, 7:00 PM•⏱️South Korea v Czechia · Jun 12, 2:00 AM•⏱️Canada v Bosnia-Herz · Jun 12, 7:00 PM•📰Poch: U.S. can win WC despite no top 100 players•📰Sources: Barça unlikely to trigger Rashford option...•📰Iran players: U.S. visa denials create 'tension'•📰USWNT gets scrappy win as Brazil sees 8 reds•📰Messi scores in cameo in front of 88K in Alabama•🦅Mexico's 'Cuauhtémoc celebration' and Roger Milla's corner-flag dance (1990, aged 38) are peak World Cup joy.•🧤In 1966, the World Cup trophy was stolen in London — then found wrapped in newspaper under a hedge by a dog named Pickles.•🏟️The smallest nation to ever qualify is Iceland (2018) — population ~340,000, smaller than many cities.•
Road to 2026
The 48-team era begins
The first World Cup hosted across three nations and the largest field in history. While the group draw settles, here's the pre-tournament intelligence — favourites, the historical record, host venues and the road to the MetLife final.
Days to kickoff
2
USA · 11 venues
Mexico · 3 venues
Canada · 2 venues
Form guide
Title Favourites
1
92
Argentina
Holders · Copa América champions
2
90
France
2022 finalists · elite depth
3
88
Spain
Euro 2024 winners · youngest core
4
85
England
Back-to-back major finals
5
84
Brazil
Rebuild under new staff
6
82
Portugal
Golden generation, last dance
7
80
Germany
Home-soil Euro momentum
8
78
Netherlands
Balanced, tournament-tested
Power index is an editorial pre-tournament estimate — not betting advice.
The record
By the Numbers
23
Editions since 1930
5
Most titles · Brazil
2026
First 48-team field
104
Total matches
Schedule
Key Dates
Jun 11Opening match · Estadio Azteca
Jun 11 – 27Group stage · 72 matches
Jun 28 – Jul 3Round of 32
Jul 4 – 7Round of 16
Jul 9 – 11Quarter-finals
Jul 14 – 15Semi-finals
Jul 19Final · MetLife Stadium
Know the nations
Nation Spotlight
Host cities
Where It Happens
New York / New Jersey
MetLife Stadium
Final · Jul 19
Dallas
AT&T Stadium
9 matches
Mexico City
Estadio Azteca
Opening match
Los Angeles
SoFi Stadium
8 matches
Atlanta
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Semi-final
Toronto
BMO Field
Canada opener
Seattle
Lumen Field
6 matches
Vancouver
BC Place
7 matches
Live mood
Next up: Mexico vs South Africa at Jun 11, 7:00 PM.
48 teams104 matches16 cities
Fun fact
Paul the Octopus correctly predicted 8 of 8 matches at World Cup 2010, including the final. He had a better record than most pundits.
silly
Newswire
Build-up & Headlines
www.espn.com - SOCCER
Poch: U.S. can win WC despite no top 100 players
United States men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino said his team can win the World Cup despite not having any players ranked among the top 100.
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www.espn.com - SOCCER
Sources: Barça unlikely to trigger Rashford option...
Barcelona are unlikely to activate the €30 million option to make Marcus Rashford's loan from Manchester United permanent, but coach Hansi Flick will have the final say with Monday's deadline to make a decision looming, sources have told ES
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www.espn.com - SOCCER
Iran players: U.S. visa denials create 'tension'
Iran national team forward Mehdi Taremi said that steps the U.S. government has taken regarding the denial of visas and preventing a Somali referee from entering the country are hurting the country's image.
just nowRead