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World Cup 2026: Fixtures, rules, album, teams, host countries, cities and more

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The FIFA World Cup 2026 will expand to 48 teams and be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June to July 2026.
  • The tournament will feature 16 stadiums across 16 cities, with the final in New York/New Jersey and the opening match in Mexico City.
  • New rules include red cards for walk-off protests, and the event has a record 18-track album featuring Nigerian artists Davido, Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to usher in a new era for international football, expanding to 48 teams and being jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States for the first time. The premier international football tournament will run from June to July 2026, with the final scheduled for July 19 in New York/New Jersey and the opening match on June 11 in Mexico City.

The competition will be staged across 16 cities in the three host nations. Canada will host matches in Toronto and Vancouver, Mexico in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey, and the United States in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. A total of 16 stadiums will be utilized for the matches.

FIFA has introduced new rules for the tournament, including red cards for walk-off protests and permission for players to wear previously prohibited items under specific conditions. The 2026 World Cup also boasts a record 18-track album, with Nigerian music stars Davido, Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr featured on the official soundtrack.

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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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