48 teams, 980 stickers, 68 special foil editions. Launched April 30 at Wembley. Includes a Coca-Cola partnership with 12 hidden stars.
Al Jazeera · Apr 30Album
Collectors
Coca-Cola hides 12 exclusive stickers in bottle labels
Yamal, Kane, Lautaro, Alphonso Davies and 8 more stars hidden behind 1 billion+ Coca-Cola bottles worldwide. Available from April 20.
SI.com · Apr 28Exclusive
Market
Completing the album solo costs $1,400+ — trading essential
At $2/pack (7 stickers), buying duplicates until completion costs over $1,400. The secondary sticker market has never been more active.
STV News · Apr 30Market
Qualifying
Italy miss World Cup for third straight time
Lost to Bosnia on penalties in the UEFA playoff. Bastoni red card in 41'. Bosnia won 4-1 on penalties. Historic low for Italian football.
NBC Sports · Mar 31Qualifying
Qualifying
Iraq return after 40 years — FIFA arranges charter flight
Iraqi airspace closed during qualification. FIFA arranged a charter. Beat Bolivia 2-1. End a 40-year World Cup absence — extraordinary story.
Yahoo Sports · Mar 31Historic
World Cup 2026
Opening match: Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca
June 11, 3pm ET. Mexico hosts the first match of the biggest World Cup in history. 87,500-seat Azteca packed for the 4th time hosting a World Cup opener.
FIFA · Jun 11Opening
12 Groups · 48 Teams
Top 2 from each group + 8 best third-placed teams → Round of 32
Group A
Host
🇲🇽MexicoHOST
🇰🇷South Korea
🇿🇦South Africa
🇨🇿Czechia
Group B
Host
🇨🇦CanadaHOST
🇨🇭Switzerland
🇶🇦Qatar
🇧🇦Bosnia & Herz.
Group C
🔥 Tough
🇧🇷BrazilFAV
🇲🇦Morocco
🏴Scotland
🇭🇹Haiti
Group D
Host
🇺🇸USAHOST
🇵🇾Paraguay
🇦🇺Australia
🇹🇷Türkiye
Group E
Easy
🇩🇪GermanyFAV
🇨🇮Ivory Coast
🇪🇨Ecuador
🇨🇼Curaçao
Group F
🔥 Toughest
🇳🇱NetherlandsFAV
🇯🇵Japan
🇸🇪Sweden
🇹🇳Tunisia
Group G
🇧🇪BelgiumFAV
🇮🇷Iran
🇳🇿New Zealand
🇪🇬Egypt
Group H
🇪🇸Spain#1
🇨🇻Cabo Verde
🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
🇺🇾Uruguay
Group I
🔥 Brutal
🇫🇷France#3
🇸🇳Senegal
🇳🇴Norway
🇮🇶Iraq
Group J
🇦🇷Argentina#2
🇩🇿Algeria
🇦🇹Austria
🇺🇿Uzbekistan
Group K
🇵🇹PortugalFAV
🇯🇴Jordan
🇨🇴Colombia
🇨🇩DR Congo
Group L
Rivalry
🏴England#4
🇭🇷Croatia
🇬🇭Ghana
🇵🇦Panama
Group Stage · Jun 11–27
June 11 · Opening Day
🇲🇽Mexicovs🇿🇦South Africa
⚑ OpeningGrp A11 Jun · 3pm ETEstadio Azteca · Mexico City
🇰🇷S. Koreavs🇨🇿Czechia
Grp A11 Jun · 10pm ETEstadio Akron · Guadalajara
June 12
🇺🇸USAvs🇵🇾Paraguay
Grp D12 Jun · 9pm ETSoFi Stadium · Los Angeles
🇨🇦Canadavs🇧🇦Bosnia
Grp B12 Jun · 6pm ETBMO Field · Toronto
🇦🇺Australiavs🇹🇷Türkiye
Grp D13 Jun · 12am ETBC Place · Vancouver
June 13
🇧🇷Brazilvs🇲🇦Morocco
Grp C13 Jun · 6pm ETMetLife Stadium · NY/NJ
🏴Scotlandvs🇭🇹Haiti
Grp C13 Jun · 9pm ETGillette Stadium · Boston
June 14
🇩🇪Germanyvs🇨🇼Curaçao
Grp E14 Jun · 1pm ETNRG Stadium · Houston
🇨🇮Ivory Coastvs🇪🇨Ecuador
Grp E14 Jun · 7pm ETLincoln Financial · Philadelphia
🇳🇱Netherlandsvs🇯🇵Japan
Grp F14 Jun · 4pm ETAT&T Stadium · Dallas
🇸🇪Swedenvs🇹🇳Tunisia
Grp F14 Jun · 10pm ETEstadio BBVA · Monterrey
June 15
🇧🇪Belgiumvs🇪🇬Egypt
Grp G15 Jun · 3pm ETLumen Field · Seattle
🇮🇷Iranvs🇳🇿New Zealand
Grp G15 Jun · 9pm ETSoFi Stadium · Los Angeles
🇪🇸Spainvs🇨🇻Cabo Verde
Grp H15 Jun · 12pm ETMercedes-Benz · Atlanta
🇸🇦Saudi Arabiavs🇺🇾Uruguay
Grp H15 Jun · 6pm ETHard Rock Stadium · Miami
June 16
🇫🇷Francevs🇸🇳Senegal
Grp I16 Jun · 3pm ETMetLife Stadium · NY/NJ
🇮🇶Iraqvs🇳🇴Norway
Grp I16 JunArrowhead · Kansas City
🇦🇷Argentinavs🇩🇿Algeria
Grp J16 JunArrowhead · Kansas City
July 19 · Final
🏆Championvs🥈Runner-Up
FINALJul 19 · 3pm ETMetLife Stadium · New York/NJ
16 Host Venues
🇺🇸
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey
82,500 seats
8 matches★ FINAL
🇺🇸
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas (Dallas area)
80,000 seats
9 matchesMost matches
🇲🇽
Estadio Azteca
Mexico City, Mexico
87,523 seats
5 matches⚑ Opening
🇺🇸
SoFi Stadium
Inglewood, Los Angeles
70,240 seats
8 matches
🇺🇸
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
71,000 seats
7 matches
🇨🇦
BC Place
Vancouver, Canada
54,500 seats
7 matches
🇺🇸
NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas
72,220 seats
7 matches
🇺🇸
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami, Florida
65,326 seats
7 matches
Also hosting: Lumen Field (Seattle), Gillette Stadium (Boston), Lincoln Financial (Philadelphia), Levi's Stadium (San Francisco), Arrowhead (Kansas City), BMO Field (Toronto), Estadio Akron (Guadalajara), Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
Tournament Format · 2026
Group Stage (Jun 11–27): 48 teams in 12 groups of 4. Each team plays 3 matches. Top 2 from each group advance automatically (24 teams). The 8 best third-placed teams also advance = 32 teams total in the knockout stage.
🆕 New for 2026 — Round of 32: First time in World Cup history. Replaces the old Round of 16 as the first knockout stage. 32 teams, single elimination. Lose = go home. No second chances.
Knockout bracket
Group Stage
48
teams 12 groups
Jun 11–27
→
Round of 32 🆕
32
teams 16 matches
Jun 29–Jul 2
→
Round of 16
16
teams 8 matches
Jul 4–6
→
Quarterfinals
8
teams 4 matches
Jul 9–11
→
Semifinals
4
teams 2 matches
Jul 14–15
→
🏆 Final
2
MetLife NY / NJ
Jul 19
Key numbers
104
Total matches (up from 64 in 2022)
48
Teams for the first time in history
3
Host nations — first time ever
39
Days of tournament (Jun 11–Jul 19)
8
Matches played by finalists (was 7)
0
Italy appearances — 3rd consecutive absence
Data: FIFA.com · NBC Sports · Yahoo Sports · Wikipedia · collexo.app · Stadium illustrations are original SVG art.