June 11, 2026 · Nick Wichert

World Cup 2026 by the Numbers: 104 Matches, 48 Teams, 3 Countries (2026 Stats)

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest ever: 48 teams, 104 matches in 39 days, 16 host cities, a projected 5+ million attendance, and roughly 6 billion people expected to engage worldwide. Every key stat, sourced.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest in the tournament’s history: 48 teams playing 104 matches across 39 days (June 11 – July 19, 2026) in 16 host cities spread over the United States, Mexico, and Canada. FIFA projects more than 5 million fans in stadiums — which would shatter Qatar 2022’s record of 3.4 million — and roughly 6 billion people engaging with the tournament worldwide.

World Cup 2026: Quick Stats

48 teams — up from 32 at every World Cup from 1998 through 2022
104 matches — up from 64 in Qatar 2022, a 62% increase
39 days of play, June 11 – July 19, 2026
16 host cities: 11 in the US, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Canada
12 groups of 4, feeding a new round of 32
4 World Cup debutants: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan
5+ million projected in-stadium attendance (the record is 3.4 million, Qatar 2022)
~6 billion people projected to engage with the tournament globally
$60 to $10,990 — the range of official ticket prices under FIFA’s dynamic pricing

The new format, explained in one paragraph

The 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three group matches (72 group-stage matches total, June 11–27). The top two in each group advance, joined by the eight best third-place teams — 32 teams move on, meaning two-thirds of the field survives the groups. From there it’s a straight knockout: a new round of 32 (June 28 – July 3), round of 16 (July 4–7), quarterfinals (July 9–11), semifinals (July 14–15), and the final on Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

How 2026 compares to recent World Cups

	2026 (US/MEX/CAN)	2022 (Qatar)	2018 (Russia)
Teams	48	32	32
Matches	104	64	64
Days	39	29	32
Host cities	16	8	11
Total attendance	5M+ (projected)	3.4M	3.0M

The jump from 64 to 104 matches is the single biggest expansion in World Cup history — bigger than the move from 24 to 32 teams in 1998. No previous tournament has asked fans to follow this much soccer in this little time.

Attendance and tickets

FIFA is targeting more than 5 million in-person spectators across the 104 matches, which would break Qatar 2022’s all-time record of 3.4 million. Official ticket prices have ranged from $60 to $10,990 under FIFA’s dynamic pricing model — a system that drew enough criticism that FIFA released a limited number of $60 tickets for every match in the tournament.

The viewership projection

FIFA projects roughly 6 billion people will engage with the 2026 tournament in some form — broadcasts, streaming, or highlights — which would make it the most-watched sporting event in history. For US viewers, every match airs on FOX or FS1 in English (streaming on the FOX apps), while Telemundo (92 matches) and Universo (12) carry the Spanish broadcasts, all of which also stream on Peacock.

The number nobody says out loud: 200+ hours

Here’s the stat that matters for an actual fan with an actual job: watching every match of this World Cup — at roughly two hours per match including stoppage time — would take more than 200 hours of live viewing in 39 days. That’s over five hours a day, for five and a half weeks, mostly between noon and 9 p.m. ET on workdays.

Nobody does that. The real question of this World Cup isn’t “will you watch?” — it’s “how will you stay current on the 90+ matches you don’t watch?” That’s the problem Scoutcast.ai exists for: a personalized ~2-minute audio briefing every morning covering the teams and matches you care about, with tap-to-ask follow-up questions mid-briefing. The working fan’s guide to following this World Cup lays out the full system.

Summary table

Stat	Figure
Dates	June 11 – July 19, 2026
Teams / matches	48 / 104
Group stage	72 matches, June 11–27
Knockout rounds	32 matches, June 28 – July 19
Host cities	16 (11 US, 3 Mexico, 2 Canada)
Final	July 19, MetLife Stadium, 3 p.m. ET
Projected attendance	5+ million
Projected global engagement	~6 billion
US broadcasters	FOX/FS1 (EN); Telemundo/Universo + Peacock (ES)

Sources

Last updated: June 2026. Figures marked “projected” will be updated as FIFA releases official tournament numbers.

Frequently asked questions

How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?

48 teams — the largest field in World Cup history, expanded from the 32-team format used at every tournament from 1998 through 2022. They’re drawn into 12 groups of four, and 32 teams advance to the knockout rounds.

How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?

104 matches: 72 in the group stage (June 11–27) and 32 across the knockout rounds (June 28 – July 19). That’s a 62% increase over the 64 matches played at Qatar 2022 and the biggest expansion in tournament history.

Where is the 2026 World Cup being played?

In 16 host cities across three countries: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. The opening match was at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and the final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, 2026.

How many people will watch the 2026 World Cup?

FIFA projects roughly 6 billion people will engage with the tournament globally across broadcasts, streaming, and highlights — which would make it the most-watched sporting event in history. In-stadium attendance is projected to exceed 5 million, beating Qatar 2022’s record of 3.4 million.

How much do 2026 World Cup tickets cost?

Official ticket prices have ranged from $60 to $10,990 depending on the match, seat category, and FIFA’s dynamic pricing. After criticism of the pricing model, FIFA released a limited number of $60 tickets for every one of the 104 matches.

Who broadcasts the 2026 World Cup in the US?

FOX and FS1 carry all 104 matches in English, with streaming on the FOX apps. Telemundo (92 matches) and Universo (12 matches) carry the Spanish-language broadcasts, all of which also stream on Peacock.

Last updated June 11, 2026