FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The countdown is on as the U.S., Canada and Mexico are 100 days from hosting the World Cup.
The 23rd edition of soccer’s most prestigious tournament, which has been running since 1930, will be the biggest yet with 48 teams taking part.
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What they’re saying:
“I think it’s a big deal for Americans as well. In the end, this is going to be the greatest sporting event this planet has ever seen,” FOX Sports Analyst Rob Stone told FOX Television Stations. “So the red, white, and blue is going to be everywhere, as it is with the World Cup. And then you add the 250th anniversary coming up as well. It’s just going to magnify it and amplify it.”
100 days until World Cup!
LiveNOW’s Chris Williams sits down with FOX Sports Analyst Rob Stone to break down the countdown to the World Cup — the storylines, the stakes, and why this tournament could be unforgettable.
Where are the matches being held?
Dig deeper:
The United States will host games in Arlington, Texas; Atlanta; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Houston; Inglewood, California; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami Gardens, Florida; Philadelphia, Seattle; and San Jose, California.
Two Canadian cities will have World Cup games: Toronto and Vancouver, British Columbia.
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In Mexico, games will be played in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.
World Cup 2026 final
Big picture view:
The World Cup final will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
FIFA World Cup 2026 format
Why you should care:
The World Cup group stage format for 2026 was changed to 12 groups of four teams from 16 groups of three teams, increasing the total to 104 matches from 64 in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
To win a World Cup, a nation will have to play eight games, up from the seven in place since 1974.
The top two teams in each group and the top eight third-place teams will advance to a new round of 32 that starts the knockout phase. Advancement for third-place teams was eliminated for 1998, when the tournament expanded from 24 teams to 32.
More matches mean more content for television broadcasters and more tickets to sell, increasing revenue for FIFA.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The information in this story comes from details released by FIFA about the 2026 World Cup, including host cities, tournament format changes and the schedule for the final. Additional context and commentary were provided by FOX Sports analyst Rob Stone in an interview with FOX Television Stations. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
