2026 FIFA World Cup 500 Days From Kickoff

FIFA and the cities that will host the 2026 World Cup marked the 500-day countdown on Monday as Canada, Mexico and the United States are continuing preparations to host the biggest tournament ever.

The 2026 tournament will be the first 48-team competition and the first to be played in three countries. The draw for the event is scheduled to be in December with base camp options for the participating teams taking shape.

The FIFA 2026 World Cup kicks off at the Estadio Azteca Mexico City on June 11, 2026. More than five million fans are expected to attend the tournament’s 104 matches. Qualifying will take shape across the world with the first nations to join Canada, Mexico and U.S. in the 48-team field to be revealed in the next few months.

Host cities have released promotional posters and launched ticket and hospitality sales. Cities have also begun planning for fan activations for fans who can’t attend the games. There also has been a host city filming project, which took place from April to August 2024, as FIFA filmed over 60 days of content. The content has been shared with FIFA’s official media partners and will feature in tournament-related broadcasts and promotions before and during the event.