When does the 2026 World Cup start? How long does it last? Who do England play? Everything you need to know about tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico
Published 03/06/2026 at 15:05 GMT+1
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Paris Saint-Germain's penalty shoot-out victory over Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final drew the club football season to an end and all attention now turns to the World Cup.
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The much-anticipated tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico promises to be amongst the most memorable, with more teams, more stadiums and more matches than ever before.
We have provided all the key information on the upcoming World Cup below.
When does the World Cup start?
The World Cup gets underway on Thursday, June 11. Co-hosts Mexico will meet South Africa in Mexico City with kick-off at 20:00 UK time.
Before the game, though, the opening ceremony will take place at Estadio Azteca. Colombian artist J Balvin and South African singer Tyla will perform, with the ceremony beginning approximately 90 minutes before kick-off.
Canada's first game of the World Cup is against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Friday, June 12, while the USA play their first match against Paraguay on Saturday, June 13.
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How many teams are there at the World Cup?
This is the first World Cup since FIFA's expansion from 32 teams to 48.
That means there are a total of 12 groups, which will be followed by a round of 32 stage.
How long is the World Cup?
With more football to be played at this year's revamped World Cup, the tournament will inevitably run for longer.
From the opening game between Mexico and South Africa until the final in New Jersey, the World Cup will last 37 days.
When do the knockout rounds start?
The round of 32 begins on Sunday June 28, in Los Angeles, before the round of 16 gets underway on Saturday July 4.
The quarter-finals start on Thursday July 9 in Boston and the semi-finals will be played on Tuesday 14 July and Wednesday 15 July.
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When is the World Cup final?
The World Cup final will be played on Sunday July 19 in New Jersey with kick-off at 20:00 UK time.
When do England play at the World Cup?
The Three Lions begin their World Cup campaign with a group match against Croatia on Wednesday June 17 in Dallas, with kick-off at 21:00 UK time.
They then face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday June 23 (21:00 UK time) and Panama in New Jersey on Saturday June 27 (22:00 UK time).
If Thomas Tuchel's team top Group L, they would face one of eight third-placed teams on Wednesday July 1 in Atlanta, with a kick-off of 17:00 UK time.
If England finish second, their round of 32 match will be on Friday July 3 in Toronto at 00:00 UK time, while a third-place finish would likely mean a 02:30 UK time kick-off on Saturday, July 4 in Kansas City.
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Who are the favourites to win the World Cup?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the abundance of quality in their squad, France are the bookies' favourites to win the World Cup for the third time.
With a vastly experienced manager in Didier Deschamps - set to manage Les Blues for the final time at the tournament - and a formidable attacking line-up that includes Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki, among many others, France are expected to go far again.
Spain, two years on from their Euro 2024 triumph at the expense of England, are not far behind France. Lamine Yamal is now more experienced and among the best players in the world, and head coach Luis de la Fuente appears to have found the formula to get the best out of his country.
England, despite some gripes about Tuchel's squad selection, are also highly fancies. Harry Kane's frightening form for Bayern Munich - 61 goals in all competitions in 2025/26 - and a well-balanced starting XI should be cause for optimism.
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Brazil and Argentina will both be vocally supported by their travelling supporters, who will, as ever, have high expectations.
Carlo Ancelotti is the man tasked with ending Brazil's 24-year wait for World Cup glory and he has a squad packed with talent - with several Premier League stars, including the likes of Alisson, Gabriel, Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro, Gabriel Martinelli, Igor Thiago, Matheus Cunha and Rayan.
Argentina, meanwhile, are defending champions and will hope Lionel Messi's final World Cup ends as memorably as the last one in Qatar.
Portugal and Germany are considered slight outsiders by the bookies. The former are still led by a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, while the latter have failed to make it beyond the group stage at the past two World Cups.
Ronald Koeman's Netherlands, an exciting Norway side with Erling Haaland leading the line, and a Belgium side with fewer expectations - but still boasting Kevin De Bruyne in midfield - make up the top 10.
There are some outside bets, too: notably, Colombia, who impressed in qualifying, finishing third under Nestor Lorenzo, as well as Japan and Morocco. Japan are in a potentially tricky group with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia, but caught the eye when they beat England at Wembley in March.
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Who are the favourites to win the Golden Boot?
Mbappe won the Golden Boot at Qatar 2022, scoring eight goals - including a hat-trick in a remarkable final - and beating Messi (seven goals) to the individual award. The Frenchman is the favourite to finish as top scorer again.
Just behind Mbappe is Kane, off the back of a prolific season for Bayern.
Messi is again considered a contender and the bookies have him as a more likely winner than his great rival Ronaldo.
Haaland, playing in his first World Cup, could be among the top scorers depending on how Norway fare, while Spain's Yamal and Mikel Oyarzabal are expected to be in the race.
Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Dembele, Julian Alvarez and Lisandro Martinez are viewed as outside bets.
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When do the top five European leagues restart after the World Cup?
The World Cup means Europe's domestic leagues will begin later than normal for the 2026/27 season.
The Premier League will start on August 22, a week later than the previous campaign. That is 33 days after the World Cup final.
Germany's Bundesliga, meanwhile, will get underway even later as they usually do, on August 28, while France's Ligue 1 will start the day after the Premier League, on August 23.
Italy's Serie A will also begin on August 23, while La Liga's start date has yet to be confirmed.
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