MEXICO CITY: The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to become the largest edition of the tournament in football history, featuring an expanded field of 48 national teams and a record number of participating players.

Scheduled to begin on June 12, the tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will mark the first time that three countries have co-hosted a FIFA World Cup.

The expanded competition introduces a new format aimed at accommodating more teams and matches. A total of 48 nations will be divided into 12 groups, with four teams in each group.

Expanded format brings more matches

Under the revised structure, the tournament will feature 104 matches, significantly more than previous editions. The expansion is expected to provide more playing opportunities for national teams and increase the overall duration of the event.

According to tournament data, a total of 1,248 players are expected to take part in the competition.