The Format
The first ever 48 team World Cup. Twelve groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third place finishers, advance to a knockout Round of 32, producing a longer, broader tournament across three host nations.
The Groups
48 nations drawn into 12 groups of four. Hover any tile to see the full lineup. ★ marks host nations.
Every team is guaranteed a minimum of $12.5 million, made up of a $2.5 million preparation fee and $10 million for qualifying. Payouts then climb sharply with how far a nation advances, peaking at a record $50 million for the champions. Each team receives one payment based on the round it goes out in, not a running total.
| Finish | Per Team |
|---|---|
| Champions | $50M |
| Runners up | $33M |
| 3rd place | $29M |
| 4th place | $27M |
| Quarterfinals · 5th to 8th | $19M |
| Round of 16 · 9th to 16th | $15M |
| Round of 32 · 17th to 32nd | $11M |
| Group stage · 33rd to 48th | $9M |
PERFORMANCE PRIZE MONEY PER TEAM · PAID TO NATIONAL FEDERATIONS, NOT PLAYERS DIRECTLY · A SEPARATE $2.5M PREPARATION FEE GOES TO ALL 48 TEAMS.
The Rules
A few of the things that make the World Cup tick, from why the soccer world stops for a month to the one rule that confuses new fans the most.
Unlike most sporting events, the World Cup pulls players from hundreds of professional clubs across the globe. National teams are built from players who normally compete for their clubs, so leagues temporarily stop their seasons to set them free.
One of soccer's most important rules. It stops players from simply waiting near the opponent's goal for an easy pass and tap-in, rewarding teamwork and movement instead.
RULE OF THUMB · AT THE MOMENT OF THE PASS, AT LEAST TWO OPPONENTS (USUALLY KEEPER + ONE DEFENDER) MUST BE BETWEEN THE ATTACKER AND THE GOAL LINE.
At the instant the attacker passes, the offside player is beyond the second to last defender and ahead of the ball, so the flag goes up.
This confuses almost every new fan, so here it is simply. Club soccer is the regular season: players are paid millions and superteams are assembled. International soccer is different. You cannot buy Messi for Germany. Players represent the country they are eligible for, and the emotional intensity becomes absolutely unhinged.
Soccer is organized into three levels.
A player's club does not need to be in the same country as their national team. Players often compete professionally in one country while representing a different country in international competition. For most of the year they play with their clubs in league competitions; during international tournaments and FIFA match windows, they leave their clubs to represent their national teams. Because the World Cup brings together players from leagues and clubs across the globe, domestic leagues pause their seasons so players can compete for their countries.
Without it, players could camp near the goal all game waiting for long passes. The rule pushes teams toward passing, movement, and strategy rather than parking a striker on the goal line.
When a long pass is played forward, watch the attacker's position at the moment the ball is kicked, not when they receive it. That instant is what assistant referees judge when they raise the flag.
CLOSE CALLS ARE HARD TO SPOT LIVE, WHICH IS WHY THE WORLD CUP USES VIDEO ASSISTANT REFEREE (VAR) TECHNOLOGY TO REVIEW THEM.
For the first time, every match has a mandatory three minute hydration break in each half, regardless of weather, kickoff time, or whether the stadium has a roof.
The referee adds time at the end of each half to make up for stoppages during play.
Players can be suspended for picking up yellow cards across multiple matches, not just for a single red.
If a player is suspected of having a concussion, the team may use an additional substitution beyond the normal limit.
DESIGNED TO PRIORITIZE PLAYER SAFETY · THE OPPOSING TEAM IS GRANTED AN EXTRA SUB TOO.
If a knockout match is still level after extra time, it goes to penalties.
The championship match follows the same knockout format as every round before it, with no replays.
Group matches use a league points system: 3 points for a win, 1 for a draw, and 0 for a loss. The top two in each group qualify automatically, and the eight best of the 12 third place finishers also advance to the Round of 32.
For the first time ever, a team can finish third in its group and go on to win the trophy. The champion now needs 8 wins instead of 7.
When teams finish level on points in a group, FIFA ranks them in this order (Article 13).
The eight best of the 12 third place teams advance, compared across all groups by:
- Points in all group matches
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Team conduct (fair play) score
- FIFA World Ranking
A TEAM CAN FINISH THIRD AND STILL REACH THE FINAL.
The conduct score used in tiebreakers deducts points for cards (Article 13). Only the harshest deduction applies to a player in a single match.
Two yellows leading to a red: minus 3
Direct red card: minus 4
Yellow plus a direct red: minus 5
If a knockout match is level after 90 minutes (Article 14).
THESE TOURNAMENT-SPECIFIC RULES EXPLAIN WHY COACHES MANAGE PLAYING TIME, SUBSTITUTIONS, AND DISCIPLINE SO CAREFULLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD CUP.
A little extra culture for the curious, the politics, the legends, and the rivalries that make the World Cup more than a tournament. Tap any to open.
Football Politics ⌄
Coming soon
The Dark Arts of FIFA ⌄
FIFA runs the World Cup. They are also surrounded by controversy roughly every eleven minutes.
Despite all of it, the World Cup remains the largest sporting event on Earth, because fans will complain endlessly while watching every single match. Every four years, without fail.
Players Every Casual Must Pretend to Know ⌄
- 🇲🇦 Achraf Hakimi
- 🇯🇵 Takefusa Kubo
- 🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah
- 🇳🇬 Victor Osimhen
- 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi
- 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe
- 🏴 Jude Bellingham
- 🇧🇷 Vinicius Junior
- 🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal
- 🇳🇴 Erling Haaland
- 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappe
- 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo
- 🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic
The Ancient Rivalries ⌄
Some matches are not just matches. They are centuries of history compressed into ninety minutes, rivalries that have outlasted governments and crossed generations.
Argentina vs Brazil
South America's greatest rivalry. Two football kingdoms that have dominated the continent for decades and have never agreed on which is superior. Argentina has Messi and the 2022 title; Brazil has five World Cups and Pele's ghost. Every match between them feels like a referendum on continental football identity.
England vs Germany
A rivalry built from history, heartbreak, and a specific kind of penalty trauma that England carries everywhere. 1966: England won the World Cup at home against West Germany and has reminded everyone ever since. 1990 and 1996: England lost on penalties. Germans remember the wins; the English remember the suffering. Both sides find this arrangement completely acceptable.
The Gods of Football ⌄
Coming soon
Where Teams Are Based
ALL 48 TEAM BASE CAMPS · 3 COUNTRIESEach squad's home away from home for the group stage, where they train, recover, and stay. Hover any marker to see the team and its training site.
Markers are colored by group, matching The Groups grid above. Hover any marker for the team, its group, and training site.
The Ranking
FIFA pre-tournament rankings. All 48 qualified nations, ranked by points.
Bars show FIFA points (pre-tournament). Number on the right is each team's world rank. Host nations are highlighted in green; the top three in gold. Figures are approximate.
Every World Cup final since the tournament began in 1930. Germany's totals include titles won as West Germany (1954 to 1990).
| Year | Winner | Score | Runner Up | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 🇺🇾Uruguay | 4–2 | Argentina | Montevideo, Uruguay |
| 1934 | 🇮🇹Italy | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Czechoslovakia | Rome, Italy |
| 1938 | 🇮🇹Italy | 4–2 | Hungary | Colombes, France |
| 1950 | 🇺🇾Uruguay | 2–1 | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 1954 | 🇩🇪West Germany | 3–2 | Hungary | Bern, Switzerland |
| 1958 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 5–2 | Sweden | Solna, Sweden |
| 1962 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 3–1 | Czechoslovakia | Santiago, Chile |
| 1966 | 🏴England | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | West Germany | London, England |
| 1970 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 4–1 | Italy | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 1974 | 🇩🇪West Germany | 2–1 | Netherlands | Munich, West Germany |
| 1978 | 🇦🇷Argentina | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Netherlands | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| 1982 | 🇮🇹Italy | 3–1 | West Germany | Madrid, Spain |
| 1986 | 🇦🇷Argentina | 3–2 | West Germany | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 1990 | 🇩🇪West Germany | 1–0 | Argentina | Rome, Italy |
| 1994 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 0–0 (3–2 pen.) | Italy | Pasadena, United States |
| 1998 | 🇫🇷France | 3–0 | Brazil | Saint-Denis, France |
| 2002 | 🇧🇷Brazil | 2–0 | Germany | Yokohama, Japan |
| 2006 | 🇮🇹Italy | 1–1 (5–3 pen.) | France | Berlin, Germany |
| 2010 | 🇪🇸Spain | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Netherlands | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| 2014 | 🇩🇪Germany | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Argentina | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 2018 | 🇫🇷France | 4–2 | Croatia | Moscow, Russia |
| 2022 | 🇦🇷Argentina | 3–3 (4–2 pen.) | France | Lusail, Qatar |
The Schedule
All 104 matches, shown in your local time. Final scores appear once a match has been played; upcoming games show TBD.
Weekly Recap
A running digest of the tournament so far, biggest results, surprises, and what to watch next. Updated each matchweek.
The recap for the opening week will land here once the group stage is underway. Check back after the first round of fixtures.
Each week of the tournament gets its own card, newest at the top, covering the standout result, the upset nobody saw coming, and the team or player to keep an eye on heading into the next round.
UPDATED WEEKLY · GROUP STAGE THROUGH THE FINAL ON JULY 19.
Performances
Beyond the action on the field, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will make history by introducing the tournament's first-ever halftime show during the Final on July 19. The addition reflects FIFA's effort to further elevate the event as both a sporting competition and a global entertainment showcase.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will introduce a historic first: a halftime show. Scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium, the event is expected to feature performances by Madonna, Shakira, and BTS, with creative direction from Chris Martin of Coldplay. The show will also help support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise $100 million to improve access to education and football programs for children around the world.
JULY 19 · NEW YORK NEW JERSEY STADIUM · LIVE BROADCAST WORLDWIDE
Before the first ball was kicked, Estadio Azteca set the stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a celebration of Latin America's musical heritage. The opening ceremony featured a blend of rock, ranchera, cumbia, and reggaeton, honoring both legendary performers and contemporary artists while welcoming the world to Mexico for football's biggest tournament.
JUNE 11 · BEFORE MEXICO VS SOUTH AFRICA
Before Canada's first-ever home FIFA World Cup match, BMO Field hosted an opening ceremony centered on the theme of a "cultural mosaic." The celebration showcased Canada's multicultural identity through music and performances representing communities from across the country.
JUNE 12 · BEFORE CANADA'S HOME OPENER
FIFA announced the first-ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show, bringing music and football together on the world's biggest sporting stage.
Watch the official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Halftime Show announcement.
The announcement of the first ever FIFA World Cup Final Halftime Show immediately captured the attention of football and music fans around the world. Social media quickly filled with reactions, predictions, and excitement as supporters debated who could headline one of the most watched events on the planet.
Football. Music. One Global Stage.