WC-2026
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Until kickoff
D-23
JUNE 11 — JULY 19, 2026
104 matches 48 teams 16 stadiums 16 cities 3 countries
Group R32 R16 QF SF 3rd Final
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ARTICLES

Long-form pieces on the 2026 FIFA World Cup — stadiums, groups, stages, host cities. Written by us, sourced from open data.

Lionel Scaloni

12 managers to watch at the 2026 World Cup

Ancelotti took over Brazil, Tuchel took over England, Bielsa is back at a World Cup after 16 years. The bench stories that will shape the tournament.

MetLife Stadium

10 must-watch group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup

From the Azteca opener to Brazil–Morocco and England–Croatia, ten first-round matches worth clearing your calendar for.

Лионель Месси в форме сборной Аргентины — последний ЧМ карьеры

12 stars to watch at the 2026 World Cup

Twelve players who define the 2026 World Cup, from Messi's final tournament to 18-year-old Lamine Yamal.

МетЛайф Стэдиум в Ист-Резерфорде — стадион финала ЧМ-2026

World Cup 2026 group preview: 12 groups, favourites and dark horses

All twelve groups at the 2026 World Cup, ranked by who is favoured to advance and who is the dark horse. One short read per group.

Центральный стадион «Пахтакор» в Ташкенте — домашняя арена сборной Узбекистана

World Cup 2026 first-timers: Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan and Curaçao

Four teams will play their first World Cup. How they qualified, who is in charge, and what to realistically expect in North America.

MetLife Stadium

Round of 32 explained: how the expanded 48-team World Cup works in 2026

Twelve groups of four, a new round of 32, and 104 matches across 39 days — a breakdown of the structure of the first expanded World Cup.

Эстадио Ацтека в Мехико — арена, открывающая третий чемпионат мира в своей истории.

Estadio Azteca: the only stadium to host three World Cup openers

On June 11, 2026, the Azteca becomes the first arena in history to open a third World Cup, following 1970 and 1986.

Эстадио Ацтека в Мехико и окружающие районы города с высоты птичьего полёта.

16 stadiums of the 2026 World Cup: a complete guide

From Estadio Azteca at 2,240 metres of altitude to the expanded BMO Field in Toronto — a tour of all 16 arenas of the 2026 World Cup across the USA, Mexico and Canada.