When does the 2026 World Cup start?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

How many teams play in the 2026 World Cup?

48 teams — the first expanded World Cup — split into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a 32-team knockout bracket (104 matches in total).

Who are the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup?

RotoBot's strength model rates Brazil, Germany, and France as the top title contenders, blending de-vigged match odds with World Cup pedigree.

🇨🇦 🇲🇽 🇺🇸 · June 11 – July 19, 2026

FIFA World Cup 2026

The first 48-team World Cup. Build your bracket through all 104 matches, scan de-vigged odds and AI prop edges, dig into every squad’s tactics and World Cup pedigree, and follow the Golden Boot race — all in one place.

Teams

Groups

104

Matches

Host Cities

Build your bracket Full schedule Predictions Golden Boot Explore groups

Title Favorites

Model strength · de-vig odds + WC pedigree

🇧🇷

Brazil

Group C · 5× champion

strength

🇩🇪

Germany

Group E · 4× champion

strength

🇫🇷

France

Group I · 2× champion

strength

🇦🇷

Argentina

Group J · 3× champion

strength

🇺🇾

Uruguay

Group H · 2× champion

strength

🇳🇱

Netherlands

Group F · Runners-up (1974)

strength

Knockout Stage

Latest results and what’s next on the bracket

Latest resultsFull bracket →

The knockout rounds are about to begin.

Up nextSchedule →

🇿🇦South AfricavsR32Canada🇨🇦🇧🇷BrazilvsR32Japan🇯🇵🇩🇪GermanyvsR32Paraguay🇵🇾🇳🇱NetherlandsvsR32Morocco🇲🇦🇨🇮Ivory CoastvsR32Norway🇳🇴

Golden Boot Race

Live top scorers · real tournament goals

Real goals scored at the tournament — ranked by goals, then assists, then efficiency.Full Golden Boot board →

Sharpest Prop Edges

Biggest model-vs-market gaps

Around the Tournament

Latest storylines across the 48

🇨🇭Media

Xhaka: Switzerland red card vs. Argentina 'killed the game'

espn · 2026-07-12

Story

World Cup Daily live: Spidercam debate rumbles on as four semifinalists confirmed

Enjoy all the features, news, video analysis and color from around the competition as we now know our four World Cup semifinalists.

espn · 2026-07-12

🇳🇴Story

Norway 1-2 England (AET): Jude Bellingham delivers again as Three Lions reach World Cup semifinals

A brace from Jude Bellingham in the oppressive heat in Miami was enough to get England over the line against Norway and reach a World Cup semifinal.

espn · 2026-07-12

HeadlineNews

FIFA, FIFPRO in heat protocol talks after World Cup concerns - sources

FIFA and global players' union FIFPRO are in discussions over establishing protocols to avoid games being played in excessive heat, sources have told ESPN.

espn · 2026-07-12

🇦🇷HeadlineNews

Lionel Messi praises 'not normal' Argentina as World Cup semifinal awaits

Lionel Messi has said Argentina's remarkable run of success is "not normal" after the reigning world champions beat Switzerland to reach the World Cup semifinals, where they will face England.

espn · 2026-07-12

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿Story

World Cup 2026 today as it happened: news and updates after England, Argentina edge into semifinal via extra time - July 12

England will face Argentina in the 2026 World Cup semifinals as both teams found a way into the last four via extra time and you can read all the latest news on ESPN.

espn · 2026-07-12

The Field

48 teams by confederation

Europe

16 teams

Africa

10 teams

Asia

9 teams

North & Central America

6 teams

South America

6 teams

Oceania

1 teams

Strength model blends de-vigged group-match odds with World Cup pedigree. Forecasting only — not betting advice. Data refreshes every 15 min.