when will the world cup start

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will start on Thursday, June 11, 2026. The opening match is scheduled to take place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The tournament will run through to the final on Sunday, July 19, 2026, which will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This World Cup will be hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and it is the first tournament to feature 48 teams instead of the traditional 32.