World Cup 2026 will be the largest edition of the tournament ever held, featuring 48 national teams competing across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026, with a total of 104 matches played across the group stage and knockout rounds.

Winning Whistle brings you World Cup 2026 full match schedule in your local time.

📅 Tournament Overview
🏆 Dates: 11 June – 19 July 2026
⚽ Teams: 48 Teams
📍 Hosts: United States, Canada and Mexico
📊 Total Matches: 104 Matches
🏟️ Venue: 16

The wait is over! The FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Draw is being held at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC, USA. This historic edition of the World Cup—jointly hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico—features an expanded 48-team format, making it the biggest World Cup ever.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Tournament Overview

• Host Countries: USA, Canada, Mexico

• Total Teams: 48
• Groups: 12
• Final Date: 19 July, 2026
• Opening Match Venue: Estadio Azteca
• Final Venue: Metlife Stadium

Lets have a look at FIFA World Cup 2026 host Cities and Stadiums.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Draw

Group A

• Mexico
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Denmark/Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland

Group B

• Canada
• Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia
• Qatar
• Switzerland

Group C

• Brazil
• Morocco
• Haiti
• Scotland

Group D

• USA
• Paraguay
• Australia
• Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo

Group E

• Germany
• Curacao
• Ivory Coast
• Ecuador

Group F

• Netherland
• Japan
• Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania
• Tunisia

Group G

• Belgium
• Egypt
• Iran
• Newzeland

Group H

• Spain
• Cabo Verde
• Saudia Arabia
• Uruguay

Group I

• France
• Senegal
• Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname
• Norway

Group J

• Argentina
• Algeria
• Austria
• Jordan

Group K

• Portugal
• DRC/Jamaica/New Caledonia
• Uzbekistan
• Colombia

Group L

• England
• Croatia
• Ghana
• Panama

World Cup 2026 Format Explained

The 2026 World Cup marks the first-ever 48-team format. The new system includes:

• 48 Teams, 12 Groups, 104 Matches
• Eight 3rd best team will qualify to knock out stage.
• 32 teams will enter Round of 32
• No more early elimination after two matches
• More knockout games, more excitement

The 2025 Club World Cup will take place from June 15 to July 13, 2025, in the USA. The tournament will be the 21st edition of the Club World Cup. And FIFA has introduced a brand-new tournament format featuring 32-teams.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Club World Cup, including its format, qualification, prize money, venues, and more.

2025 Club World Cup: New Tournament Format

FIFA has expanded the tournament from 7 to 32 teams, following a format similar to the FIFA World Cup.

The tournament begins with a group stage featuring eight groups of four teams each.

The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 16.

From there, it’s a knockout stage leading up to the grand final.

How Do Teams Qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup?

Teams from different continents qualify based on their performance in continental competitions. Here’s how FIFA has allocated the 32 slots:

• UEFA (Europe): 12 teams
• CONMEBOL (South America): 6 teams
• AFC (Asia): 4 teams
• CAF (Africa): 4 teams
• CONCACAF (North & Central America + Caribbean): 4 teams
• OFC (Oceania): 1 team
• Host Nation (USA): 1 team

These 32 teams will participate in the 2025 Club World Cup:

UEFA (Europe) – 12 Teams

Chelsea (England)

Real Madrid (Spain)

Manchester City (England)

Bayern Munich (Germany)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Inter Milan (Italy)

Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Atlético Madrid (Spain)

Juventus (Italy)

Benfica (Portugal)

FC Porto (Portugal)

Red Bull Salzburg (Austria)

CONMEBOL (South America) – 6 Teams

Palmeiras (Brazil)

Flamengo (Brazil)

Fluminense (Brazil)

River Plate (Argentina)

Boca Juniors (Argentina)

Botafogo (Brazil)

AFC (Asia) – 4 Teams

Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)

Al-Ain (UAE)

Ulsan HD (South Korea)

CAF (Africa) – 4 Teams

Al Ahly (Egypt)

Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)

Espérance Tunis (Tunisia)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

CONCACAF (North America) – 5 Teams (Includes Host Spot)

Monterrey (Mexico)

Seattle Sounders (USA)

Club León (Mexico)

Pachuca (Mexico)

Inter Miami (USA) (Host nation representative)

OFC (Oceania) – 1 Team

Auckland City (New Zealand)

Group Stage Draw: 2025 Club World Cup Groups

Where Will the 2025 Club World Cup Be Held?

The 2025 Club World Cup will be hosted in the USA across 11 cities, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington DC.

This will be a preview of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

How Much Prize Money Will Clubs Receive?

FIFA has promised huge financial rewards for clubs participating in the 2025 Club World Cup.

• Each team will receive at least $50 million USD just for qualifying.

• Additional prize money will be awarded based on performance, making this one of the most lucrative tournaments in club football history.

Who Is the Defending Champion?

Manchester City are the current FIFA Club World Cup champions. They won their first-ever title on December 22, 2023, by defeating Fluminense (Brazil) 4-0 in the final. Julián Álvarez scored twice to lead his team to victory.

What Does the Club World Cup Trophy Look Like?

The FIFA Club World Cup trophy is designed as a “symbol of the future, inspired by the past.”

• It is decorated with 24-carat gold.

• It has inscriptions in 13 different languages.

• The winning team receives a replica with their name and emblem engraved.