All you need to know about the FIFA World Cup 2026 

We’re all used to one country hosting all the teams, but this time around, the Fifa World Cup 2026 is split across three countries. Set to start on the 11^th of June, the 104 matches will be played across Mexico, the US, and Canada.  

Now, you’re wondering, how did we get to so many matches? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this prestigious tournament and don’t forget to bet on your favourite country with Bet.co.za.  

New Format Explained 

One of the biggest changes for the Fifa World Cup 2026 is that the tournament is getting much bigger. Instead of 32 teams, there will now be 48 teams battling it out for football’s biggest prize. 

The competition will start with 12 groups made up of four teams each, with every team playing three group-stage matches. The top two teams from each group will go through automatically, while the eight best third-placed teams will also move on, creating a brand-new round of 32. 

After that, it’s straight knockout football all the way through to the final, with the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals deciding who stays alive. The new format means more matches, more drama, and more countries getting a real shot at making a deep run in the tournament. 

Group Stages  

The group stage kicks off on Thursday June 11, with an opening match between South Africa vs Mexico in Mexico City Stadium. The round of 16 will start on July 4 – 7, quarter finals from 09 – 11 July and the semifinals will be on July 14 and 15.

The bronze final will be on 18 July and the Fifa World Cup 2026 Final will be on 19 July. Check out the below group stages:   

Group A 

• Mexico 

• South Africa 

• Korea Republic 

• Czechia 

Group B 

• Canada 

• Bosnia and Herzegovina 

• Qatar 

• Switzerland 

Group C 

• Brazil 

• Morocco 

• Haiti 

• Scotland 

Group D 

• USA 

• Paraguay 

• Australia 

• Türkiye 

Group E 

• Germany 

• Curaçao 

• Côte d’Ivoire 

• Ecuador 

Group F 

• Netherlands 

• Japan 

• Sweden 

• Tunisia 

See more

Group G 

• Belgium 

• Egypt 

• Iran 

• New Zealand 

Group H 

• Spain 

• Cabo Verde 

• Saudi Arabia 

• Uruguay 

Group I 

• France 

• Senegal 

• Iraq 

• Norway 

Group J 

• Argentina 

• Algeria 

• Austria 

• Jordan 

Group K 

• Portugal 

• Congo 

• Uzbekistan 

• Colombia 

Group L 

• England 

• Croatia 

• Ghana 

• Panama 

The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams from this stage will progress to the Round of 32. 

How teams qualified 

The 48-team tournament lineup was completed with nations qualifying through their respective continental confederations, alongside co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States, who earned automatic qualification. 

With each confederation running its own qualifying competition, they determine which nations would earn a place at the global event. 

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) represents African nations and oversees football competitions across the continent. Teams such as South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Senegal qualified through CAF’s qualifying competition. CAF is responsible for major tournaments such as the Africa Cup of Nations. 

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) governs football across Asia and Australia. Nations including Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic secured qualification through multiple AFC qualifying rounds, where teams competed in league-style groups to advance.   

South American qualification was managed by CONMEBOL, which stands for the South American Football Confederation. It is the oldest continental football body and includes powerhouse nations such as Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.  

Unlike other regions, CONMEBOL qualification is played in a long round-robin league format, where every nation faces each other home and away over an extended competition. 

UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, is Europe’s governing football body and oversees the continent’s biggest competitions, including the UEFA European Championship and the UEFA Champions League.  

European heavyweights such as England, France, Spain, Germany and Portugal booked their spots through UEFA’s competitive qualification groups and play-off rounds. Europe contributed the largest number of qualified teams to the tournament.  

Countries to Watch 

Even with more teams in the tournament, the big football nations are still the ones to beat. Argentina, the current champions, will try to defend their title, while strong sides like France, Brazil, England and Spain are all expected to be right in the mix for the trophy. 

But with the bigger format, there’s also more room for surprises. Teams like Morocco, Senegal, United States and Japan could shake things up again and possibly go much further than expected, just like we’ve seen in past tournaments. 

Host Countries and Cities  

The World Cup will be played in 16 cities across North America, giving you a mix of different cultures, weather, and football vibes. 

In the United States, games will be hosted in big sporting cities like Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and New York/New Jersey, as well as places like Atlanta, Seattle, and Boston.  

Canada will have matches in Toronto and Vancouver, while Mexico will host games in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. 

One of the coolest moments will be at Mexico City’s famous Estadio Azteca, which will make history by becoming the first stadium to host matches in three different World Cups. Because the tournament is spread across different countries and time zones, we will also get matches at different viewing times. 

See more

The Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Song 

Dai Dai by Shakira x Burna Boy is the official Fifa World Cup 2026 song in support of the Fifa Global Citizen Education Fund. The main goal of this fund is to provide access to education and football opportunities for children around the world. 

We’re all familiar with the popular halftime performance on the NFL Super Bowl, and this event will make history as the first ever World Cup final to feature that kind of performance. The event will combine music, sport, and global culture while also raising awareness for the Global Citizen Education Fund.  

You can expect major entertainment featuring artists from across the world, and Shakira confirmed as one of the headline performers for the halftime show on Sunday, 19 July. 

Winners of the Tournament 

At the end of the World Cup, everything comes down to the final match where the champions are crowned, and the winning team is officially announced after the last whistle. 

The tournament also ends with special awards:  

• The player of the tournament is named for the best overall performance. 

• The best Goalkeeper award goes to the top-performing keeper. 

• The top goal scorer (Golden Boot winner) is awarded to the player who scores the most goals. 

All of these big honours are announced after the final game, making the closing moment of the World Cup a huge celebration of the best players in the world. 

Bet on FIFA World Cup 2026 

Now that we know all about the world cup, we can then think about placing bets on favourite teams, players and so on. With Bet.co.za, you get the most competitive odds, a range of betting markets and an opportunity to get involved in all the action.  

We offer you a simple and enjoyable way to get closer to the game. Instead of just watching from the sidelines, you become part of the match from start to finish. Sign up, place your bet, and be a part of the Fifa World Cup, where every moment on the stadium matters just a little bit more.