World Cup 2026: US, Mexico, Canada To Host Bigger Soccer Tournament, Here Are Some Quick Facts

Soccer fans will have a shorter-than-usual wait for the next World Cup. The tournament returns to its typical summer schedule in 2026, which means the wait won't be a full four years.

Here are some other quick facts about the 2026 World Cup.

When Exactly Does The Next World Cup Start?

The tournament begins in early June 2026 and concludes at the beginning of July. It will last at least 35 days.

Because of the climate in Qatar, the 2022 World Cup didn't start until the second half of November. In the last World Cup, France beat Croatia in the final on July 15, 2018 -- making for a four-year, fourth-month gap between tournaments.

What Is The Longest Gap Between World Cups?

Since the inaugural World Cup in 1930, the longest gap between tournaments has been 12 years. After Italy won the 1938 World Cup, World War II prevented the tournament from officially being held in 1942 or 1946.

When the World Cup returned in 1950, Uruguay beat Brazil in the final. There were questions about the 1986 World Cup, which was moved from Colombia to Mexico, but no World Cup has been canceled since World War II.

Where Will The World Cup Be Played?

There is more than one host nation in 2026, as the tournament will take place all across North America. Matches are set to be played in parts of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The three countries won't have to compete in qualifying.

Both Canada and Mexico failed to advance beyond the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. The U.S. was eliminated from the Round of 16 in Qatar.

The U.S. will host 60 matches, including every match starting in the quarterfinals. Canada and Mexico will each host 10 matches.

This is the second time that FIFA has chosen more than one country to serve as host. In 2002, Japan and South Korea shared hosting duties.

How Many Countries Will Participate In 2026?

The field expands to 48 countries, a jump from 32 countries since 1994. In 1990, the tournament had 24 countries compete.

It's unclear how the group stage will work. FIFA can choose to have 16 groups of three countries or 12 groups of four countries.