FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off tomorrow with record 48 teams and 104 matches
Eight Arab nations secure unprecedented World Cup representation
DUBAI – The countdown is almost over for the FIFA World Cup 2026, with the largest tournament in football history set to begin on Thursday (tomorrow) in Mexico City.
For the first time, the competition will feature 48 national teams, 104 matches and three host nations, ushering in a new chapter for the world's biggest sporting event.
Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the tournament is expected to break records both on and off the pitch.
Mexico will face South Africa in the opening Group A match at the Estadio Azteca, a venue that is set to achieve a unique milestone by becoming the first stadium to host FIFA World Cup matches across three different editions, following tournaments in 1970 and 1986.
World Cup 2026
Games will be played across 16 host cities, with 11 located in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. The tri-nation hosting arrangement is also a first for the tournament.
The enlarged format has created opportunities for more countries to qualify, broadening representation from every continent and giving millions of additional supporters a chance to follow their national teams on football’s biggest stage.
Arab presence
The 2026 edition will feature the largest Arab representation in FIFA World Cup history. Eight nations from the Arab world have secured qualification: Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Iraq.
The expanded field also includes nine Asian teams, 10 African nations, 16 European sides, six teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), six South American teams and one representative from Oceania.
Record viewership
FIFA expects the tournament to generate record revenues through ticket sales, broadcasting rights, sponsorship agreements and commercial partnerships.
Around seven million spectators are projected to attend matches across the three host nations, while global viewership is expected to approach six billion across television and digital broadcasting platforms.
With more teams, more host cities and unprecedented global engagement, the 2026 FIFA World Cup opens as the most ambitious and expansive football tournament ever staged.