What Is the World Cup? Everything You Need to Know for 2026

The biggest sporting event on Earth is coming to New York. Here's what you need to know.

What Is the FIFA World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup is the most-watched sporting event on Earth. Held every four years, it brings together the best national soccer teams in the world to compete for the sport's biggest prize. In 2026, it returns to North America — and New York City is at the center of the story.

A brief history

The first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, with 13 nations competing. It has grown steadily since — from 16 teams to 24, then 32, and now 48 for 2026. The tournament runs every four years and has become the world's most-watched live event, drawing billions of viewers across every continent.

The USA last hosted in 1994, when matches at Giants Stadium (the predecessor to MetLife) drew record crowds. That tournament remains the highest-attended World Cup in history. The 2026 edition is widely expected to surpass it.

What makes 2026 historic

The 2026 World Cup is the first ever with 48 teams — up from 32 in every tournament since 1998. That means 16 more nations, a new group stage format, and 104 matches total across a five-week window. More teams means more supporters traveling, more national communities activated, and a longer window for fans to engage with the tournament.

It is also the first World Cup co-hosted by three countries. Matches are split across the USA (11 cities), Canada (2 cities), and Mexico (3 cities), with the Final in New Jersey.

New York's role in the 2026 World Cup

MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ — just across the Hudson from Manhattan — is hosting 8 matches, including the World Cup Final on July 19, 2026. That makes New York the most important host market in the tournament.

Beyond the stadium, the city itself becomes a World Cup venue. Official fan zones at Rockefeller Center, USTA Queens, and Hudson Yards will run throughout the tournament. Hundreds of bars across all five boroughs will show every match. The city's enormous international communities — Argentine, Mexican, Brazilian, German, Senegalese, Moroccan, and dozens more — mean virtually every team in the tournament has a home neighborhood in NYC.

How the tournament works

The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. Each team plays 3 group-stage matches, with the top 2 from each group advancing to the Round of 32 — a new knockout round created by the expanded format. From there, it's single elimination: Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final.

See the full breakdown in our 2026 tournament format guide.

The MetLife Stadium matches

All 8 MetLife Stadium matches are listed on the NY/NJ match schedule. Group stage fixtures include Brazil vs Morocco (June 13), France vs Senegal (June 16), Norway vs Senegal (June 22), Ecuador vs Germany (June 25), and Panama vs England (June 27). The Round of 32 (June 30), Round of 16 (July 5), and Final (July 19) round out the slate.

How to follow the World Cup from NYC

• At MetLife Stadium: Buy tickets through Ticketmaster — the official partner.
• At fan zones: Free entry at USTA Queens, Rockefeller Center, and Hudson Yards.
• At bars and venues: 500+ NYC venues showing matches — browse by neighborhood or borough.