SAITAMA, Japan — Di road to di 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup don begin as nations dey battle for di 23rd edition of di tournament wey go happen across di USA, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Dis go be di first time wey di World Cup go feature 48 teams, expanding from 32-team format wey don dey since 1998.
As e be now, di automatic qualification for dis World Cup don include di host nations: USA, Mexico, and Canada, plus six other teams wey don secure dem spots already. As of today, Japan don become di first non-host nation wey qualify after dem win dem last qualifying match against Bahrain on March 20, 2025. Di Asian Football Confederation support di qualification process for 2026, and Japan dey celebrate dem eighth consecutive World Cup appearance.
Di tournament go take place for 16 cities across di USA, Canada, and Mexico, with a total of 104 matches set to happen. Dis parenthesis increase di excitement for football fans as more nations fit join di competition. For Africa, up to nine teams fit qualify, while di Asian teams fit see up to eight spots available, subject to di playoff results.
Currently, di groups of teams wey don qualify goes like dis:
– Canada (Concacaf)
– Iran (AFC)
– Japan (AFC)
– Mexico (Concacaf)
– New Zealand (OFC)
– USA (Concacaf)
Di World Cup opening match go hold at Estadio Azteca for Mexico City on June 11, and dis stadium don host two previous World Cup finals. Di final match go take place at di New York-New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026, making it di second time USA go host di men’s World Cup final.
Di FIFA World Cup peep di potential to attract over 5 million fans from all over di globe. As qualification dey ramp up, di latter matches go show which additional teams go join di already qualifying nations. Most of di teams go finalize dia spots by di end of 2025, with 42 out of the 48 spots filled by den.
Di competition go require more nations to shine their talents as each confederation get dem unique qualifications. Di upcoming playoffs scheduled for March 2026 go decide di final two spots, creating an event wey go showcase di diversity of global football.
