The first 48-team World Cup, played across 16 cities in the USA, Canada and Mexico. It opened at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca and ended with Spain beating Argentina 1–0 in extra time at MetLife Stadium. Group-stage shocks, all three host nations knocked out, Paraguay dumping Germany out on penalties, and a ten-goal third-place play-off. For the game's whole history, see The History of Football (Soccer).
The first 48-team World Cup opens in Mexico City, the historic Estadio Azteca becoming the only stadium ever to host matches at three different World Cups. Forty-eight nations across the USA, Canada and Mexico begin the largest tournament in the sport's history.
Back at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, Scotland top Group C after beating Haiti — and the Tartan Army promptly takes over one host city after another. For a nation that had watched from home for a generation, simply being here is the story.
The expanded field springs early surprises: Australia stun Turkey 2–0, Qatar earn a first-ever World Cup point in a 1–1 draw with Switzerland, and powerhouse Morocco hold Brazil 1–1. In a 48-team World Cup, nobody is a guaranteed win.
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough — 29 Jun 2026. One of the great World Cup upsets: Paraguay knock out four-time champions Germany on penalties in the Round of 32, dumping a pre-tournament favourite out at the first knockout hurdle. • Result: Germany 1–1 Paraguay (Paraguay win 4–3 on penalties) • Round: Round of 32 — the new extra knockout round in the 48-team format • What followed: Paraguay ran into France in the last 16 and lost 1–0 in Philadelphia on 4 July
Round of 32 — 29 Jun 2026. The expanded format delivers a debutant fairytale: Cape Verde, one of the smallest nations ever to qualify, finish runners-up in Group H behind eventual champions Spain and reach the knockouts. • The story: Cape Verde push holders Argentina all the way, losing 3–2 only after extra time • Elsewhere: Colombia see off Ghana 1–0 to reach the last 16 • Why it mattered: in a 48-team field, the gap between the giants and the debutants looked narrower than ever
Round of 16 — 4–6 Jul 2026. For the first time in World Cup history, none of the host nations reach the quarter-finals. Over three days all three go out. • 4 July, Houston: Canada 0–3 Morocco • 5 July, Mexico City: Mexico 2–3 England • 6 July, Seattle: USA 1–4 Belgium • The upshot: the party carried on in the host cities — just without the hosts
Quarter-finals — 9–11 Jul 2026. The last eight sends two European heavyweights on a collision course, while Argentina and England survive the harder routes. • 9 July, Foxborough: France 2–0 Morocco — Mbappé and Dembélé end the run of the last African side standing • 10 July, Inglewood: Spain 2–1 Belgium • 11 July, Kansas City: Argentina 3–1 Switzerland after extra time • 11 July, Miami Gardens: Norway 1–2 England after extra time
AT&T Stadium, Arlington — 14 Jul 2026. Spain control the first semi-final and beat France 2–0 to reach their first World Cup final since 2010. • Result: France 0–2 Spain • Spain’s route: first in Group H, then Austria (3–0), Portugal (1–0) and Belgium (2–1) • France’s route: Sweden (3–0), Paraguay (1–0) and Morocco (2–0) — but no answer to Spain • Consolation: Kylian Mbappé would still finish the tournament as its top scorer
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — 15 Jul 2026. England lead with minutes to go, then a late Argentine double turns the tie and sends the holders back to the final. • Result: England 1–2 Argentina • How it turned: England were ahead 1–0 before conceding twice in the closing stages • England’s route: DR Congo (2–1), Mexico (3–2) and Norway (2–1 a.e.t.) under Thomas Tuchel, whose defensive approach drew heavy criticism afterwards • Argentina’s route: Cape Verde (3–2 a.e.t.), Egypt (3–2) and Switzerland (3–1 a.e.t.)
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens — 18 Jul 2026. The forgotten fixture turns into the most absurd match of the tournament: England and France trade ten goals, and Mbappé writes himself into the record books. • Result: France 4–6 England — England take third place • The record: Mbappé finished the tournament on 10 goals, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer and the first player ever to win two Golden Boots • Final standings: Spain, Argentina, England, France
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford — 19 Jul 2026. Spain beat defending champions Argentina 1–0 after extra time to win their second World Cup, sixteen years after their first. Ferran Torres settled a match Argentina barely contested. • Result: Spain 1–0 Argentina (after extra time) • The goal: Ferran Torres, 106th minute, heading in from a Nico Williams cross; named man of the match • The turning point: Enzo Fernández was sent off in the second half, leaving Argentina with ten men • A first in final history: Argentina failed to register a single shot in regulation time — never previously recorded in a World Cup final • Emiliano Martínez: 11 saves, the most ever made in a World Cup final, keeping Argentina alive into extra time • What it meant: Spain became the first country to hold the men’s and women’s World Cups at the same time, having won the women’s title in 2023 • Around the match: the first World Cup final to stage a halftime show — Shakira, Madonna, BTS and Justin Bieber — which stretched the interval past 27 minutes, against IFAB protocol. A brawl broke out between the teams after the whistle • Details: attendance 80,663; referee Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia)
Tournament close — 19 Jul 2026. The first 48-team World Cup finished as the biggest on every measure that could be counted, and the most watched in the sport’s history. • Scale: 104 matches across 16 cities in three countries • Attendance: 6,810,966 spectators (~65,490 per match) — a World Cup record, beating 1994 • Goals: 308, an average of 2.96 per match — the highest rate since 1970 • Revenue: a reported record ~$15bn • Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappé (France), 10 goals — now the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer • Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain) · Golden Glove: Unai Simón (Spain) • Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain) · Fair Play: Netherlands