Rotate to view expanded tableAbout World Cup 2026
The World Cup is a true football holiday for millions, and even billions, of people worldwide. The first international competition ever held was in Uruguay in 1930. Back then, only 13 teams participated, and there were no typical qualifications as there are today. Among them were four European nations (France, Yugoslavia, etc.), seven South American nations (Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, etc.), and two North American nations (Mexico, United States). The first goal ever was scored by Lucien Laurent in a match between France and Mexico, which France won 4-1. At the end of the tournament, Uruguay won the first World Cup trophy after beating Argentina 4-2 in the final.
Ninety-six years later, the World Cup table looks entirely different. For this particular competition, 48 teams are participating in the tournament. The entire competition will last until July 19th, and the hosts are three different countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
All the teams are divided into 12 different groups, and the top two teams from each group will certainly go to the next stage. However, the best eight third-placed teams will also get promoted. In the end, 32 teams in total will continue the battle for the World Cup trophy.
At LiveScore, you will have the opportunity to follow the World Cup results for all the matches. Before each fixture, the World Cup standings will reveal the number of wins, draws, and losses. Also, you can check out the starting line-ups, head-to-heads, and other useful information that can help you make better predictions.
During each match, we have prepared live commentary for all the people who cannot watch the game for some reason. For some matches, you may even get the chance to listen to audio live commentary. All World Cup results are updated in real time!
After each match, we will prepare highlights; these recordings usually last between one and three minutes, depending on how turbulent the particular match was. You can also check out the stats, such as shots on/off target, number of free kicks, goalkeeper saves, and so on.
The World Cup will return in 2026 with its largest tournament in history. This guide provides key information regarding the schedule, tournament dates, qualification process, and the new competition format.
The upcoming World Cup brings the event to North America with a format that has not been seen before. Here are the most important details:
While the qualification process is still being completed for some nations, the structure of the tournament and the host venues have been confirmed. All kick-off times in this guide are provided in UK time.
The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted by three countries, with matches taking place in 16 cities across North America.
Host Nations:
| Country | City | Stadium | Notable Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | East Rutherford, NJ | MetLife Stadium | Final |
| USA | Arlington, TX | AT&T Stadium | Semi-final |
| USA | Atlanta, GA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Semi-final |
| Mexico | Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | Opening Match |
The Estadio Azteca in Mexico City holds special importance, as it will be the first stadium to host matches in three separate World Cups, having previously hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986.
The tournament is scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The opening match will feature Mexico playing against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on June 11.
Key Dates:
Due to the North American time zones, matches for UK viewers will generally be scheduled in the evening and late-night hours.
The larger 48-team format allows more countries to participate. FIFA distributes qualification spots among its six major football regions (confederations). Europe (UEFA) will have 16 direct places, the most of any region.
For the home nations and Ireland, qualification is achieved through the UEFA group stage. Teams that finish top of their groups qualify automatically, while others may enter a play-off round. It has been confirmed that England and Scotland have already qualified for the finals.
The last six spots will be determined by a playoff tournament in the USA, where teams from different continents will compete for a place in the tournament. Other nations already confirmed for the World Cup include Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Spain, and France.
This is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams and 104 matches, which changes how teams advance through the competition.
Group Stage:
If teams are tied on points, the tiebreakers used to decide their rank are: goal difference, then goals scored, then the head-to-head result between the tied teams, and finally, fair play points (disciplinary record).
Knockout Stage:
The tournament then proceeds to a knockout format, starting with the Round of 32 and continuing through to the final. All knockout matches must have a winner, with extra time and penalty shootouts used if the score is level after 90 minutes.
As of 2026, Miroslav Klose, the well-known German striker, holds the record with 16 goals scored. After him on that list are Ronaldo Nazario (15), Gerd Müller (14), Just Fontaine (13), and Pelé (12). Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe have scored 12 goals so far, and we will see whether they will break Klose’s record this year.
Brazil holds first place with five World Cup trophies, although they have not won one since 2002. The rankings after that are Germany (4), Italy (4), and Argentina (3).
Giving a precise answer is pretty tough! Brazil is always a favourite because of the incredible individuals playing for the national team. Argentina was the winner last time, and we are sure they will have a huge motive to keep the trophy. Of course, world-class French players, such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and William Saliba, will certainly try to ruin the plans of the South American teams.
