The world's biggest football tournament is coming to your screen!
The World Cup takes place every four years, and this year it’s bigger and better than ever! Summer 2026 will see a huuuuuuge number of teams leaving everything on the pitch to become world champs of the sport. So, let’s get those football tops on and dig into the biggest event in the sports calendar!
This year the competition will be held across The USA, Mexico, and Canada! This is the first time that the tournament will be held across THREE different nations!
This year also brings a wave of historic firsts. Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will all make their World Cup debuts, marking unforgettable milestones for each nation. Fun fact: Curaçao becomes one of the smallest nations ever to appear at the tournament, adding a brilliant underdog spark to the lineup.
And because the tournament has expanded to 48 teams, we now get 12 groups of four — which means an extra knockout round. Don’t mind if I do! More matches, more drama, more football to binge.
Meanwhile, Qatar returns to the World Cup after earning their place through the intercontinental playoff, marking their first‑ever qualification via a competitive pathway after debuting as hosts in 2022.
Now the stage is set, and the world is counting down to kick‑off!
Who has qualified for the 2026 Fifa World Cup?
The road to 2026 has been a wild ride, and the full 48-nation lineup is now locked in! We’ve seen established giants secure their spots alongside some fantastic surprise packages making history. It’s going to be a truly global celebration of the sport.
Here are the nations that have booked their tickets so far:
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay, and Uzbekistan.
That’s a whole lot of football! With every group now finalized, we are ready for the opening match on June 11th. From the tournament debut of nations like Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, to the return of familiar powers, this year’s competition is set to be bigger and better than ever before.
Who are England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland playing in the World Cup?
England are in Group L (hopefully that doesn’t mean they’ll be taking one!) alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane will be looking for a successful start in their first match in Dallas on Wednesday, 17th June, against Croatia. England fans will be looking for revenge as Croatia knocked them out in the semi-finals in 2018! You’ll be able to tune in at 9pm in the UK.
Scotland are in Group C, alongside Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil. They kick off their campaign against Haiti in Boston on Sunday, 14th June, at 2am UK time—a perfect excuse for a late-night setup.
Scotland's second group match against Morocco follows on Friday, 19th June, at 11pm, so you’ll have plenty of chances to get the brews ready for the Tartan Army!
What about Wales and Northern Ireland?
While both nations fought hard during the qualifying campaign, they were unfortunately eliminated during the play-offs in March 2026 and will not be appearing in this year’s tournament.
World Cup 2026 match schedule
Because the tournament is so large, keeping track of every kick-off time and fixture can be a challenge. Whether you're tracking the group stages or looking ahead to the high-stakes knockout rounds, we’ve got you covered.
Want to stay on top of every single match? Don't miss a kick— view our full 2026 World Cup match schedule here to see exactly when and where every game is happening, all in one place.
Tournament Key Dates at a Glance:
Group Stage: June 11 – June 27
Round of 32: June 28 – July 3
Round of 16: July 4 – July 7
Quarter-finals: July 9 – July 11
Semi-finals: July 14 – July 15
Third-place match: July 18
The Final: July 19
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina previously won in 2022, bringing their winning tally to three victories at the World Cup. They beat France in penalties, after an intense final that finished 3-3 and lasted the full 120 minutes! So with that in mind they will definitely be serious contenders looking to do the double and secure another victorious World Cup Campaign.
The Opta Supercomputer has produced its favourites earlier in December so here are the current predictions and where each of the top 5 Nations come out! Opta's "Supercomputer" simulates thousands of matches and results to calculate the probability of results, such as in competitions like the World Cup!
- 1st. Spain – 17.0%
- 2nd. France – 14.1%
- 3rd. England – 11.8%
- 4th. Argentina – 8.7%
- 5th. Germany – 7.1%
Is there going to be a half-time show during the final of the World Cup?
Ohhh yes there is, and not just any show. Fifa have gone big.
President Gianni Infantino has officially confirmed that the first‑ever Fifa World Cup Final Halftime Show is happening, and the lineup is absolutely wild. The show is being curated by Chris Martin, the Coldplay frontman himself, who’s pulled together a suuuuuper special trio of global icons: Madonna, Shakira, and BTS. That’s right: three of the biggest acts on the planet, all sharing the stage on the biggest night in football.
The show will take place during the final on 19 July 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium, and it’s being produced in partnership with Global Citizen to support the new FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.
A usual football half time lasts 15 minutes, but it’s worth noting that similar finals such as the Superbowl this year lasted around 30 minutes for equipment and stages to be set up!
Where is the next World Cup taking place?
Fifa announced that Spain, Portugal, and Morocco will co-host the next World Cup in 2030. It will also be the 100th anniversary of the World Cup, so we’re expecting a big competition!
When is the 2026 Fifa World Cup?
The tournament officially kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the opening match held at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The competition will run for 39 days, culminating in the grand final on July 19, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
So, whether you’re cheering on the home nations or scouting out the tournament’s underdogs, Freely is the ultimate home for every cross, corner, and scream-at-the-screen moment this summer. Why? Because we make it easy. No more faffing with subscriptions or cable bills—just all the live action from the BBC and ITV in one place.
Grab your snacks, settle into your favourite spot, and get ready to experience the World Cup, Freely.
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