Why the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being played across three countries for the very first time in history
TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jun 11, 2026, 07:47 (IST)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19, is the first in history to be jointly hosted by three nations — the united states, Canada, and Mexico. The expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches made a single-host format impractical, prompting the three countries to file a joint bid that won nearly 70 percent of FIFA votes in 2018. The US hosts 78 of the 104 games, including all knockout rounds from the quarterfinals onward.