The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in history, and

time, 48 teams will compete across three North American host nations, namely the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The tournament embraces 16 host cities stretching from Vancouver to Mexico City, and opens on June 11th at the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where the ‘hosts’ will take on South Africa.

The conclusion of 104 matches comes on July 19th in New York.

The good news for teams is that two thirds will progress from the group into the knockout stage. From 12 groups of four, the top two in each section will be joined by the eight best third-placed sides in the last 32.

For British supporters, the spread of venues matters almost as much as the draw. England’s group campaign will take them to Houston, Boston and New York/New Jersey.

Scotland, meanwhile, play

with a glamour tie against Brazil in Miami.

The venues themselves are part of the attraction. Supporters can expect giant modern arenas synonymous with NFL, where the television spectacle, glitz and pizazz will be everything we have come to expect.

Conditions, though, will vary sharply. Mexico City brings high altitude, while places such as Miami and Houston are likely to offer heat and humidity. Canadian venues and northern US cities should be cooler.

everything from team selection to recovery times, especially in a longer tournament where squad depth could become decisive.

For viewers back home, the North American setting means unusual viewing times. Some matches will fall into late-evening slots, while others will drift well past midnight – all will be shown across terrestrial TV channels (BBC and ITV).

Above all, though, this is a World Cup designed to feel vast. More teams, more matches, more travel, more fans and more noise. It is not just football crossing a continent, but football remaking itself on a grander stage.

More than 6.5 million fans are expected to attend matches, with over a million international visitors heading to the United States alone.

Economically, FIFA projections suggest the tournament could generate over $30billion in output in the US, support around 185,000 jobs, and deliver a wider North American impact approaching $40billion.

June 17th: v Croatia, Houston (9pm GMT) June 23rd: v Ghana, Boston (9pm) June 27th: v Panama, New York (10pm)

June 13th: v Haiti, Boston (2am GMT) June 19th: v Morocco, Boston (11pm) June 24th: v Brazil, Miami (11pm)