Key facts, records, talking points about 2026 FIFA World Cup
By Tosin Omojola
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will make history as the first tournament to be hosted by three countries — the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Four nations will make their World Cup debuts at the tournament. Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan have all qualified for the finals for the first time.
The United States previously hosted the World Cup in 1994, while Mexico staged the tournament in 1970 and 1986. Canada will host World Cup matches for the first time.
A total of 16 stadiums will be used for the competition, including 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The largest venue is AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — officially referred to as Dallas Stadium under FIFA sponsorship regulations — with a capacity of 94,000. The stadium is the home ground of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
The smallest venue is Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), which has a capacity of 45,000.
One of the tournament’s most notable milestones will occur at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium, which is set to become the first venue in history to host matches at three different men’s FIFA World Cups, having previously hosted games in 1970 and 1986.
In line with FIFA regulations, all World Cup matches must be played on natural grass surfaces. As a result, eight stadiums have installed temporary grass pitches for the tournament.
The official match ball for the 2026 World Cup is called the “Trionda,” a name derived from the Spanish phrase meaning “three waves.” Its red, blue, and green colours pay tribute to the three host nations.
Ticket Prices
Fans are hoping ticket prices will decline as match dates approach. A similar trend was observed during the FIFA Club World Cup last year, when some last-minute tickets were available for as little as $8.
One of the most talked-about listings on FIFA’s official resale platform emerged last month when a ticket for a seat near the back of MetLife Stadium for the World Cup final was advertised for an astonishing $11.5 million. FIFA does not impose an upper price limit on resale listings, prompting speculation that the seller may simply have been seeking publicity.
FIFA’s Financial Windfall
The World Cup remains FIFA’s biggest revenue generator. Unlike UEFA, which benefits annually from the UEFA Champions League, FIFA relies heavily on the World Cup, held once every four years, for its financial returns.
FIFA is expected to generate approximately $9 billion in revenue in 2026, with the majority coming from the World Cup.
Beyond the prestige of lifting football’s most coveted trophy, there is also a significant financial reward. FIFA announced last year a 50 per cent increase in tournament prize money, with the eventual champions set to receive $50 million (£37.4 million).
Teams and Squads
According to the latest FIFA rankings, New Zealand will enter the tournament as the lowest-ranked team at No. 85, sitting two places behind Haiti and three behind Curaçao.
Panama arrive with the oldest squad in the competition, boasting an average age of 30 years. They are followed by Iran (29.81 years) and Colombia (29.58 years).
At the other end of the spectrum, Côte d’Ivoire have selected the youngest squad, with an average age of 25.35 years. Ecuador (25.58), Bosnia and Herzegovina (25.92), and Morocco (25.92) have also opted for notably youthful teams.
Youngest and Oldest Players
Mexico and Club Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora is the youngest player at the World Cup at just 17 years old. The Czech Republic’s Hugo Sochurek, who plays for Sparta Prague, recently turned 18 on June 7.
Among the tournament’s veterans, eight players across the 48 participating teams will be aged 40 or older during the competition. Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is the oldest at 43, making him two years older than Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
