When the World Cup rolls into North America next year, it will be stepping into uncharted territory. For the first time in the tournament’s 96-year history, three nations—USA, Canada and Mexico—will share the global spotlight, jointly hosting what is set to become the largest and most expansive World Cup ever staged.
The decision, made in 2018 at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow, was more than a nod to the region’s infrastructure and commercial appeal.
It was a recognition of a rapidly evolving football landscape—one driven by inclusion, accessibility and global reach. And nothing symbolises that shift more boldly than the 2026 World Cup’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams, a dramatic leap that promises to widen football’s frontier.
In many ways, the “United Bid” between the USA, Canada and Mexico was both unexpected and inevitable. Initially, all three countries had flirted with the idea of bidding separately, each confident it could host the world’s biggest sporting event on its own. But FIFA’s announcement in March 2017 changed everything.
After ruling that Europe and Asia were ineligible—having hosted in 2018 (Russia) and 2022 (Qatar)—the door swung open for the remaining confederations. Suddenly, a joint North American bid made strategic sense: three nations, one massive infrastructure footprint and a shared vision to deliver a World Cup like no other.
Their unity paid off. Out of 203 ballots cast in Moscow, 134 went to North America, leaving Morocco’s solo bid far behind. Ghana, then embroiled in a corruption scandal, was suspended and unable to cast its vote.
Rewriting history across three nations
For the first time, the 2026 tournament will sprawl across 16 cities. The United States will lead with matches in 11 cities and Canada will host in two cities, marking its first-ever opportunity to welcome the world.
For Mexico, the moment carries a special significance—it will become the first country to host or co-host the World Cup three times, having done so in 1970 and 1986.
This triple partnership breaks with recent FIFA tradition. After the 2002 co-hosted tournament between South Korea and Japan, FIFA tightened its rules to avoid joint hosts.
But with the world changing—and with the scale of the event ballooning—the organisation reversed itself to meet the demands of a 48-team spectacle.
The expanded format is not just about the numbers. It reflects football’s growing ambition to broaden its global reach. An extra 16 slots have introduced new names—countries that for decades dreamed of, but never reached, the World Cup stage.
In 2026, Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their historic debuts. Their stories reflect the changing face of world football, small nations now seeing their flag fly on the sport’s grandest stage.
Others are returning after long absences. Haiti, absent since 1974, will reawaken its footballing heartbeat. Meanwhile, Qatar and South Africa—teams who last appeared as automatic hosts—have now qualified through merit. For South Africa, it marks their first successful qualification since 2002.
A tournament of firsts
Beyond the host cities and debutants, the 2026 World Cup introduces another novelty: the Intercontinental playoff, a six-team showdown featuring one representative from every confederation except UEFA.
It is designed to strengthen inclusivity and offer more nations a final path to the World Cup stage.
This sense of “firsts” permeates nearly every layer of the tournament. It is the first time FIFA has distributed hosting duties across a region of such vast geographic scale.
The first time fans will experience a World Cup staged across three contrasting cultures. And perhaps most importantly, the first time the tournament will open its doors to nearly 50 competing nations.
Chosen cities
1. USA- Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Atlanta, Kansas City, Houston, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, Boston, Miami
2. Mexico- Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara
3. Canada- Vancouver, Toronto.
