The World Cup is coming to North America for the first time in three decades, and six matches are happening right here in the Bay Area, at Levi’s Stadium. Whether you’re a dedicated soccer fan or just curious about the biggest sporting event globally, here’s what you need to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup and how you can join in on the excitement.
Bigger Than Ever
2026 will be the largest World Cup in history, expanding on every front. Co-hosted by Mexico, the U.S., and Canada, this marks a historic first for three nations sharing the hosting duties. Mexico has previously hosted twice, in 1970 and 1986, while the U.S. had its turn in 1994. Canada, however, will make its debut as a host nation this time around.
The need for three host countries signals a dramatic evolution since the Bay Area last hosted World Cup matches in 1994 at Stanford Stadium, which was the region’s largest stadium then. Back then, 24 teams battled it out in 52 matches spread across nine U.S. cities. Fast forward to today, and the World Cup has expanded significantly. Beginning in 2026, 48 teams will compete for soccer’s prestigious trophy over roughly a month, with a total of 104 matches held in 16 cities across these three host nations.
The Schedule
With 104 matches in the mix, one thing is clear: there’s going to be a lot of soccer—more accurately, “football,” as it’s known globally. While soccer is the most-watched sport worldwide, American football still reigns supreme here in the U.S. This is why all the U.S. venues for the 2026 World Cup will be NFL stadiums; fortunately, the tournament starts on June 11, well ahead of the NFL season!
The tournament kicks off with the group stage, where the 48 teams will be divided into twelve groups of four. Each team in the group will play the others, with five of those matches slated to occur at Levi’s Stadium on June 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25. Matches will be spaced three days apart to ensure players have time to recover and fans have a chance to travel.
Post group stage, the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the knockout rounds. This new format introduces a round of 32, which starts a thrilling journey toward crowning a champion. One of those matchups will unfold at Levi’s Stadium on July 1.
Who’s Playing?
Now, the million-dollar question: what teams will take the field in the Bay Area? The short answer is, we don’t know just yet. With just a year remaining until the tournament, the qualification processes are still underway. The World Cup features teams from six confederations, and each confederation has a designated number of slots for this tournament.
The UEFA confederation, representing Europe, has the most teams qualifying, with 16 slots, while the OFC from Oceania has only one. Each region is busy with their qualifying tournaments, and at the end of this process, six countries that may not have qualified can compete in a playoff for the last two slots.
As of now, a few teams are confirmed, including Argentina, the reigning champions, as well as Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and South Korea. The three host nations earn automatic bids, which means Mexico’s national team will start the action on home soil in Mexico City on June 11, followed by the U.S. and Canada playing their first matches in Los Angeles and Toronto, respectively, on June 12. The World Cup Draw in December 2025 will finalize the team placements into groups and matchups.
How to Get Tickets
Interested in securing your spot at the World Cup? The first step is to stay informed on ticket sales. Creating an account at FIFA.com is crucial, as FIFA is the sole provider of official World Cup tickets. Even resale tickets must be purchased through FIFA’s platform.
The initial ticket sales (Phase 1) typically occur through a lottery system, where anyone who signs up by a specific deadline has an equal shot at securing seats. This lottery usually takes place in the fall, likely around September or October 2025. This means you might be able to buy tickets for a match at Levi’s Stadium without knowing who will be competing.
Following the World Cup Draw in December 2025, which will set group stage matchups, FIFA generally releases a second batch of tickets (Phase 2) for immediate sale. If you miss out then, there may be one more chance—Phase 3, which involves another lottery for latecomers. In Phase 4, remaining tickets, if any, will go back to first-come, first-served sales until sold out.
What Will It Cost?
Cost is always a significant consideration for fans. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ticket prices began at around $70 for early-round matches, while premium seats for the finals could fetch around $1,600. There were also extravagant hospitality packages for those willing to splurge even more.
Although specific pricing for 2026 remains uncertain, there are whispers that FIFA might introduce dynamic pricing for the first time. While this model is familiar to U.S. sports fans, it hasn’t widely caught on elsewhere. The implication? Attending the 2026 World Cup could very well be the most expensive ticket to soccer’s biggest show yet, so plan accordingly!
