Fri Jun 13 16:10:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**FIFA World Cup 2026: A Year Away, New Format, and Qualification Battles Heat Up**

**New York, NY –** The countdown is officially on! With just one year to go, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is poised to be the biggest and most exciting edition yet. Kicking off on June 11th in Mexico, the tournament, co-hosted by the USA and Canada, will feature an expanded format with 48 teams vying for the coveted trophy.

A record-breaking 104 matches will be played across 16 cities before culminating in the final on July 19th, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Qualification battles are raging across the globe. Five-time champions Brazil have already secured their place, celebrating a 1-0 victory over Paraguay under the guidance of new coach Carlo Ancelotti, with Vinicius Jr. netting the winning goal.

However, heartbreak struck Palestine as their World Cup dreams were dashed after a draw against Oman in the AFC Qualifier.

**Qualified Teams So Far:**

* **Asia:** Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Japan
* **South America:** Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador
* **North, Central American and Caribbean region**: Hosts Canada, Mexico and the USA
* **Oceania:** New Zealand

Africa and Europe are yet to confirm their representatives, with intense qualifying rounds ongoing. 54 African teams are competing for qualification. The same number of European teams are competing for one of the 16 spots. There are three spots left for grabs from North, Central American and Caribbean region which will be decided on November 18.

The final lineup of 48 teams will not be complete until March 2026, following the conclusion of European qualification rounds and intercontinental playoff finals.

Stay updated with all the latest news and insights on Cricket, Football, and Tennis at Livemint Sports. Download the Mint app and read premium stories.

Read More