The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup is fast approaching – and excitement levels are building in every corner of the globe!
After a thrilling 2022 tournament in Qatar, the biggest show in sport returns to North America for the first time since 1994, when Brazil reigned supreme in the sweltering heat.
The United States of America, Canada and Mexico are joint hosts for the upcoming World Cup, which features 48 different nations for the first time in history.
This expanded tournament means more games than ever – 104 to be exact!
We are in for a special summer, and NetBet Sport is the place to be throughout the entirety of the competition.
As well as a vast and varied range of World Cup odds – outright, pre-match and in-play – we will be providing regular sports betting tips from the first game on June 11 to the last on July 19.
And on top of that, regular promotions will run throughout the festival of football, to go with our regular features such as Bet Builder and Acca Boost.
But now back to the North American showpiece and below, we have drawn up a quick guide packed full of useful information on the groups, format and venues. Enjoy!
Who Won the Last World Cup?
Argentina arrive in North America as the reigning world champions after a thrilling victory in Qatar three-and-a-half years ago.
Inspired by Lionel Messi, the South American nation beat France on penalties in the final following a 3-3 draw after extra-time – hence why it is widely regarded as the greatest ever World Cup final!
The 2022 edition of the tournament also saw Morocco become the first African country to reach the semi-finals, the Atlas Lions eventually losing to France.
But it was one of the great modern World Cup stories – and many more are about to be told.
World Cup 2026 Groups
Group A – Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
Group B – Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C – Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D – USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E – Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F – Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G – Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H – Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I – France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J – Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K – Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L – England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
World Cup 2026 Format
The expansion to 48 teams means some small tweaks to the World Cup format. There will be a new Round of 32, accommodating the group winners, runner-ups and eight best third-placed teams.
Group stage – June 11-28
Round of 32 – June 28-July 4
Round of 16 – July 4-7
Quarter-Finals – July 9-12
Semi-Finals – July 14-15
Third-Place Play-Off – July 18
Final – July 19
World Cup 2026 Host Cities & Stadiums
These are 16 host cities and stadiums for the latest edition of the World Cup:
Dallas (USA) – AT&T Stadium (94,000)
Mexico City (Mexico) – Estadio Azteca (83,00)
New York/New Jersey (USA) – MetLife Stadium (82,500)
Atlanta (USA) – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (75,000)
Kansas City (USA) – Arrowhead Stadium (73,000)
Houston (USA) – NRG Stadium (72,000)
San Francisco Bay Area (USA) – Levi’s Stadium (71,000)
Los Angeles (USA) – SoFi Stadium (70,000)
Philadelphia (USA) – Lincoln Financial Field (69,000)
Seattle (USA) – Lumen Field (69,000)
Boston (USA) – Gillette Stadium (65.000)
Miami (USA) – Hard Rock Stadium (65,000)
Vancouver (Canada) – BC Place (54,000)
Monterrey (Mexico) – Estadio BBVA (53,500)
Guadalajara (Mexico) – Estadio Akron (48,000)
Toronto (Canada) – BMO Field (45,000)
When you choose NetBet Sport, you can enjoy a whole range of top-quality sports and markets. Whatever you choose, always remember to bet responsibly. Here at NetBet, player wellbeing is our number one priority – check out our Responsible Gambling tips and tools page for more information. When the fun stops, stop.
