2026 World Cup Finalizes Expanded Format, New Match Pauses and Complex Travel Landscape

Overview

• FIFA’s first 48‑team World Cup runs June 11–July 19 across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, featuring 104 matches in 12 groups and a round of 32, with the final slated for July 19 in New Jersey.
• All matches will include mandatory hydration breaks at the 22‑minute mark of each half, a player‑welfare measure applied regardless of weather conditions.
• Co‑hosting stretches travel for teams and supporters, with venue gaps as large as Vancouver–Miami (about 4,507 km) and example group itineraries exceeding 2,600 km.
• U.S. travel restrictions bar entry for fans from some qualified nations such as Iran and Haiti, with partial limits reported for Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal; accredited teams and staff are exempt, and venue rhetoric from the White House has introduced uncertainty.
• Brazil’s buildup includes Group C games versus Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in East Rutherford, Philadelphia and Miami, while the CBF’s 2026 calendar trims state tournaments, pauses the Brasileirão for the World Cup and sets the Supercopa for Feb. 1 in Brasília with a 50/50 ticket split.