World Cup The biggest World Cup ever played
48 teams, 104 matches, 16 host cities across the United States, Mexico, and Canada — June 11 to July 19, 2026. Track every score, watch the bracket take shape, and follow our model's title forecast as the tournament unfolds.
Every champion since 1930
The World Cup began small: 13 teams sailed to Uruguay in 1930 for the first tournament, and Uruguay won it on home soil. The field grew to 16 by the 1950s, 24 in 1982, 32 in 1998 — and now 48 for 2026, the biggest World Cup ever played, spanning three host countries for the first time. Across the 22 tournaments played so far, only eight nations have ever lifted the trophy. Brazil leads with five titles and is the only team to have played in every World Cup; Argentina arrives in 2026 as the defending champion after Lionel Messi lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022.
See every tournament’s full stats — hosts, scores, teams, and top scorers, 1930 to 2026 →
This summer's format
Twelve groups of four play June 11–27. The top two from each group advance along with the eight best third-placed teams, creating a brand-new round of 32. From there it's straight knockout football to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 — a champion will play eight matches, one more than ever before. Enter scores and follow the bracket →