Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday night with the hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The global sporting extravaganza, which is organized every four years, kicks off on June 11 and runs until the final on July 19.
Here we take a look at key facts of the 2026 World Cup.
Number of Teams: 48
Expanded from 32 in the previous edition to include more teams and have more matches
Number of Players: 1,248
Each team is allowed to name a maximum of 26 players, including three goalkeepers.
Number of match officials: 170
A total of 170 match officials, including 52 head referees and 88 assistant referees (linesmen), will officiate the matches. These officials represent 50 different countries.
Number of World Cup debutants: 4
Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, Jordan and Curacao have qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time
Number of Matches: 104
Each team will play three matches in the group stage. This means a total of 72 matches will be played in the group stage. Likewise, 32 matches will be played in the knockout stage. A total of 64 matches were played in the 2022 World Cup.
Number of Hosts: 3
The 2026 World Cup is being jointly hosted by three countries—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—for the first time in the tournament’s history. With this, Mexico becomes the first country to host/co-host three times (after 1970 and 1986). The US hosted in 1994, while Canada is debuting as a host.
Number of Venues: 16 cities
The matches will be played at 16 stadiums across 16 cities (11 in the US, three in Mexico and two in Canada). The inauguration will be held in Mexico City, while the final will be played in New Jersey.
Prize Money: $655 million
The champions will take home $50 million, while the runners-up will win $33 million. Teams finishing third and fourth will get $29 million and $27 million, respectively, while quarter-finalists will get $19 million each. Teams advancing to the Round of 16 are guaranteed a minimum of $15 million, while those reaching the Round of 32 will get $11 million. Teams that fail to advance past the group stage will get $10 million each.
Official Mascots: 3
Maple the Moose (Canada), Jayu the Jaguar (Mexico) and Clutch the Bald Eagle (the US) are the official mascots of the 2026 World Cup.
Format and Structure
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Every team plays three group-stage matches. The top two teams from each group (24 teams), as well as the eight best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 32. All matches after the group stage are played under a knockout format, with the winner advancing to the next round.
Final: July 19
The final will be played at New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Broadcasters in Nepal: Himalaya Sports/DGO
All 104 matches will be broadcast live by Himalaya Sports. The broadcaster is charging a subscription fee of Rs 999 per device. Similarly, DGO is the official streaming partner in Nepal. The platform is charging Rs 599 per device.
