The FIFA World Cup stands as the premier event in global sports, renowned for its remarkable moments, including Diego Maradona’s legendary “hand of God” goal in 1986 and Zinedine Zidane’s notorious headbutt. The upcoming tournament in 2026 is set to be the largest and most financially demanding World Cup ever, taking place across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, featuring a total of 48 teams ranging from football powerhouses to lesser-known nations. Australia has been drawn into a group that includes co-host the United States.

When will the 2026 World Cup take place and where?

The tournament will kick off with its opening ceremony at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on Friday morning (AEST), leading into the first match between Mexico and South Africa at 5 am. This iconic stadium, which has a capacity of 83,000, is notable for hosting matches in three different World Cups, including the finals in both 1970 and 1986.

The United States and Canada will have to wait until the next day for their initial matches, with Canada facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto and the USA competing against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

The championship match is scheduled to take place at the New York New Jersey Stadium, home to NFL teams New York Giants and New York Jets.

What are the Socceroos’ match dates?

Australia’s schedule includes the following matches:

• Australia vs Türkiye: Saturday, June 13, at 9 pm Pacific Time, BC Place, Vancouver (Sunday, June 14 at 2 pm AEST / 1:30 pm ACST / 12 pm AWST)
• Australia vs USA: Friday, June 19, at 12 pm Pacific Time, Seattle Stadium (Saturday, June 20 at 5 am AEST / 4:30 am ACST / 3 am AWST)
• Australia vs Paraguay: Thursday, June 25, at 7 pm Pacific Time, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Friday, June 26 at 12 pm AEST / 11:30 am ACST / 10 am AWST)

If the Socceroos secure the top position in their group, they will remain in San Francisco to play a round of 32 match against the third-placed team from groups B, E, F, I, or J. Progressing further would take them to Seattle, Los Angeles, and Dallas, with the potential to reach the final in New Jersey or a bronze medal match in Miami.

Should they finish second in their group, their next stop will be Dallas to face the winner of group E, followed by matches in Philadelphia, Boston, and Dallas before the final or bronze match.

If Australia finishes third but qualifies as one of the top eight third-placed teams, they will compete in a round of 32 match in either Boston, New Jersey, or Kansas City.

How can fans follow the tournament?

ABC Sport will provide a live blog for each day of the World Cup, covering every match from start to finish, including specific blogs for the Socceroos’ games. Comprehensive coverage of other matches and significant developments will also be available across all ABC News platforms. SBS holds the television and streaming rights for the tournament.

In Melbourne, Federation Square will serve as the official live site for fans, but various locations across Australia are preparing to host viewers eager to support the Socceroos.

What about the Socceroos’ roster?

Australia has announced a squad of 26 players for the World Cup, and a detailed guide is available to familiarize fans with each team member.

Which nations will be competing?

This World Cup will feature an unprecedented 48 nations, marking it as the largest tournament in history. Australia secured a direct berth by finishing second in its Asian Football Confederation group, while the hosts—USA, Canada, and Mexico—automatically qualified.

The expansion of the tournament has also allowed some unexpected nations to participate. Curacao, which faced Australia earlier this year, is the smallest country ever to qualify, with a population of approximately 156,000, about half that of Canberra. They are joined by Cape Verde, another small nation making their debut, while Iceland previously held the title of the second smallest qualifier in 2018.

Notably, the backdrop of political developments has added complexity to the tournament, particularly concerning Iran’s participation amidst ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. There were discussions about relocating Iran’s matches from the United States, where they were scheduled to play in Inglewood and Seattle, and to be based in Tucson, Arizona. Speculation briefly arose about replacing Iran with four-time champions Italy, but this was quickly dismissed.

As of May, Iran was still seeking assurances from FIFA regarding its participation, including visa provisions for all players, coaches, and officials, particularly those affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and Canada.

Here is the complete list of participating nations categorized by region:

• Asian Football Confederation (AFC): Australia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan (debut), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan (debut)
• Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF): Canada (co-host), Mexico (co-host), United States (co-host), Curacao (debut), Haiti, Panama
• Union of European Football Associations (UEFA): Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey
• Confederation of African Football (CAF): Algeria, Cape Verde (debut), DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
• Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL): Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
• Oceania Football Confederation (OFC): Australia

Who are the favorites to win?

Australia is viewed as a significant underdog in the tournament, which is understandable given the competitive nature of the World Cup.