World Cup 2026 FAQ: Everything You Need to Know Before Kickoff
Between the draw announcement and the opening whistle, I received more questions about the 2026 World Cup than about any tournament in nine years of covering football betting. Some were tactical — which groups have the most value, whether the expanded format changes the accumulator maths. Others were basic — when does it start, how many teams, where is the final. All of them deserved proper answers, and that is what this World Cup 2026 FAQ delivers. Every question below is one that real punters and football fans have asked in the run-up to the tournament, answered with the detail and context that a two-sentence Google snippet cannot provide.
The Basics: Dates, Format and Teams
When does the 2026 World Cup start and finish? The tournament opens on 11 June 2026 with Mexico versus South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and concludes with the final on 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. That is 39 days of football — the longest World Cup in history, reflecting the expanded format and the logistical reality of staging 104 matches across three countries.
How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup? Forty-eight. This is the first World Cup to use the expanded format, up from 32 teams at every tournament since 1998. The 48 teams are drawn from all six continental confederations: UEFA (Europe) provides 16 teams, CAF (Africa) 9, CONMEBOL (South America) 6, CONCACAF (North and Central America) 6, AFC (Asia) 8, and OFC (Oceania) 1, plus two additional places determined through intercontinental play-offs.
What is the format of the 2026 World Cup? The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three group-stage matches. The top two in each group qualify automatically for the round of 32, and the eight best third-placed teams also advance. The knockout stage then follows a single-elimination format: round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and the final. Matches drawn after 90 minutes in the knockout stage go to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
How many matches will be played at the 2026 World Cup? One hundred and four. The group stage accounts for 96 matches (48 teams playing three each, divided by two teams per match), and the knockout stage adds a further eight matches. This is 40 more matches than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (64 matches) and represents a significant expansion in the volume of football — and betting opportunities — available.
Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup? The tournament is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The USA provides 11 stadiums across cities including New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston and Kansas City. Mexico contributes three stadiums in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. Canada provides two stadiums in Toronto and Vancouver. The opening match is in Mexico City, and the final is in New Jersey.
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup? The outright market is led by Brazil, Argentina, France and England, all priced in single-digit odds. Spain, Germany and the Netherlands occupy the next tier. The defending champions Argentina are among the top three in most bookmakers’ pricing, though there is debate about whether their squad has the same depth that powered their 2022 victory. Detailed odds analysis is available in the outright markets breakdown.
Has any team been automatically qualified as hosts? The USA, Mexico and Canada are all automatically qualified as co-hosts. They have been placed into separate groups — USA in Group D, Mexico in Group A, and Canada in Group B — to avoid any two hosts meeting in the group stage.
Who are the defending champions? Argentina, who won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by beating France in a penalty shoot-out after a 3-3 draw in one of the greatest finals ever played. Argentina are drawn in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
Groups, Schedule and Venues
How many groups are there? Twelve groups of four teams each, labelled A through L. Each group follows a round-robin format with three matchdays, after which the top two teams and the best third-placed teams advance.
What time do matches kick off in Ireland? Most matches will kick off at 5pm, 8pm, 11pm or 2am Irish Standard Time, corresponding to noon, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm Eastern Time in the US. The five-hour time difference during summer means that early-afternoon US kick-offs are viewer-friendly in Ireland, while evening US matches push into the late night and early hours. The biggest fixtures — including most England and Scotland matches — are likely to be scheduled in prime-time US slots, translating to 11pm or 2am IST.
Where is the World Cup final? MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, approximately 12 kilometres from Midtown Manhattan. The final is on 19 July 2026 and is expected to kick off at approximately 2am Irish time.
Where is the opening match? Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Mexico play South Africa on 11 June 2026. It is the third time Estadio Azteca has hosted a World Cup opening match.
How many stadiums are being used? Sixteen stadiums across three countries: eleven in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. The largest is Estadio Azteca at approximately 83,000 capacity, and the smallest is BMO Field in Toronto at roughly 30,000 (though expansion for the World Cup may increase this).
Will there be any matches in Ireland’s timezone-friendly hours? The group stage will feature midday ET kick-offs (5pm IST) on most matchdays, which are perfectly watchable from Ireland. The 3pm ET slots (8pm IST) are also comfortable. The challenge comes with the 6pm and 9pm ET matches, which push to 11pm and 2am. The knockout rounds, with fewer matches per day, tend to use prime-time US slots that translate to late night in Ireland.
Betting from Ireland
Is it legal to bet on the World Cup from Ireland? Betting on football is legal in Ireland. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 established the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI) as the new regulator, with online bookmaker licensing operational from February 2026. Licensed operators are permitted to offer betting on all World Cup markets. The key changes under the new legislation include advertising restrictions (no TV or radio betting ads between 5:30am and 9pm), a ban on credit card deposits for betting, and the planned introduction of a national self-exclusion register.
Can I use a credit card to bet on the World Cup? No. The Gambling Regulation Act 2024 prohibits the use of credit cards for gambling transactions in Ireland. You will need to fund your betting account via debit card, bank transfer, or one of the e-wallet services that most Irish-licensed bookmakers accept.
What odds format do Irish bookmakers use? Irish bookmakers traditionally display fractional odds (5/1, 11/4, evens), reflecting the shared betting culture with the UK. Most online platforms also offer the option to switch to decimal odds (6.00, 3.75, 2.00), which are standard across continental Europe and increasingly popular with younger punters. Both formats represent the same underlying probability — use whichever you find more intuitive.
Are there restrictions on betting advertising during the World Cup? Under the GRAI framework, betting advertising on television and radio is prohibited between 5:30am and 9pm. Online advertising is restricted to users who already hold an account with the operator and have opted in to receive promotional communications. You will see significantly fewer betting ads during World Cup coverage compared to previous tournaments, which is a deliberate policy response to concerns about gambling-related harm in Ireland.
What is the national self-exclusion register? The GRAI is developing a national self-exclusion register that will allow individuals to ban themselves from all licensed betting operators in Ireland through a single registration. The register is expected to be operational during the 2026 tournament period. If you feel that a six-week World Cup presents a risk to your gambling behaviour, the self-exclusion register — or individual operator exclusion tools available now — provides a practical safeguard.
Ireland and the World Cup
Did Ireland qualify for the 2026 World Cup? No. The Republic of Ireland finished second in their European qualifying group behind Portugal and entered the UEFA play-offs via Path D. In the play-off semi-final on 26 March 2026, Ireland drew 2-2 with Czechia in Prague before losing 3-4 in the penalty shoot-out. It was a heartbreaking exit that ended a campaign that had generated genuine hope of a first World Cup appearance since 2002.
Which team should Irish fans support at the World Cup? Scotland are the natural choice for most Irish fans. The Celtic cultural bond, the shared football traditions, and the overlap between Irish and Scottish supporter communities make Scotland the obvious “adopted” team for Ireland at this tournament. Scotland are in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti — their first World Cup appearance since 1998. Beyond Scotland, many Irish fans follow England through their connection to the Premier League, and Belgium has links through Irish players at Belgian clubs.
Will Irish pubs show World Cup matches? Pubs with sports broadcasting licences will show matches throughout the tournament. The challenge is the scheduling: late-night and early-morning kick-offs (11pm and 2am IST) will test the willingness of publicans to keep their doors open. Expect most pubs to show daytime and early-evening fixtures (5pm and 8pm IST) routinely, with selected late-night openings for the biggest matches — particularly Scotland’s Group C games, England fixtures and the knockout rounds. Some venues in larger cities may offer dedicated World Cup viewing events with extended hours.
How did the play-off loss to Czechia affect Ireland’s relationship with this World Cup? The penalty shoot-out defeat in Prague created a complicated emotional landscape. Irish fans are disappointed but not defeated — the qualifying campaign showed a team improving under its management structure, and the narrow manner of the loss (penalties after a 2-2 draw) suggests Ireland were genuinely close to qualifying. That proximity fuels engagement with the tournament rather than reducing it: Irish fans want to follow the teams that beat them or came close to sharing a group with them, and the betting markets for Scotland’s Group C — where Czechia also feature — will attract significant Irish interest as a form of vicarious participation.
Everything Else
Will VAR be used at the 2026 World Cup? FIFA has confirmed that VAR will be in operation at all 104 matches. Semi-automated offside technology, introduced at the 2022 World Cup, will also be deployed. VAR’s presence affects betting markets by increasing the likelihood of penalty kicks (penalties per match rose significantly after VAR’s introduction in 2018) and by occasionally reversing goals that would have stood under previous refereeing frameworks. If you are betting on penalty-related markets or correct scores, factor in VAR’s influence.
What ball will be used at the 2026 World Cup? FIFA and Adidas will reveal the official match ball in the months before the tournament. Each World Cup ball has distinct flight characteristics — the 2022 Al Rihla was designed for faster travel and more stable flight, while previous balls (notably the 2010 Jabulani) were criticised for unpredictable movement. Ball design affects goalkeepers more than outfield players and can influence the total goals scored across the tournament. Historical data suggests that new ball designs do not dramatically alter scoring averages, but they occasionally produce spectacular long-range goals or goalkeeping errors that shift individual match outcomes.
How can I watch the World Cup from Ireland? Broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Cup in Ireland are held by the major sports broadcasters who have secured FIFA’s rights package for the European region. RTÉ has historically carried World Cup coverage on free-to-air television, and a combination of RTÉ and subscription services is expected for 2026. Confirm the specific broadcasting arrangements closer to the tournament, as rights deals are finalised and announced in the months preceding kick-off.
Is this the last World Cup before the format changes again? The 48-team format is being used for the first time in 2026, and FIFA has not announced any further expansion. The current structure — 12 groups of four with the top two and best third-placed teams advancing — is intended to be the standard format going forward. Whether FIFA will adjust group sizes, the number of qualifying third-placed teams, or other structural elements will depend on how the 2026 tournament plays out. For now, treat 2026 as the template for future tournaments.