The countdown for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has ended. The tournament, co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada, will start tonight with the match between Mexico and South Africa.
The opening match will take place at the 83,000-capacity Mexico City Stadium at 22:00 TRT and will be broadcast live on TRT 1. This first game of the tournament recalls the opening match of the 2010 World Cup held in South Africa.
New format to be applied for the first time
The 2026 World Cup will be played for the first time in history with a format of 12 groups and 48 teams. Each team will play three matches in the group stage. The top two teams in each group will advance directly to the round of 32, while the best third-placed teams will also have a chance to continue.
A total of 104 matches will be played throughout the tournament. The matches will take place in 16 different stadiums across the three host countries.
Final at the New York New Jersey Stadium
The tournament final will be held on Sunday, July 19, at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The event brings together many countries from different continents, with several teams making their World Cup debut.
Curaçao, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Cape Verde will appear on the World Cup stage for the first time. Europe will be the continent with the most teams represented in the tournament.
Turkey to face the USA in Group D
Turkey, which finished third in the 2002 World Cup, will return to the tournament after 24 years. The national team will face the USA, Australia, and Paraguay in Group D.
The matches in Group D will be among the most notable events of the tournament for Turkey.
Economic expectations rise
FIFA expects the revenue from the 2026 World Cup to reach 11 billion dollars, up from 7 billion dollars earned at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The last World Cup was held in Qatar, where Argentina defeated France on penalties in the final to become champions.
With its new format and expanded participation, the tournament is set to open a new chapter in the football calendar.
