This year's edition of the World Cup will be the biggest ever with an expanded field of 48 teams, three host countries and 16 stadiums staging the record 104 matches over the 39-day tournament.
The tournament being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico is the first since FIFA expanded the field from 32 teams to 48, adding four more groups in the initial stage and a new round of 32 in the knockout portion.
The World Cup last expanded for the 1998 tournament with the last seven editions featuring 32 teams and 64 games.
This also marks just the second time that the tournament will be played in multiple countries with Japan and South Korea sharing the 2002 edition.
There will be 11 sites in the United States, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.
Mexico will host 13 matches, including the opener in Mexico City on June 11 between the host team and South Africa and three in the knockout rounds.
Canada will also have 13 matches with the first coming between the hosts and Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto and three more in the knockout round.
The remaining 78 will be in the U.S.
starting when the Americans take on Paraguay on June 12 in the Los Angeles area, and including all the matches in teh quarterfinals, semifinals and the final round at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Here's a look at some other stats to watch during the 2026 World Cup: 1,248: There are a record 1,248 players on the rosters coming from 449 domestic clubs in 71 countries.
There are 357 players with World Cup experience, alomng with 891 first-timers.
England leads the way with 200 players on rosters who are based there at club level.
Germany is second with 109, followed by France (86), Spain (86), Italy (71) and Saudi Arabia (49).
Major League Soccer will be represented by a record 44 active players at the World Cup with 103 of the players having some experience in MLS.
Manchester City of the Premier League has the most players of any club with a record of 19, followed by Bayern Munich with 18, Champions League finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal 16 and Barcelona with 15.
226: Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo leads all players in the tournament with 226 caps — the most ever by a single men's player — as he is set to join Argentina's Lionel Messi as the only players to appear in six World Cups.
Ronaldo is the only player to score in five World Cups with eight goals in his 22 matches.
Messi has the most career World Cup matches with 26 and needs two....
