Today, March 3, 2026, marks 100 Days to Go until the largest FIFA World Cup™ in history, expanded to include 48 teams for the first time. The 23rd edition of the tournament will also be the first to be hosted across three countries in 16 vibrant Host Cities, uniting an entire continent through football. The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be the largest single-sport event in the world, with approximately six million people expected to attend the tournament’s matches in-stadium, and approximately six billion set to engage with tournament content through an array of platforms and devices across the media universe, including linear TV, digital, streaming, social media, and FIFA platforms. Qualifiers While 206 national teams began the qualification process for the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, only 45 will join the three host countries – Canada, Mexico, and the United States – in June and July, 2026, to take part in the largest edition of the tournament to date. With the expanded tournament welcoming 16 more teams compared to previous editions, more countries than ever had the chance to qualify.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will already feature four debutants: Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. As of 100 Days to Go, 42 teams have qualified:
• AFC: Australia, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan
• CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia
• Concacaf: Canada, Mexico, USA, Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama
• CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay
• OFC: New Zealand
• UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland Notably, of the 42 teams that had qualified by the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026, 16 did not appear at the 2022 edition.
Several nations are ending long absences from the global stage: Haiti returns to the tournament for the first time in 52 years, having made their only previous appearance in 1974; meanwhile, Austria, Norway, and Scotland are back at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is already set to include at least seven of the eight previous winners: Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Spain, and Uruguay. Four-time champion Italy remains in contention via the European play-offs. The remaining six teams will be decided by the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and the European play-offs, which will be held from 26 to 31 March. Ticket sales for the play-off tournament in Guadalajara and Monterrey are available on FIFA.com/tickets, with prices starting at MXN 200 (approximately USD 11.50).
More debutants may still emerge from both the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and the European play-offs: • New Caledonia and Suriname remain in contention, each competing in one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament pathways. • Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia are chasing history in the European play-offs. The latest information on qualifiers can be found on FIFAWorldCup.com.
One Tournament, Three Nations, 16 Host Cities – and Beyond As the world comes to Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the tournament will provide a platform for each of the 16 Host Cities to showcase their distinctive local identity to the world. Last year, each city released its Official Host City Posters and Host City Sonic IDs, representing the unique cultural and artistic spirit of the 16 Host Cities while celebrating the unity, diversity, and passion of the world’s most beloved sport. Regions beyond the 16 Host Cities will also play a key role in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The final 48 locations selected as Team Base Camps, offering participating teams a “home away from home,” will be confirmed ahead of the tournament. The Team Base Camps consist of a training site and accommodation pairing that will serve as the primary base for the squads during the group stage, where they will train, rest, and prepare for their matches. The presence of teams in various cities and towns across the three host countries will ensure that both the economic and social impact of the tournament ripple across North America, providing the chance for local communities to adopt new nations as their “second team” and fostering civic pride and community spirit.
Economic Impact According to Open Economics, the tournament could help drive up to USD 40.9 billion in gross domestic product, deliver USD 8.28 billion in social benefits, and underpin the creation of nearly 824,000 full-time equivalent jobs globally. More information on the expected economic impact of the tournament can be found on the Inside FIFA website.
Volunteer Program This March marks the next phase of the Volunteer Journey, with role-specific training. The training phase is a celebratory milestone, as volunteers will come together in person for the first time within their respective functional areas and meet fellow volunteers. In the weeks to come, they will prepare to support the delivery of the largest FIFA World Cup tournament to date.
FIFA World Cup Ticket Sales FIFA has seen incredible demand from fans around the globe for this tournament. Fans who have yet to secure a ticket and want to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 can visit FIFA.com/tickets to explore purchase options to see the games in-stadium. The Last-Minute Sales phase opens in April and runs until the end of the tournament. During this window, tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, FIFA operates an official Resale/Exchange Marketplace for eligible ticket holders via FIFA.com/tickets. Fans are reminded that FIFA.com/tickets is the official and preferred source for purchasing tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
FIFA World Cup hospitality sales The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature the largest hospitality programme for a sporting event and the most successful in FIFA history, surpassing the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ and the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ installments in terms of total hospitality revenue and total hospitality packages sold, respectively. Fans in more than 100 countries and all 50 US states have purchased hospitality packages. The nations with the most purchases alongside the host countries include Qatar, Brazil, the United Kingdom, India, China PR, Colombia, and Australia. Fans who would like to immediately secure access to specific matches and are looking for a premium, elevated matchday experience can purchase hospitality packages, which include match tickets. Hospitality packages are available for single matches, multiple matches, “Follow My Team,” and venue-specific experiences at FIFA.com/hospitality.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Fan Info WhatsApp Channels The FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Fan Info WhatsApp Channels provide trusted information to help fans plan their visit and navigate Host Cities and tournament footprint. Each channel delivers localized, timely updates before and during the tournament.
• Official and trusted – Information comes directly from FIFA and Host Cities • City-specific – Updates tailored to the Host City (or Host Cities) followed • Real time – Timely alerts when it matters most • Easy access – Delivered straight to a fan’s phone (We recommend making sure notifications are on.)
Visas Whether travelling by air, sea, or land, each visitor will need both an acceptable identity document (e.g. passport) and a valid visa or travel authorisation to enter Canada, Mexico, and/or the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026. A match ticket does not guarantee the issuance of a visa or entry into a host country. Fans may apply for a visa at any time. They do not need a ticket to apply, and having a visa does not guarantee fans a ticket. Given the processing times involved, FIFA recommends submitting the visa application as early as possible. FIFA also encourages visitors to ensure that their passport will not expire until well after the planned travel dates – best practice is at least six months after a trip. Fans should visit the host countries’ government websites for more information.
FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket holders traveling to the United States can now access priority visa interview appointments with the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, or FIFA PASS. Fans from countries that participate in the US Visa Waiver Programme (via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or ESTA) or from countries that currently have open visa interview appointments do not need to use the FIFA PASS. All visitors travelling to Canada for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are encouraged to review official entry requirements in advance of their travel. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, visit IRCC. For further details on visas and entry requirements for all three host countries, please visit FIFA’s information page.
Commercial Partners and Media Rights FIFA is continuing to advance its media rights sales process for the FIFA World Cup 2026, partnering with a strong mix of long-standing and newly onboarded broadcasters. These media partnerships reflect FIFA’s commitment to innovation, audience engagement, and expanded access to the tournament. See the latest list of Media Partners for more information. International support for FIFA through its Commercial Partners is crucial as the organisation continues to serve the game of football for the benefit of the entire world. More than 90% of FIFA’s revenue is reinvested into global football in line with its strategic objectives, including a focus on social responsibilities, youth and women’s tournaments, and football development.
The FIFA World Cup is an effective international marketing platform, reaching billions of people in over 200 countries throughout the world. To be able to stage an event of such scale, FIFA relies on the support of its Commercial Partners, who provide vital services and product support for the entire event’s operations.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS