Summer 2026 is officially football season and honestly, the build-up alone has been wild.
When and Where Is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 countries competing across 104 matches divided into 12 groups.
The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The final takes place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups, Fixtures and Key Matches
- The US is in Group D and will face Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles
- Australia on June 19 in Seattle, and
- European qualifier on June 25 also in Los Angeles.
Some other matches to circle on your calendar:
- France vs Senegal on June 16 in New York
- Argentina vs Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, and
- England kicking off in the tournament as one of the favorites to finally end 60 years of hurt.
The Official 2026 World Cup Song: Shakira, Burna Boy and Ed Sheeran
Now for the music. The official 2026 World Cup anthem is “Dai Dai” by Shakira and Burna Boy, co-written by Ed Sheeran. The title comes from an Italian expression used to encourage a team, similar to “allez” in French or “ole” in Spanish.
Shakira returning after Waka Waka in 2010 feels right and frankly the internet has been waiting for this for years.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Halftime Show: Who Is Performing?
As for the halftime show, BTS, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Madonna, Future Alessia Cara, LISA of BlackPink, Tyla, “Calm Down” singer -Rema, and Shakira are all set to perform, with the show supporting the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, aiming to raise 100 million dollars for children’s access to education and football worldwide.
Top Players to Watch at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
On the pitch, this tournament has a genuinely emotional backstory.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both expected to be making their final World Cup appearances. Messi turns 39 during the tournament. Ronaldo is 41. The question everyone is asking, ‘Is this the last World Cup for Messi & Ronaldo?’
The players everyone is watching alongside them include Kylian Mbappe for France, Lamine Yamal for Spain, Erling Haaland for Norway, Jude Bellingham for England, Vinicius Junior for Brazil, and Harry Kane who is still hunting a major trophy.
Yamal has arguably overtaken Mbappe as the favourite to become the next generational face of football, and this tournament is widely expected to be his moment.
Whether your team is in it or you just show up for the vibes, the chaos, and the Shakira performance, the World Cup is officially the event of the summer.
Games kick off June 11. Clear your schedule accordingly.
