The 2026 World Cup is set to begin on June 11 and marks a significant expansion in the tournament's format, with 48 teams participating, which is 16 more than in the previous edition held in Qatar 2022. This is a historic shift from the earliest tournament in 1930 that had 13 participating countries, reflecting FIFA's efforts to globalize the sport.

The tournament will feature a total of 104 matches, an increase of 40 games from the previous World Cup format. The 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with every team playing three matches in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group, alongside the eight highest-ranked third-placed teams, will advance to a knockout stage, providing a more competitive environment with more teams having the chance to progress.

As the defending champions, Argentina will be part of this historic event, and the expanded format is expected to create an exciting atmosphere for fans across North America. However, this new structure has also raised questions about the logistics and implications of hosting such a large tournament, including the potential for increased travel demands and the need for sufficient infrastructure to accommodate the influx of fans and teams across the three participating countries.