New york: The FIFA World Cup is set to make history in 2026 as it will be jointly hosted by three countries-the United States, Canada, and Mexico-spanning a vast geographical area. This marks the first time in the tournament's history that it will be held across three nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, this significant change will also see an expansion in the number of participating teams, with 48 national teams competing. The event, which first took place in Uruguay in 1930, has been held 22 times, but the upcoming tournament will be groundbreaking in its scale and scope. The opening match is scheduled to take place between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday, June 11, and the tournament will conclude with the final at New Jersey Stadium in New York on Sunday, July 19.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a total of 104 matches played in 16 different stadiums, spread across four time zones, with the United States hosting the majority of the matches-78 in total. Notable venues include Dallas Stadium, the largest with a capacity of 94,000, and the smallest in Toronto, which can accommodate 45,000 spectators.

Historically, FIFA World Cups have predominantly been hosted by a single country. The exception to this was the 2002 tournament, which was jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea. This was the first and only time the tournament was held in Asia, and it saw Brazil claim victory over Germany with a 2-0 win in the final. Trkiye achieved third place after defeating South Korea, one of the host nations.