World Cup 2026/ 5 unusual facts about the biggest football tournament

2026-06-11 18:47:00, Kuriozitete CNA

The 2026 World Cup will not only be the biggest in history; it also looks set to become one of the most unusual and ambitious tournaments FIFA has ever staged. From record numbers and extreme heat to a Super Bowl-style spectacle, the 2026 World Cup will bear little resemblance to any previous edition.

Here are five unusual features that will define the tournament, which will be held between June 11 and July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

1. The first World Cup with 48 teams

For the first time, 48 teams will participate, up from 32 in Qatar 2022. The new format will include 12 groups of four teams and will increase the total number of matches from 64 to 104.

The expansion will also extend the tournament, which will now run for 39 days. The revamped format will also allow more teams from Africa, Asia and CONCACAF to qualify, as part of FIFA's push to broaden the competition's global representation.

World Cup 2026/ 5 unusual facts about the biggest football tournament

2. Three countries hosting the same World Cup

The United States, Mexico and Canada will share hosting duties for the first time. Never before has a men's World Cup been shared among three host nations.

In total, there will be 16 host cities across North America, from Vancouver to Mexico City and Miami. The United States will host the majority of matches, including all knockout matches from the quarterfinals onwards.

World Cup 2026/ 5 unusual facts about the biggest football tournament

3. The Azteca Stadium will make history

The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will become the first venue to host matches in three different men's World Cups, following the 1970 and 1986 editions. The tournament will begin there.

Azteca also hosted two of the most memorable World Cup finals in history, won by Pelé's Brazil in 1970 and Maradona's Argentina in 1986.

Pelé's legacy also remains very much alive at the stadium: Mexican authorities recently installed a large statue of the Brazilian outside the stadium ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

World Cup 2026/ 5 unusual facts about the biggest football tournament

4. Heat, a concern for players and experts

One of the main points of discussion around the 2026 World Cup will not only be football, but also the weather.

A report from World Weather Attribution (WWA), an international scientific initiative that studies extreme weather events, warns that nearly a quarter of matches could be played in potentially dangerous heat for players and fans.

Cities such as Miami, Kansas City and Philadelphia are among those most exposed to high temperatures and humidity during June and July. FIFA is already considering cooling breaks and other protective measures.

World Cup 2026/ 5 unusual facts about the biggest football tournament

5. An increasingly entertainment-oriented World Cup

FIFA is also considering the possibility of introducing a musical performance during the first half of the final, inspired by formats common at major US sporting events, such as the Super Bowl.

The final will be played at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium, one of the United States' premier sports venues and a regular stage for concerts and large-scale events.

A musical performance is a first for a men's World Cup final, where entertainment has traditionally been concentrated before kick-off or at the opening and closing ceremonies.

According to FIFA, artists such as Shakira, Madonna and South Korean band BTS will headline the first half of the final, in a performance produced in conjunction with the organization Global Citizen and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.