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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to begin this Thursday, June 11, marking a historic tournament that will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States for the first time. This edition brings several firsts to the world's most popular sporting event: a record 48 national teams will compete, matches will be played in 16 cities across three countries, and the tournament will feature an expanded format with 104 total games over 39 days. The final will take place on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium, formerly known as MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
If you want to follow the entire tournament, but can't watch the games on TV, iHeartRadio has you covered. Whether you are at work, in your car, or on the move, you can listen to every World Cup game on a dedicated World Cup station. All 104 matches will stream live on iHeartRadio, giving you 24/7 access no matter where you are.
The opening match between Mexico and South Africa will be held at the iconic Mexico City Stadium. Each host—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—will see their national teams play group-stage matches at home venues. Group-stage games will continue through early July, followed by knockout rounds featuring the top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-place finishers.
Cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle, among others, will welcome fans from around the globe. With 11 host cities in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada, the tournament will showcase the diversity and passion of North American soccer.
The expanded format features 12 groups of four teams each. After three group-stage matches, 32 teams will advance to the knockouts. Top-ranked teams such as Spain, Argentina, France, and Brazil are expected to advance far, but the expanded field and new format could lead to surprises.
The World Cup 2026 promises to be the biggest and most inclusive yet, with global attention focused on North America as teams, fans, and cultures unite for the love of the beautiful game.
You can follow the US Men's National Team and listen to Fox's coverage of all 104 FIFA World Cup 2026 games LIVE and for FREE via iHeartRadio’s digital app and more than 100 broadcast stations nationwide! You can also get the latest news and updates with iHeartRadio's lineup of soccer-focused podcasts, including Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogert and Tab Ramos and The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green.