How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?

48 teams compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expanded from 32 in previous tournaments — the largest World Cup in football history.

How does the 2026 World Cup group stage work?

The 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of 4 teams each (Groups A through L). Each team plays 3 matches. The top 2 from each group (24 teams) advance, plus the 8 best third-place finishers, creating a 32-team knockout bracket.

How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?

There are 104 matches total — 72 group stage matches and 32 knockout matches (Round of 32 through the Final). The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Where is the 2026 World Cup hosted?

The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. There are 16 host cities across the three countries, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey.

Who will win the 2026 World Cup?

Our AI-powered prediction engine analyzes xG, FIFA rankings, recent form, and historical performance to forecast every match. Visit Bucephus for live probability updates throughout the tournament.

SPORTS (GLOBAL)·Active

Will Sporting Kansas City beat St. Louis CITY SC in the MLS match on Jul 17, 2026?

Live22%

22%chance · YES▲ 0

YES22%NO78%

2 outcomes · model-implied YES chance

The line is Bucephus’s computed probability over time — aggregated from live news, social & market signals, not trading volume.

AI model estimate · awaiting news coverage & forecasts

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22%

AI base-rate prior

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Market Rules

Resolves Yes if MLS full-time result, St. Louis CITY SC vs Sporting Kansas City, Jul 17, 2026

Outcome verified from espn.com.

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Timeline and payout

Market open
Jul 16, 2026, 5:37 PM UTC
Market closes
By Jul 17, 2026, 11:59 PM UTC
Projected payout
Shortly after the market closes

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0 pts · 50%

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