Preparations for the 2026 World Cup are in the final stages, as there are fewer than 100 days before the tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026. This is a historic tournament, as it is the first time Canada, Mexico, and the United States will share hosting duties, and it marks the debut of 48 teams in the tournament's expanded format. Yahoo Sports Yahoo Sports +2 Key Preparation Updates (March 2026) Expanded Format: The tournament will consist of 104 matches, played across 16 host cities. The teams are split into 12 groups of four, and the top two and eight best third-placed teams qualify for a new Round of 32. Preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are in their final stages with less than 100 days to go before the tournament commences on June 11, 2026. This is a historic tournament as it will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament will have a total of 48 teams. SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles): Installing specialized natural grass grown in Washington to meet strict FIFA regulations. BMO Field (Toronto): Nearing completion of its $146 million expansion project to increase capacity to approximately 45,000. Qualified Teams: 42 of the 48 teams have already qualified for the tournament. Some of the debutantes are Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. The remaining six teams will qualify through the Intercontinental Play-Offs, which will be held between March 26-31, 2026. Ticket Frenzy: The tournament has seen a record-breaking number of tickets with over 500 million