Tournament Stats
Historical records, past champions, all-time top scorers, and everything you need to know about the new 2026 format.
WC 2026 Fast Facts
Key numbers for the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
48
Teams
Expanded from 32
104
Matches
Up from 64
16
Venues
Across 3 countries
3
Host Countries
USA, Mexico, Canada
12
Groups
Groups of 4 teams
39
Tournament Days
June 11 - July 19
Most World Cup Titles
Nations with the most football World Cup victories.
1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
1954, 1974, 1990, 2014
1934, 1938, 1982, 2006
1978, 1986, 2022
1998, 2018
1930, 1950
1966
2010
All-Time Top Scorers
The top 10 goal scorers in World Cup history.
| # | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miroslav KloseGermany | 16 |
| 2 | RonaldoBrazil | 15 |
| 3 | Gerd MullerWest Germany | 14 |
| 4 | Just FontaineFrance | 13 |
| 5 | PeleBrazil | 12 |
| 6 | Kylian MbappeFrance | 12 |
| 7 | Sandor KocsisHungary | 11 |
| 8 | Jurgen KlinsmannGermany | 11 |
| 9 | Helmut RahnWest Germany | 10 |
| 10 | Gabriel BatistutaArgentina | 10 |
Historical Champions
Every football World Cup final from 1930 to 2022.
| Year | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1930 | Uruguay | 4-2 |
| 1934 | Italy | 2-1 (aet) |
| 1938 | Italy | 4-2 |
| 1950 | Uruguay | 2-1* |
| 1954 | West Germany | 3-2 |
| 1958 | Brazil | 5-2 |
| 1962 | Brazil | 3-1 |
| 1966 | England | 4-2 (aet) |
| 1970 | Brazil | 4-1 |
| 1974 | West Germany | 2-1 |
| 1978 | Argentina | 3-1 (aet) |
| 1982 | Italy | 3-1 |
| 1986 | Argentina | 3-2 |
| 1990 | West Germany | 1-0 |
| 1994 | Brazil | 0-0 (3-2 pen) |
| 1998 | France | 3-0 |
| 2002 | Brazil | 2-0 |
| 2006 | Italy | 1-1 (5-3 pen) |
| 2010 | Spain | 1-0 (aet) |
| 2014 | Germany | 1-0 (aet) |
| 2018 | France | 4-2 |
| 2022 | Argentina | 3-3 (4-2 pen) |
* 1950 used a final group stage; Uruguay's win over Brazil in the deciding match is commonly regarded as the final.
WC 2026 Format Explainer
How the expanded 48-team tournament works.
The 2026 football World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32. The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, making it the first World Cup held across three nations. A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 venues from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Group Stage
12 groups of 4 teams. Each team plays 3 matches.
Round of 32
Top 2 from each group (24) + 8 best third-place teams advance.
Round of 16
32 teams reduced to 16 in single-elimination matches.
Quarter-Finals
8 matches determine the final four.
Semi-Finals
4 teams compete for a place in the final.
Final
July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey.
Key change: Unlike previous formats, the round of 32 includes the 8 best third-place teams in addition to the top 2 from each group, giving 32 out of 48 teams a pathway into the knockout rounds.