Football World Cup 2026: When does it start, who are the favourites, what time do the All Whites play?

The Football World Cup trophy visits Seattle, Washington.

Photo: Alika Jenner/Fifa

Over the next five weeks, the world will become captivated by arguably its most popular sporting event, as all eyes turn to USA, Canada and Mexico for the Football World Cup.

New Zealand has an opportunity to extend its very modest contribution to the history of this event, as it chases a first-ever win on this stage, while some of the game's greats hope to add to their already mpressive legacies.

Are you going to the World Cup? We want to hear from you.

World governing body Fifa has made this tournament bigger than ever, as it strives for global domination.

Here's what you need to know.

When and where is the World Cup 2026?

The 2026 World Cup is jointly hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States.

The opening ceremony takes place on Friday morning (12 June) at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, followed by the tournament's first match between Mexico and South Africa at 7am NZT.

Estadio Azteca has a 83,000 seat capacity and hosted the World Cup final in 1970 and 1986.

The All Whites first game - against Iran - kicks off at 1pm NZT on Tuesday 16 June.

What is the format?

For the first time, the Fifa World Cup will feature 48 teams, consisting of 16 from Europe, 10 from Africa, nine from Asia, six from North and Central America, including hosts USA, Canada and Mexico, six from South America and New Zealand as Oceania's sole representative.

Adding 16 teams to the field will increase the number of games from 64 previously to 104.

The field will be divided into 12 groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group, plus the best eight third-placed teams, progressing to a round of 32, then 16, quarterfinals, semis and the final, scheduled for 7am Monday, 20 July NZT.

Each of the three host nations will stage their own opening ceremony on 11/12 June (local time), showcasing a variety of local and international entertainers.

Mexican superfan Caramelo kisses a plastic copy of the World Cup trophy.

Photo: Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images

The tournament opener will see Mexico face South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium at 7am, 12 June (NZT), followed by Korea Republic v Czech Republic at Guadalajara later that day.

Due to extreme heat conditions, organisers have mandated three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half.

Which countries are competing?

The 48 teams in their 12 groups are:

Group A - Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and Czech Republic

Group B - Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland

Group C - Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland

Group D - USA, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey

Group E - Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador

Group F - Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia

Group G - Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand

Group H - Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay

Group I - France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway

Group J - Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan

Curacao football team prepare for their World Cup qualifying game against Aruba.

Photo: ANP/Getty Images

Group K - Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia

Group L - England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama

Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their first appearances at the World Cup. Qatar have qualified for the first time - their only previous appearance was as host nation in 2022.

Australia have contested six previous World Cups, but only one as a member of the Oceania Football Confederation. In 2005, they joined the Asian confederation and have qualified for every tournament since.

Where can I find the schedule?

The full draw is here

Kiwis at the World Cup

New Zealand have attended two previous tournaments - 1982 in Spain and 2010 in South Africa - and are yet to win a game.

Historically, the All Whites have had to qualify through Oceania, but then play off against the top non-qualifiers from another confederation, a step that often tripped them up.

In 1982, they dominated Oceania, including a win and draw against the Socceroos, but then had to overcome China, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait from Asia. After 15 games and just one loss, they booked their tickets with a 2-1 playoff win over China.

In Spain, the All Whites, coached by John Adshead and captained by Steve Sumner, suffered group defeat against Brazil, Soviet Union and Scotland, conceding 12 goals.

All Whites celebrate a goal against Australia during their 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Photo: Anthony Phelps/Photosport

New Zealand's qualifying task became easier, when Australia left to join Asia, but invariably, they would stumble at the final hurdle placed in front of them by the world body.

In 2010, they proved equal to that task, overcoming Bahrain in a home-and-away series, highlighted by a dramatic 1-0 win in Wellington, to reach their second World Cup.

There, coached by Ricki Herbert and captained by Ryan Nelsen, the All Whites created history, when they went through group play unbeaten, drawing with higher-ranked Paraguay, Slovakia and Italy, but still could not reach the knockout stage.

They were the only team not to taste defeat in South Africa.

All Whites in 2026

In expanding the field for his World Cup, Fifa allocated an automatic qualifying spot to Oceania for the first time, plus a chance for the runners-up to progress through intercontinental playoffs.

New Zealand clinched their place with a 3-0 win over New Caledonia in the OFC final. New Caledonia's hopes were subsequently extinguished, when they lost to Jamaica in a playoff.

Over the past 12 months, the All Whites have played 12 'friendlies' against higher-ranked international teams, winning two, drawing one and losing nine.

Ironically, given they are spearheaded by one of the English Premier League's top goalscorers, they often struggle to find the back of the net. Across those dozen outings, they scored just nine goals - four of them came against a Chile side reduced to 10 men by a red card.

By comparison, they conceded 20 goals. Most recently, they fell 4-0 to Haiti and 1-0 to England last week in Florida.

All Whites midfielder Elijah Just in action against England in a World Cup warm-up.

Photo: www.photosport.nz

The All Whites are based at San Diego, but will play their group games at Inglewood and Vancouver.

When are the All Whites playing?

v Iran, 1pm Tuesday, 16 June

v Egypt, 1pm Monday, 22 June

v Belgium, 3pm Saturday, 27 June

New Zealand still have not won a game at a World Cup and their task is no easier this time, against opponents at least 50 spots ahead of them on world rankings.

In fact, at 85th, the All Whites are the lowest ranked team at the event.

Nine other teams are chasing their first World Cup wins - Canada, Egypt, Haiti, Iraq and Qatar, along with debutants Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

Who is in the All Whites team?

Goalkeepers: Max Crocombe, Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud

Defence: Tyler Bindon, Michael Boxall, Libby Cacace, Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot, Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Tommy Smith, Finn Surman

Midfield: Lachie Bayliss, Joe Bell, Matt Garbett, Elijah Just, Callum McCowatt, Ben Old, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh, Marko Stamenic, Ryan Thomas

Forwards: Kosta Barbarouses, Jesse Randall, Ben Waine, Chris Wood

Coach: Darren Bazeley

Tommy Smith is one of two surviving All Whites from their last appearance at the World Cup.

Photo: SPORTZPICS cc

What are they playing for?

Originally, teams competed for a trophy shaped more like a traditional cup, which became the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1946, named after the Fifa president that created the World Cup concept.

In 1970, Brazil won their third crown and the right to keep the trophy, but it was later stolen and never recovered.

The current trophy was designed by Italian Silvio Gazzaniga, and stands 36cm tall, weighs 6.2kg and is made of 18 carat gold. Winners are no longer allowed to keep the prize and must hand it back after the post-match celebration.

Players to watch for

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

The striker is widely regarded as one of the greatest-ever players and consolidated that status by leading his team to victory at the last World Cup in Qatar.

He has won eight Ballons d'Or and six European Golden Shoes as the continent's leading scorer, and has been Fifa Player of the Year eight times.

After spending most of his career with European powerhouses Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Messi transformed the US Major League Soccer with his presence, after joining Inter Miami in 2023

Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola once claimed his short legs and quick feet enabled him to run faster with the ball than without it.

Lionel Messi celebrates Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory.

Photo: KEITA IIJIMA / AFP

Messi, 38, is Argentina's all-time leading scorer and will likely bring up 200 games for his country - also a record - at this tournament, which many expect to be his last.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Any debate over football's greatest players will undoubtedly feature the veteran striker, who has won five Ballons d'Or, three European Men's Player of the Year awards and four European Golden Shoes, and was named Fifa Player of the Year five times.

He and Messi have basically defined a generation of international footballers, with Ronaldo logging 227 games for Portugal and scoring 143 goals, guiding them to the 2016 European crown.

Ronaldo has also played for some of Europe's greatest clubs, namely Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, but currently plies his trade with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.

At 41, this will likely be his World Cup swansong. Portugal finished fourth in 2006, when they lost to France in the semis, and reached the quarterfinals four years ago, before losing to Morocco.

Ronaldo became the first player to score at five World Cup tournaments.

Cristiano Ronaldo has not been able to lead Portugal to a World Cup final.

Photo: Foto Olimpik / PHOTOSPORT

Killian Mbappe (France)

The striker stamped his class on international football, when he helped his country to victory at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, becoming the youngest French player (19) to score at a World Cup and the second teenager - after Brazilian superstar Pele - to score in a World Cup final.

Mbappe also took France to the 2022 final against Argentina, where he became the second player ever to score a hattrick in a World Cup final, taking the game to extra-time and then slotting a penalty in a shootout defeat. He won the Golden Boot with eight goals.

Mbappe will bring up a century of games for France at this tournament and has scored 56 goals. He won the European Golden Shoe last season, while playing for Real Madrid, and perhaps only needs time before joining Messi and Ronaldo among the game's all-time greats.

Killian Mbappe scored a hattrick of goals for France in the 2022 World Cup final defeat.

Photo: AFP

Harry Kane (England)

If football is to come home, Kane must be at his best. With 79 goals from 113 appearances, he is England's all-time leading scorer.

Across 15 years with Tottenham Hotspur, he became the club's leading scorer and second all-time in the English Premier League, behind Alan Shearer. In 2023, he transferred to Bayern Munich, where he has scored 98 goals in 94 appearances.

Kane won two of the last three European Golden Shoes and was the leading scorer at the 2018 World Cup, where England reached the semis.

Significantly, he scored the only goal against New Zealand in England's final 1-0 warm-up victory last week.

Another major trophy slips through the grasp of Harry Kane's England.

Photo: Photosport

Chris Wood (New Zealand)

The striker is one of just six Kiwis to play in the English Premier League, debuting with West Bromwich Albion, before stints with Leicester City, Burnley, Newcastle United and currently Nottingham Forest.

He was Forest's leading goalscorer in 2023/24, but went even better the following season, winning Premier League Player of the Month in October 2024 and becoming the club's leading premier league scorer in December 2024.

In May 2025, he became the first Nottingham player to score 20 goals in a season and was subsequently voted into the PFA Team of the Year by his fellow premier league players.

The All Whites skipper has been hampered by injury this season, but brought up his 89th cap for New Zealand against Haiti, passing Ivan Vicelich as the team's all-time leader.

Chris Wood has become New Zealand's most decorated footballer.

Photo: www.photosport.nz

A key to New Zealand's hopes at this tournament will be taking advantage of Wood's presence up front, whether that's feeding him in front of goal or punishing defences that commit too much energy to closing him down, while leaving others open.

How to watch and follow the World Cup 2026

TVNZ is the official broadcaster for the Fifa World Cup in New Zealand, streaming all 104 matches of the tournament.

While you must purchase an all access pass to watch all the games, all matches featuring the All Whites are available free-to-air.

RNZ will be live blogging All Whites games as well as the finals.

Keep up to date with all the latest World Cup headlines here.

Who are the favourites?

New Zealand is considered an outsider to win the World Cup, with many pundits backing Spain as the favourite, followed by France and England.

Portugal and Argentina are also in the mix.

History

This will be the 22nd edition of the Fifa World Cup, since the inaugural event in 1930.

The tournament was created to capitalise on the popularity of football at the Olympics, which was previously regarded as the official world championship for amateurs.

Thirteen nations accepted invitations to contest the first World Cup in Uruguay, with the host team - two-time Olympic champions - defeating Argentina in the final.

The difficulties of international travel limited the size of early tournaments - few South American teams travelled to Italy for the 1934 event.

Until 1978, the draw generally consisted of 16 teams, but that was expanded to 24 teams in 1982 and 32 in 1998.

Eighty countries - including New Zealand - have reached the World Cup, with five-time champions Brazil the most successful and the only nation to appear at every tournament.

Eight teams have won the title. Germany and Italy have both won four times, while the Germans have finished in the top four 13 times, twice more than Brazil.

Argentina celebrate their 2022 Word Cup victory in Qatar.

Photo: KEITA IIJIMA / AFP

Argentina have won three times, including the 2022 crown, France and Uruguay twice, and England and Spain once each.

Football v soccer

Traditionally, the roundball sport is known internationally as football or association football, but that varies in certain countries, where the term 'football' has been adopted by other codes.

In the United States and Canada, football refers to a game also known as American football or gridiron, after the field it is played on.

In Australia, football often refers to the game we know as Aussie rules, while Ireland plays a similar version called Gaelic football.

Given the World Cup is being staged in North America, you can probably expect to hear 'soccer' sprinkled through the local vernacular.

England celebrate their only World Cup triumph in 1966.

Photo: Keystone/Getty Images

Will football finally come 'home'?

While the exact origins of football are murky, with approximate versions littered throughout history, England has always regarded itself as the true home of the game.

Football dates back to the eighth century in England and the first formal 'Laws of the Game' were drafted in 1863 by Football Association secretary Ebenezer Cobb Morley.

Given that long affinity with the game, the inability of England to dominate 'their' code has become a source of frustration to the English and humour to the rest of the world.

England has only won the World Cup once, beating West Germany 4-2 in a dramatic overtime final at Wembley in 1966 - 60 years ago now.

Since then, the Three Lions have reached the semifinals twice, but were beaten on penalties by the Germans in 1990 and in overtime by Croatia in 2018.

Losing penalty shootouts is another painful theme for England at major tournaments. They have never won the European championship, losing the last two finals to Italy (via penalties) and Spain.

Luckily, the England women are far more successful, winning the last two continental crowns, and finishing runners-up at the last World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

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