We are so excited to witness Houston “Welcome the World” for the 2026 World Cup. The FIFA World Cup is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world. It is held every four years. Here’s how the tournament will generally work.
- Qualification Rounds : The tournament begins with a series of qualification matches that span several years before the World Cup. Teams from various regions compete in these matches to secure a spot in the finals. The number of teams that qualify varies by region, as determined by FIFA.
- Final Tournament : The World Cup itself typically features 32 teams (increasing to 48 teams starting in 2026) competing in a month-long tournament. The teams are divided into groups for the initial stage.
- Group Stage : In the group stage, teams are divided into groups of four. Each team plays the others in their group once, and points are awarded for wins and draws (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 for a loss). The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage.
- Knockout Stage : This phase consists of single-elimination matches. If a game ends in a draw after 90 minutes, it goes to extra time, and if still tied, a penalty shootout determines the winner. This stage includes the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, and the Final.
- Final Match : The final match takes place at a designated venue, where the two remaining teams compete for the championship title. The winner is crowned the World Cup champion and receives the iconic trophy.
- Trophy and Legacy : The winning team not only gets the trophy but also earns the honor of being world champions, along with a place in football history.
The World Cup is celebrated for its global reach. The 2022 World Cup had 1.5 billion viewers worldwide.
Read more here https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/houston-stadium-host-seven-matches