Infantino Sets June 11 Start for 48-Team World Cup — When Does World Cup Start
FIFA World Cup 2026 will start on June 11, and when does world cup start now has a firm answer: the tournament opens with 48 teams for the first time. The expanded field turns the event into the biggest World Cup in the competition’s 96-year history.
The format replaces the old 32-team setup and splits the field into 12 groups of four. The top two teams in each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, move on to the round of 32 before the knockout stage continues through the last 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final.
Infantino And Wenger On 48 Teams
Gianni Infantino said FIFA expects $11bn in World Cup revenue this year, and he said that money will be ploughed back into football projects in 211 countries. He also pointed to a wider reach for the tournament, with nearly a quarter of FIFA’s 211 national member associations set to be represented in 2026.
Arsene Wenger had already backed the move in December, calling the format change “It’s a natural evolution.” He added, “I think we want to make football global all over the world.”
Six Confederations In One Field
The 48-team tournament will draw sides from six confederations, extending the competition beyond the previous eight-group structure. Wenger said, “And now I believe that 48 teams is the right number,” after laying out the World Cup’s progression from 13 teams in 1930 to 24 in 1982 and 32 in 1998.
The shift also carried a financial estimate from the World Trade Organization. It said the expanded tournament would produce $80.1bn in gross output, including $30.5bn for the United States, the cohost.
June 11 And The Knockout Path
That opening date matters because the bracket is already fixed from the start: 12 groups, eight third-place qualifiers, then a 32-team knockout stage. For players and federations, the road to the final now runs through more teams, more confederations and a longer path to the trophy.
The start on June 11 also locks in the first test for the expanded model. FIFA has tied the larger field to broader football development, while the competition itself begins with the pressure of proving that 48 teams can fit the sport’s biggest stage without slowing the standard Wenger said the format is meant to raise.
