The biggest football tournament the world has ever seen
Right now the planet’s most-watched sporting event is underway: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted for the first time ever by three nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico. With 48 teams, 16 host cities and three official languages criss-crossing the continent, it’s also the perfect excuse to brush up on a few phrases. Read the essentials below, then head back to the translator to learn how to cheer on your team like a local.
Three host nations, one tournament
For the first time in history the World Cup is shared across three countries — the USA, Canada and Mexico — spanning the entire breadth of North America.
First Ever48 teams, 104 matches
The field has expanded from 32 to 48 nations, making this the largest World Cup ever and packing in more matches than any tournament before it.
Record16 host cities
From Los Angeles, New York and Miami to Toronto, Vancouver, Mexico City and Guadalajara, matches are spread across 16 cities in three countries.
TravelA final at MetLife Stadium
The showpiece final is scheduled for 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City.
The FinalThree official languages
English, Spanish and French are all spoken across the host nations — so a handful of phrases in each will carry you from kickoff to the final whistle.
LanguageMillions of fans on the move
An estimated five-to-six million spectators are expected to attend in person, with billions more watching from home around the globe.
RecordThe 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of football’s flagship tournament, and it rewrites the record books before a ball is even kicked. It is the first World Cup co-hosted by three countries, the first to feature 48 teams, and — with 104 matches across 16 cities — by far the most expansive in the competition’s history.
Group-stage games and knockout rounds are spread from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic, taking in iconic venues in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Philadelphia, Boston and New York/New Jersey in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico.
Because the tournament crosses three countries, fans following their team may hear English, Spanish and French in the space of a single road trip. Picking up a few words goes a long way — here is how to shout the basics:
Want more? Open the Transalingo translator to look up any phrase in seconds, test yourself with the Word Game, or plan your trip with our travel guides to the host countries and beyond.