2026 FIFA World Cup schedule, fixtures and cybercrime threat to streaming viewers

2026 World Cup 48-team expansion June 11–July 19 streaming account theft cybercrime

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first North American edition since 1994. The tournament expands from 32 to 48 national teams, increasing the total matches to 104 and extending the competition from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The opening match kicks off at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, and the final will be held at New York’s MetLife Stadium. The group stage runs from June 11–27, followed by a new round of 32, then the last‑16, quarter‑finals, semi‑finals and a third‑place match in Miami on July 18 before the final on July 19.

Alongside the sporting schedule, cybercriminals are exploiting the event’s high viewership. Researchers at HUMAN Security identified more than 12 million compromised streaming‑service accounts on the dark web, linked to at least ten broadcasters of World Cup matches. The stolen accounts could generate up to $220 million in illicit revenue, with a record 802,000 accounts released on June 27 alone, yielding an estimated $14.8 million in a single day. These activities highlight the growing black‑market trade in cheaper access to live sports as the tournament draws global audiences.

FIFA is also planning to revamp its Club World Cup with a 32‑team, Super‑Bowl‑style entertainment model, though this initiative is separate from the national‑team competition.