FIFA World Cup 2026
The largest football tournament in history. 48 nations, 104 matches, 3 host countries — and every match is a tradeable market on Cupdiction.
June 11 – July 19, 2026 · United States, Canada, Mexico · Trading opens June 8
Quick facts
| Teams | 48 (expanded from 32 for the first time) |
| Matches | 104 total |
| Host countries | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Host cities | 16 cities across 3 countries |
| Opening match | Mexico vs South Africa · Jun 11 · Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Final | Jul 19 · MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Data source | Azuro Protocol (on-chain oracle) |
Tournament format
The 2026 World Cup uses a new expanded format — first time with 48 teams.
Group Stage (Jun 11 – Jun 27)
12 groups of 4 teams. Top 2 from each group + 8 best third-place teams advance. 72 matches total.
Round of 32 (Jun 28 – Jul 3)
32 teams. 16 matches. First knockout round — lose and you’re out.
Round of 16 (Jul 5 – Jul 8)
16 teams. 8 matches.
Quarter-finals (Jul 10 – Jul 11)
8 teams. 4 matches.
Semi-finals (Jul 14 – Jul 15)
4 teams. 2 matches.
Final (Jul 19)
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Key dates
| Phase | Dates |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | Jun 11 – Jun 27 |
| Round of 32 | Jun 28 – Jul 3 |
| Round of 16 | Jul 5 – Jul 8 |
| Quarter-finals | Jul 10 – Jul 11 |
| Semi-finals | Jul 14 – Jul 15 |
| Third place | Jul 18 |
| Final | Jul 19 |
Markets on Cupdiction
Tournament winner
Who lifts the trophy on July 19? These markets stay open until the Final kicks off.
| Team | Current price | Traders |
|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 34¢ | 3,841 |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 18¢ | 2,881 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | 16¢ | 1,621 |
| 🏴 England | 14¢ | 2,241 |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 12¢ | 1,844 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | 9¢ | 1,188 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 8¢ | 1,012 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | 6¢ | 812 |
Prices as of market preview. All markets resolve Jul 19.
Match outcome — group stage
Per-match markets are tradeable in Preview mode before the tournament. Trading locks at kickoff — positions are held until full time.
| Match | Question | Price | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 vs 🇿🇦 | Mexico to beat South Africa? | 62¢ YES | Jun 11 |
| 🇺🇸 vs 🇵🇾 | USA to beat Paraguay? | 58¢ YES | Jun 12 |
| 🇧🇷 vs 🇲🇦 | Brazil to beat Morocco? | 54¢ YES | Jun 13 |
| 🇫🇷 vs 🇸🇳 | France to beat Senegal? | 58¢ YES | Jun 16 |
| 🏴 vs 🇭🇷 | England to beat Croatia? | 64¢ YES | Jun 17 |
Player props
| Market | Price | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Mbappé to score in Group Stage? | 82¢ YES | Jun 27 |
| Haaland to score in Group Stage? | 78¢ YES | Jun 27 |
Special markets
| Market | Price | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| All 3 hosts (USA/MEX/CAN) advance from groups? | 66¢ YES | Jun 27 |
| World Cup Final goes to penalties? | 28¢ YES | Jul 19 |
| African team reaches World Cup semifinals? | 22¢ YES | Jul 14 |
How soccer markets handle draws
Soccer is unique — matches can end in a draw. How markets work depends on the phase.
Group stage (3 markets per match)
Group stage matches end at 90 minutes — no extra time, no penalties. Three separate markets exist for each match:
| Market | Resolves YES if… |
|---|---|
| Mexico to beat South Africa? | Mexico wins after exactly 90 min |
| South Africa to beat Mexico? | South Africa wins after exactly 90 min |
| Draw? | Match ends level after exactly 90 min |
Each market is independent. Buy whichever outcome you believe in.
Knockout rounds (2 markets per match, no draw)
From Round of 32 onwards, draws are impossible — the match continues to extra time and penalties if needed. Only two markets exist:
| Market | Resolves YES if… |
|---|---|
| Mexico to advance? | Mexico wins after 90 min, extra time, or penalties |
| Opponent to advance? | Opponent wins by any method |
Important: Group stage markets resolve at 90 minutes only. A team that wins via extra time or penalties does not exist in the group stage — those rules apply only from Round of 32 onwards.
Resolution
All World Cup markets resolve via Azuro Protocol — an on-chain sports oracle that reads official FIFA results. Resolution is automatic, typically within 15 minutes of full time.
- Match markets → resolve at full time (or after penalties in knockouts)
- Tournament winner markets → resolve when the champion is confirmed after the Final
- Player props → resolve after the final match of the relevant stage
If a match is abandoned or postponed more than 7 days, the market is voided and stakes are refunded.
→ Full resolution rules: Resolution Rules
Opening match
Mexico vs South Africa Group A · Match 1 · World Cup opener
- Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Kickoff: June 11, 2026 · 3:00 PM ET
- Current market: Mexico to win at 62¢
This is the first match of the tournament — and the most-traded market on Cupdiction heading into the World Cup.