World Cup crash course: What to know about classic competition with new format, rules
Published: 12 May. 2026, 17:10
Updated: 12 May. 2026, 17:34
From top: Spain’s Lamine Yamal, France’s Kylian Mbappe, Korea’s Son Heung-min, Brazil’s Vinícius Junior, England’s Harry Kane and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. [JOONGANG PHOTO]
The biggest World Cup in history is just a month away.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted for the first time by three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — will kick off on June 11 and run through July 19, featuring a record 48 teams and 104 matches.
The unprecedented scale of the competition portends more drama, more upsets and, inevitably, more logistical headaches.
From Korea’s chances of advancing to soaring ticket prices, here is a guide to what to expect from the expanded tournament.
Q: Is the World Cup really the world’s biggest sporting event?
In a word, yes.
The World Cup is the most widely watched sporting competition on the planet, eclipsing even the Olympics and the Super Bowl in its global reach.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has touted the expanded 2026 edition as “104 Super Bowls,” referring to the increase from 64 matches in Qatar in 2022 to 104 this year.
The comparison may be tongue-in-cheek — the Group K Uzbekistan-Congo DR showdown, for instance, isn't likely to command a blockbuster audience — but the numbers should nonetheless be staggering.
FIFA said the 2022 final between Argentina and France drew around 1.5 billion live viewers worldwide, making it one of the most-watched television events in history.
With heavyweight clashes likely involving traditional powers such as Spain, France, Brazil and Argentina, organizers expect billions more to tune in this summer.
Argentina's Lionel Messi hoists a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy during a celebration ceremony for local fans after an international friendly against Panama at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on March 23, 2023. [AP/YONHAP]
Does the expanded format change the likelihood of progressing out of the group?
In some ways, yes.
The tournament’s expansion from 32 teams has dramatically altered the group stage format. Instead of eight groups of four teams, the 2026 edition will feature 12 groups.
The knockout round will also expand from a round of 16 to a round of 32.
The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify, joined by the eight best third-place finishers. That means even teams with modest records could still advance.
Korea, for example, are in Group A with hosts Mexico as well as South Africa and the Czech Republic. The Taeguk Warriors are ranked 25th, 10 spots behind Mexico and ahead of the Czech Republic in 41st and South Africa in 60th.
Should a surprise defeat to one of the two lower-ranked sides and an odds-on loss to Mexico result in a single group-stage win for Korea, the Warriors could still have a realistic chance of reaching the round of 32, depending on results in other groups and goal differences.
Which teams are favored to win?
Spain enters the tournament as the statistical favorite, according to football analytics company Opta, with a projected title probability of 15.82 percent.
Spain’s technically refined squad has been boosted by the rise of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old winger widely viewed as part of a new generation of attacking stars.
Close behind are France, led by Kylian Mbappe, with a 12.86-percent chance, and England, captained by prolific striker Harry Kane, at 11.02 percent.
Korea’s title odds stand at just 0.45 percent, ranking 26th among the 48 competing nations.
The winning team will receive $50 million in prize money.
Harry Kane of England celebrates a goal during a round of 16 match between England and Senegal at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, on Dec. 4, 2022. [XINHUA/YONHAP]
How will the weather affect the matches?
The tournament returns to its rightful place in the summer after being moved to the winter for the 2022 edition in Qatar due to concerns about scorching temperatures.
While the return to regular programming is overwhelmingly welcomed by football fans, the heat is once again a concern, with the southernmost host city, Mexico City, nearly on the same latitude as Doha.
Summer temperatures in parts of the United States and Mexico are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), raising concerns about player fatigue and heat management.
The July 19 final, scheduled to start at 3 p.m. at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, takes place when the local temperature typically hovers around the mid-30s Celsius.
Many analysts believe hotter conditions may favor teams accustomed to warm climates, including South American and African sides. Some European nations are already attempting to adapt, with England reportedly introducing heat-acclimation training, such as sessions in heated tents.
Korea face an additional challenge. Hong Myung-bo’s squad will play its first two group-stage matches in Guadalajara, Mexico, which sits at an altitude of 1,571 meters (5,154 feet) above sea level — an elevation that can reduce oxygen saturation and place added strain on endurance.
Are there any rule changes this year?
Several new regulations could reshape how matches unfold.
Hydration breaks will be introduced midway through each half, around the 22-minute and 67-minute marks, effectively splitting matches into four quarters and giving coaches additional opportunities to adjust tactics.
Teams will also face stricter enforcement against time-wasting. Goalkeepers who take longer than five seconds to restart play from goal kicks risk conceding a corner kick — a rule designed to speed up matches and encourage more aggressive play.
FIFA has also introduced harsher penalties for discriminatory conduct. Players who cover their mouths during heated exchanges with opponents or officials — a move to conceal their mouths from the cameras that has been at the heart of numerous accusations of racist abuse across leagues around the world — may face red cards under strengthened antidiscrimination protocols.
France's forward Kylian Mbappe eyes the ball during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D football match between Tunisia and France at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha, on Nov. 30, 2022. [AFP/YONHAP]
Are tickets really that expensive?
For many fans, prohibitively so.
Under FIFA’s new dynamic pricing system, which adjusts ticket costs based on demand, some final-match tickets have surged to $10,990 — roughly seven times higher than the most expensive seats at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Tickets for Korea’s group-stage match against Mexico are reportedly being resold for more than 3.4 million won ($2,290).
The costs do not stop there. Parking can cost as much as $300 for a match and a round-trip train ticket from Manhattan to the final in East Rutherford is set to cost $105, well above the regular price of $12.90.
British media have estimated that a family of four from England attending all three group-stage matches could spend around 6,500 pounds ($8,820).
Korea's Son Heung-min, left, controls the ball against Jordan's Mohannad Abu Tana during a World Cup qualifier in Suwon, Korea, on March 25, 2025. [AP/YONHAP]
How can fans in Korea watch?
The tournament will be jointly broadcast by JTBC and KBS.
Former national team stars Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo are expected to headline commentary coverage, alongside veteran broadcasters.
Streaming coverage will be provided through Naver.
How far can the Taeguk Warriors realistically go in the tournament?
With only one team in the group, Mexico, ranked higher, most experts believe the round of 32 is an achievable minimum, with a place in the round of 16 within reach.
Manager Hong is set to announce his final 26-man squad on May 16, with lingering questions over central and fullback depth.
Korea’s hopes will largely rest on its established core — captain Son Heung-min, midfielder Lee Kang-in and defender Kim Min-jae.
But much may depend on whether the team can stabilize its three-across-the-back defense and on the fitness of midfielder Hwang In-beom, who is recovering from injury.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY PARK RIN [
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