10/06/2026
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is about to change everything - and it’s historic before a ball is even kicked.
For the first time ever, the tournament expands to 48 teams, with 104 matches across 39 days. It’s also the first tri-nation World Cup, hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico - with Mexico becoming the first country to host three men’s World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026).
The new format will feature 12 groups of four, with the top two and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a brand-new Round of 32. Attendance is tipped to challenge the 1994 record of 3.58 million, which could make it the biggest World Cup ever in every sense.
And this will be the first men’s World Cup fully played in the era of VAR, semi-automated offsides, expanded squads, and a level of commercial scale the tournament has never seen before.
The trophy hasn’t changed though. Still 36.8cm tall. Still 6.175kg of 18-carat gold. Still the most iconic prize in sport.
Kick-off is Here. History is about to get bigger. And The Loft Bar is here fir it all.