The 2026 FIFA World Cup, commencing on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET, marks a historic event as it features 48 teams competing across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will kick off with Mexico facing South Africa at Estadio Azteca, followed by South Korea against Czechia. The U.S. will host 78 of the 104 matches, including the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. Notably, the tournament introduces a new format allowing the top eight third-place teams to advance to the knockout stage, increasing the total from 16 to 32. Spain and France are currently favored to win, each with around 5/1 odds, while teams like Canada aim to break their World Cup scoring drought on home soil. The Canadian team, under coach Jesse Marsch, is looking for its first points after a poor showing in previous tournaments. Injuries to key players like Alphonso Davies could impact their performance. Additionally, darkhorses such as Norway, Croatia, and Morocco are expected to challenge traditional powerhouses, making this World Cup one of the most anticipated yet.