We are 84 days away from the opening match of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. On June 11, 2026, 48 teams will begin competing across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in the biggest World Cup ever held. Whether you are planning to attend in person or watch from home, the countdown is officially on — and there are things you should be doing right now to prepare.
Key Dates to Know
June 11, 2026 — Opening match. June 12-27 — Group stage (104 matches in 17 days). June 28-July 2 — Round of 32. July 3-6 — Round of 16. July 8-9 — Quarter-finals. July 12-13 — Semi-finals. July 19 — Final at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Mark them all. Block your calendar. Request time off work now — not in May when it is too late.
Ticket Status
FIFA's official ticket portal has already completed several sales phases, but additional tickets will be released in waves through May 2026. Sign up on FIFA's website to be notified when new batches drop. Prices range from $35 for group-stage matches in lower-demand cities to $600+ for the final. Resale markets exist, but buy only through FIFA's official resale platform to avoid scams. We covered everything you need to know in our complete ticket guide.
Book Your Travel Now
If you are planning to attend matches in person, do not wait on flights and hotels. Prices in host cities are already climbing, especially for the final week in the New York/New Jersey metro area. Some fans are booking Airbnbs in neighboring cities and commuting to matches — a smart strategy if you are flexible on location. Check our hotel guide and city guides for specific recommendations.
Learn the Tipping Rules
For international visitors, this is non-negotiable. Tipping in the US is not optional — servers earn as little as $2.13 per hour before tips. At restaurants, tip 18-20%. At bars, $1-2 per drink. Rideshares and taxis, 15-20%. Hotel housekeeping, $2-5 per night. Canada follows similar norms. Mexico is more relaxed, with 10-15% at restaurants being standard. We have detailed tipping guides for the US, Canada, and Mexico, plus a comprehensive FIFA 2026 tipping guide.
Download the Right Apps
Get the FIFA+ app for tickets, match updates, and live streaming. Download your host city's transit app (MTA for NYC, TTC for Toronto, Metro for Mexico City). And grab Gratiq — our AI-powered tip calculator that reads your receipt and calculates the tip instantly. No mental math, no cultural guessing. Just snap a photo and you are done.
Start Following the Teams
The group draw is set. The storylines are forming. Defending champions Argentina are in Group A alongside the USA — a blockbuster opening round. France and England are potential quarter-final opponents. Dark horses like Norway (with Erling Haaland) and Egypt (with Mohamed Salah) could cause upsets. Read our teams to watch preview and our in-depth team profiles for every qualified nation.
Read the Magazine
We just launched TipSnap World Cup Magazine — a bi-weekly deep-dive publication covering everything from city spotlights and team previews to tipping crash courses and stadium guides. Issue #1 is live now, covering the NYC/NJ final venue, Argentina's title defense, and the essential numbers every fan should know. Check it out and bookmark it for the next issue.
84 days. The countdown is on. Start preparing now and you will be ready for the greatest football tournament in history. We will be here every step of the way.