World Cup 2026 Becomes FIFA’s Biggest Tournament in History: Three Countries, 48 Teams, and a Record Prize Pool

The 2026 World Cup has officially become the largest tournament in FIFA history. For the first time, matches were held across three countries — the USA, Canada, and Mexico — and the number of participants expanded to 48 national teams. This expanded format gifted fans 104 unforgettable matches and a record-breaking prize pool of $871 million. The tournament delivered historic moments on the pitch. Lionel Messi concluded his sixth World Cup with 21 career goals — an incredible achievement for the Argentine. However, it was Kylian Mbappé who became the main hero of the scoring race: by netting two goals in the third-place match, the 27-year-old Frenchman brought his tally to 22 goals, surpassing Messi to become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. The global interest in the tournament was colossal — the opening match featuring the USA alone was watched by 1.3 billion people worldwide. The 2026 World Cup proved that football continues to unite the planet like no other sport, with each new tournament raising the bar even higher.