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FIFA World Cup 2026 Interesting Facts: FIFA World Cup i.e. Mahakumbh of football is going to start from 11th June 2026. Its final match will be played on 19th July. This tournament will run for 39 days.

FIFA Council has announced to give prize money of Rs 418 crore to the World Cup winning team, while Rs 276 crore to the runner up. At the same time, the team finishing third will get Rs 242 crore, while each team that is out of the group stage will get Rs 75 crore.

What is happening for the first time in the FIFA World Cup?

1. For the first time in history, 48 teams are participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which have been divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each. Earlier, 32 teams were participating.
2. For the first time, a record 104 matches will be played in this World Cup. The team that becomes champion will now have to play 8 matches instead of 7.
3. For the first time, three countries are hosting the FIFA World Cup together. These countries are America, Canada and Mexico. Earlier in 2002, a maximum of two countries (Japan and South Korea) had hosted. Because of this, for the first time in the history of the tournament, three different opening ceremonies will be organized, which will give a cultural glimpse of the three host countries.
4. For the first time, four teams have qualified for the FIFA World Cup. These teams are- Uzbekistan, Jordan, Curaçao and Cape Verde.
5. For the first time after the group stage, the stage of ‘Round of 32’ has been added to the knockout. In this, along with the top 2 teams of each group, the 8 best third placed teams will also advance.
6. A player called out of the field must move out of the nearest boundary line within 10 seconds after the fourth official screen is raised. If this is not done, the new player will not be able to come on the field for 1 minute and the team will have to play with 10 players.
7. If the goalkeeper gets injured during the match, the players of the opponent or own team will not be able to leave the field and go to the coach for strategy session.
8. During a heated argument or confrontation on the field, if a player talks by hiding his face with his hand, sleeve or shirt, he will be shown a straight red card and sent off the field. This rule has been brought in to prevent hiding racial or obscene comments.
9. If a player leaves the field in protest of a referee’s decision or a manager/coach instigates his team to walk out, they will be given an immediate red card.
10. For the first time in history, there will be a mandatory 3-minute hydration break (drinking break) around the 23rd minute in both halves of every match, regardless of the weather or stadium temperature.
11. Expansion of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) – For the first time, VAR will also be used to make corrections in three new situations – an incorrectly given second yellow card (which leads to a red card), mistaken identity of the player, and incorrectly given corner kick.