The FIFA World Cup will return to North America in 2026, 32 years after the United States first hosted the tournament in 1994. But a lot has changed since then, from the number of teams and matches to ticket prices, stadium requirements and even the way games are managed on the field.The 2026 edition, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will be the biggest World Cup in history. The tournament will feature 48 teams, up from 24 in 1994 and 32 in recent editions.One of the biggest changes is the cost of attending matches. In 1994, tickets for the first round ranged from USD 25 to USD 75, while tickets for the final ranged from USD 180 to USD 475. For the 2026 World Cup, ticket prices ranged from USD 140 to USD 2,735 for the preliminaries and USD 5 to USD 80,18 for the final. FIFA later increased the highest priced final ticket to USD 10,990. The 2026 tournament is also the first World Cup to use dynamic pricing, where ticket prices change based on demand.The tournament itself has grown significantly. The 1994 World Cup was the last edition with 24 teams before FIFA expanded the field to 32 in 1998. In 2026, the competition will feature 48 teams and a new round of 32 will be added. The teams that reach the final will now play eight matches instead of seven.Changes have also been made in the playing conditions. In 1994, FIFA allowed some stadiums to use pitches narrower than standard dimensions. For the 2026 tournament, the stadium has been modified to meet FIFA’s field size requirements.Attendance is also expected to increase rapidly. The 1994 World Cup drew a record crowd of 3.59 million over 52 matches, an average of 68,991 per game. With the number of matches nearly doubling in 2026, total attendance is expected to reach six to seven million.The tournament map has also expanded. The 1994 edition was played in nine stadiums across the United States, with the opening match at Soldier Field in Chicago. The 2026 World Cup will use 16 venues – 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. All the matches from the quarter final stage till now will be played in USA. Chicago will not host a match after refusing to participate due to concerns over financial arrangements with FIFA.The infrastructure of the stadium has also changed. While the 1994 World Cup used several NFL venues, some of which no longer exist, all 11 U.S. venues for 2026 are modern NFL stadiums with luxury suites and premium seating.Measures for the welfare of players have also been developed. The teams played non-stop in 1994 in hot and humid conditions. In 2026, matches played in similar weather conditions will include three-minute water breaks in each half, which coaches can also use to relay instructions.Alternative laws have expanded significantly. Teams could only make two substitutions during the 1994 World Cup, with a third allowed only in certain circumstances involving goalkeepers. In 2026, teams can use up to five substitutes during regular time, with one additional substitute available in overtime and another allowed to replace a concussed player.Several aspects of the offering have also changed. Player names first appeared on jerseys at the 1994 World Cup and have since become a standard feature of the game.The way the tournament is organized has also changed. The 1994 World Cup was run largely by a local organizing committee headed by Alan Rothenberg, then head of the US Soccer Federation. For the 2026 tournament, FIFA is directly overseeing operations, with president Gianni Infantino playing a prominent role in preparations.
