Srinagar, June 6 -- By- Fazal Ansari

Srinagar - The countdown is over.

The FIFA World Cup 2026, the biggest edition of football's showpiece event, gets underway on June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, bringing together 48 teams, 104 matches and many of the sport's biggest stars.

The tournament, which runs until July 19, will be the first World Cup jointly hosted by three countries and the first to feature 48 teams. The expanded format includes 12 groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout rounds.

The tournament begins on June 11 when hosts Mexico take on South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Mexico will become the firs...