The 2026 World Cup is over and the next one is already on the calendar. The men’s tournament returns in 2030, and the Women’s World Cup comes sooner, in Brazil in 2027.
Choose a tournament and see how long the wait is.
How to use the World Cup Countdown#
- Choose the tournament. Pick the men’s 2030 event or the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
- The big number is worked out in your own time zone.
The next tournaments#
The 2027 Women’s World Cup is hosted by Brazil, the first to be held in South America. FIFA has confirmed it runs from 24 June to 25 July 2027, with 32 teams.
The 2030 men’s World Cup is being staged by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with one opening match each in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark 100 years since the first tournament in Uruguay in 1930. Reports put the first of those centenary matches on 8 June 2030 and the main tournament start on 13 June 2030. FIFA’s final schedule can still change, so check fifa.com before booking travel.
What to do with the wait#
Qualifying decides most of the field, so a long countdown is also a reason to follow your national team through the qualifiers. If you plan to travel, ticket sales and accommodation usually open well before the tournament, and early booking is far cheaper.
When is the World Cup in the next few years?#
The 2030 men’s World Cup is reported to open on 13 June 2030 in the main host countries, after centenary matches in South America a few days earlier. The 2027 Women’s World Cup opens on 24 June 2027.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s World Cup 2030, main start (reported 13 June 2030) | ||
| 2030 | 13 June | Thursday |
| Men’s World Cup 2030, first centenary match (reported 8 June 2030) | ||
| 2030 | 8 June | Saturday |
| Women’s World Cup 2027 opening match (24 June 2027) | ||
| 2027 | 24 June | Thursday |
Time zones for the 2027 and 2030 tournaments#
For people in Nigeria, kick-off times differ a lot depending on where the matches are played. Brazil, which hosts the 2027 Women’s World Cup, is four hours behind Lagos, so an evening match at 20:00 in São Paulo starts at midnight in Lagos. Spain is one hour ahead of Lagos in summer, and Morocco is on the same time as Lagos for most of the year, so matches in those countries are much easier to watch live.
| Host | Time zone | Compared with Lagos |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Brasília) | UTC−3 | 4 hours behind |
| Spain (summer) | UTC+2 | 1 hour ahead |
| Portugal (summer) | UTC+1 | Same time |
| Morocco | UTC+1 | Same time (usually) |
The size of the tournament#
The 2026 men’s World Cup was the first with 48 teams and 104 matches, and the 2030 tournament will use the same format. The Women’s World Cup grew to 32 teams in 2023, and the 2027 event in Brazil keeps that number. Spain won the 2023 title, and Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the most successful team in African women’s football, have taken part in every Women’s World Cup up to 2023.
Travelling to see a match#
If you plan to travel, check visa requirements early, as they can take weeks. Ticket applications often open a year or more before the first match, and flights and hotels in host cities rise sharply once the schedule is published. Set a savings target for travel and tickets using the countdown as a clock, and keep an eye on official FIFA announcements, since the schedule can change.
Qualifying and the road to 2030#
The field is set through regional qualifying competitions that run for around two years before the finals. Africa’s qualifying groups traditionally run in the years before the tournament, and the winners of each group advance. Following your own country’s qualifiers is the best way to plan travel, as you will know if your team made it before ticket sales close. Watch FIFA’s announcements on the host cities and the match schedule, which are released well before the event.
Frequently asked questions#
In 2030, in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with opening matches in South America. The date used here is the reported main start on 13 June 2030.
It starts on 24 June 2027 in Brazil and ends on 25 July 2027.
The Women’s World Cup dates are confirmed. The 2030 date comes from published schedule reports and could change, so check FIFA.
The countdown above shows it in days, hours and minutes. Choose the men’s 2030 tournament or the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The date uses your device’s time zone, so the figure is right for where you are.
FIFA’s member associations vote, after a bidding process that looks at stadiums, transport, security, accommodation and finances. The 2030 edition was awarded to Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with opening matches in Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay to mark the centenary. Brazil was awarded the 2027 Women’s World Cup in 2024.