No, the 2026 FIFA World Cup Has Not Begun — It Doesn't Start Until June 2026

The claim that the 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun is false. The tournament is a future event, firmly scheduled to kick off on June 11, 2026, and wrap up on July 19, 2026. Nothing has started early.

FIFA's official website makes the timeline unambiguous: the tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will be the first World Cup to feature 48 national teams. As of mid-2025, the competition is still in its preparation phase, with qualifying matches and draw arrangements ongoing.

The Associated Press and Reuters both confirm the same picture. Their sports desks are actively covering 2026 World Cup qualifying rounds and logistical preparations — coverage that would look very different if the main tournament were already underway. There is no credible reporting from any major outlet suggesting the event has started ahead of schedule.

It is worth addressing the strongest version of this claim: qualifying matches and continental tournaments are happening now, and some of these are officially part of the broader World Cup process. But qualifying is not the World Cup itself. The tournament — the group stages, knockouts, and final — begins June 11, 2026, and not a day sooner.

Claims like this tend to gain traction quickly around major sporting events because people are excited and primed to share news. A vague or misleading post about the World Cup starting can travel far before anyone stops to check a date. If you see a headline claiming a major scheduled event has begun, a quick look at the organizer's official website takes about ten seconds and will usually settle it immediately.