When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Where is the 2026 World Cup Final?

The Final will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York metro area) on July 19, 2026.

How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?

48 teams will compete in the 2026 World Cup — the first time the tournament has been expanded from 32 to 48 teams.

How many host cities are there?

16 host cities across 3 countries: 11 in the USA, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada.

How many matches will be played?

104 matches will be played over 39 days, from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Samu Castillejo

Spain

Spain30 yrs

Age

182 cm

Height

67 kg

Weight

Midfield

Typical role

Spain

Nationality

Career transfers

Sassuolo Valencia
1 Jul 2024
Valencia Sassuolo
1 Sept 2023Loan
AC Milan Valencia
12 Jul 2022Free transfer
Villarreal AC Milan
17 Aug 2018Transfer
Malaga Villarreal
1 Jul 2015

Injury record

Knee Injury

Apr 2024 – Jun 2024

Muscle Injury

Feb 2024

Knock

Jun 2023

Knock

Apr 2023

Hip/Thigh Injury

Oct 2022

Virus

Feb 2018

Hamstring

Nov 2017 – Dec 2017

Thigh Injury

Apr 2017

Thigh Injury

Dec 2016 – Jan 2017

Hamstring

Apr 2016

33 recorded match-day injury flags in the corpus.

Recent form

@ Melbourne City

AFC Champions League Elite · 0–2

14'6.3

@ Chengdu Better City

AFC Champions League Elite · 2–0

vs Buriram United

AFC Champions League Elite · 0–1

90'7.7

@ Buriram United

AFC Champions League Elite · 0–0

45'6.9

@ Salernitana

Serie A · 2–2

Season by season

Season	Team	Apps	Goals	Assists	Rating
2025	Johor Darul Takzim FC	2	0	0	6.30
2024	Johor Darul Takzim FC	2	0	0	7.30
2023	Sassuolo	27	0	0	6.74
2022	Valencia	31	4	0	6.82
2021	AC Milan	23	0	0	6.78
2020	AC Milan	47	3	1	6.71
2019	AC Milan	25	3	5	7.01
2018	AC Milan	40	4	4	6.80
2017	Villarreal	33	6	5	6.91
2016	Villarreal	39	2	4	6.76
2015	Villarreal	41	2	1	6.62

Discipline

Yellow cards

Red cards

261

Fouls

← All World Cup stars