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.

M. Smith

Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland37 yrs

Age

180 cm

Height

71 kg

Weight

Defence

Typical role

Northern Ireland

Nationality

International career

Caps

Intl goals

Intl assists

Career transfers

Yeovil Town Weston-super-Mare
17 Jul 2025Free transfer
Yeovil Town Weston-super-Mare
15 Jul 2025Free transfer
Peterborough Heart Of Midlothian
30 Jun 2017
Bristol Rovers Peterborough
25 Jul 2014
Ballymena United Bristol Rovers
1 Jul 2011

Injury record

Hamstring Injury

May 2023

Injury

Jan 2022 – May 2022

Injury

Sept 2021

Injury

Jan 2020 – Feb 2020

Injury

Feb 2019 – Apr 2019

Injury

Feb 2019

Injury

Jul 2018 – Aug 2018

Recent form

@ Grimsby

FA Cup · 2–3

90'6.2

@ Wrexham

FA Cup · 0–3

90'6.6

vs Hibernian

Premiership · 1–1

@ Rangers

Premiership · 2–2

29'6.3

vs Aberdeen

Premiership · 2–1

14'6.3

Season by season

Season	Team	Apps	Goals	Assists	Rating
2025	Weston-super-Mare	1	0	0	6.20
2023	Yeovil Town	1	0	0	6.60
2022	Heart Of Midlothian	35	2	0	6.83
2021	Heart Of Midlothian	22	2	1	6.96
2020	Northern Ireland	16	1	0	6.67
2016	Peterborough	1	0	0	6.40

Discipline

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls

← All World Cup stars