FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: Date, Time, Matchup, Location
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of the most historic tournaments ever, as it marks the first time the World Cup will be jointly hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will run from June 11, 2026, to July 19, 2026, and will feature an expanded format with 48 teams, up from the previous 32. This new format will include 104 matches across the three countries.
The matches will span 39 days, and with the expanded format, the tournament will feature 12 groups of 4 teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the best eight third-place teams, will advance to the knockout stage.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule at a Glance
- Opening Ceremony & First Match: Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.
- Group Stage: June 11–27, 2026
- Round of 32: June 28–July 3, 2026
- Round of 16: July 4–7, 2026
- Quarterfinals: July 9–11, 2026
- Semifinals: July 14–15, 2026 (to be held in Dallas and Atlanta)
- Third-Place Match: July 18, 2026, in Miami
- World Cup Final: Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Here is the full FIFA World Cup 2026 Fixtures:
2026 World Cup Group Stage Schedule
The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage is set to kick off on Thursday, June 11, and will conclude on Saturday, June 27. During this stage, 72 matches will be played across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and 32 teams will advance to the knockout stages.
| Date | Group | Team | Match | Time (EST) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jun. 11 | A | Mexico vs. South Africa | 1 | 3:00 PM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Thu, Jun. 11 | A | South Korea vs. UEFA Playoff D | 2 | 10:00 PM | Estadio Akron, Zapopan |
| Fri, Jun. 12 | B | Canada vs. UEFA Playoff A | 3 | 3:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Fri, Jun. 12 | D | USA vs. Paraguay | 4 | 9:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Sat, Jun. 13 | D | Australia vs. UEFA Playoff C | 5 | 12:00 AM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Sat, Jun. 13 | B | Qatar vs. Switzerland | 6 | 3:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Sat, Jun. 13 | C | Brazil vs. Morocco | 7 | 6:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Sat, Jun. 13 | C | Haiti vs. Scotland | 8 | 9:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Sun, Jun. 14 | E | Germany vs. Curaçao | 9 | 1:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Sun, Jun. 14 | F | Netherlands vs. Japan | 10 | 4:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Sun, Jun. 14 | E | Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador | 11 | 7:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Sun, Jun. 14 | F | UEFA Playoff B vs. Tunisia | 12 | 10:00 PM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Mon, Jun. 15 | H | Spain vs. Cape Verde | 13 | 12:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Mon, Jun. 15 | G | Belgium vs. Egypt | 14 | 3:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Mon, Jun. 15 | H | Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay | 15 | 6:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| Mon, Jun. 15 | G | Iran vs. New Zealand | 16 | 9:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Tue, Jun. 16 | I | France vs. Senegal | 17 | 3:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Tue, Jun. 16 | I | IC Playoff 2 vs. Norway | 18 | 6:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Tue, Jun. 16 | J | Argentina vs. Algeria | 19 | 9:00 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Tue, Jun. 16 | J | Austria vs. Jordan | 20 | 12:00 AM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Wed, Jun. 17 | K | Portugal vs. IC Playoff 1 | 21 | 1:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Wed, Jun. 17 | L | England vs. Croatia | 22 | 4:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Wed, Jun. 17 | L | Ghana vs. Panama | 23 | 7:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Wed, Jun. 17 | K | Uzbekistan vs. Colombia | 24 | 10:00 PM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Thu, Jun. 18 | A | UEFA Playoff D vs. South Africa | 25 | 12:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Thu, Jun. 18 | B | Switzerland vs. UEFA Playoff A | 26 | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Thu, Jun. 18 | B | Canada vs. Qatar | 27 | 6:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Thu, Jun. 18 | A | Mexico vs. South Korea | 28 | 9:00 PM | Estadio Akron, Zapopan |
| Fri, Jun. 19 | D | UEFA Playoff C vs. Paraguay | 29 | 12:00 AM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Fri, Jun. 19 | D | USA vs. Australia | 30 | 3:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Fri, Jun. 19 | C | Scotland vs. Morocco | 31 | 6:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Fri, Jun. 19 | C | Brazil vs. Haiti | 32 | 9:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Sat, Jun. 20 | F | Tunisia vs. Japan | 33 | 12:00 AM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Sat, Jun. 20 | F | Netherlands vs. UEFA Playoff B | 34 | 1:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Sat, Jun. 20 | E | Germany vs. Ivory Coast | 35 | 4:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Sat, Jun. 20 | E | Ecuador vs. Curaçao | 36 | 8:00 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Sun, Jun. 21 | H | Spain vs. Saudi Arabia | 37 | 12:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Sun, Jun. 21 | G | Belgium vs. Iran | 38 | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Sun, Jun. 21 | H | Uruguay vs. Cape Verde | 39 | 6:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| Sun, Jun. 21 | G | New Zealand vs. Egypt | 40 | 9:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Mon, Jun. 22 | J | Argentina vs. Austria | 41 | 1:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Mon, Jun. 22 | I | France vs. IC Playoff 2 | 42 | 5:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Mon, Jun. 22 | I | Norway vs. Senegal | 43 | 8:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Mon, Jun. 22 | J | Jordan vs. Algeria | 44 | 11:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Tue, Jun. 23 | K | Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | 45 | 1:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Tue, Jun. 23 | L | England vs. Ghana | 46 | 4:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Tue, Jun. 23 | L | Panama vs. Croatia | 47 | 7:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Tue, Jun. 23 | K | Colombia vs. IC Playoff 1 | 48 | 10:00 PM | Estadio Akron, Zapopan |
| Wed, Jun. 24 | B | Switzerland vs. Canada | 49 | 3:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Wed, Jun. 24 | B | UEFA Playoff A vs. Qatar | 50 | 3:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Wed, Jun. 24 | C | Scotland vs. Brazil | 51 | 6:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| Wed, Jun. 24 | C | Morocco vs. Haiti | 52 | 6:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Wed, Jun. 24 | A | UEFA Playoff D vs. Mexico | 53 | 9:00 PM | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Wed, Jun. 24 | A | South Africa vs. South Korea | 54 | 9:00 PM | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Thu, Jun. 25 | E | Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast | 55 | 4:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Thu, Jun. 25 | E | Ecuador vs. Germany | 56 | 4:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Thu, Jun. 25 | F | Japan vs. UEFA Playoff B | 57 | 7:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Thu, Jun. 25 | F | Tunisia vs. Netherlands | 58 | 7:00 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Thu, Jun. 25 | D | UEFA Playoff C vs. USA | 59 | 10:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Thu, Jun. 25 | D | Paraguay vs. Australia | 60 | 10:00 PM | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Fri, Jun. 26 | I | Norway vs. France | 61 | 3:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Fri, Jun. 26 | I | Senegal vs. IC Playoff 2 | 62 | 3:00 PM | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Fri, Jun. 26 | H | Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia | 63 | 8:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Fri, Jun. 26 | H | Uruguay vs. Spain | 64 | 8:00 PM | Estadio Akron, Zapopan |
| Fri, Jun. 26 | G | Egypt vs. Iran | 65 | 11:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Fri, Jun. 26 | G | New Zealand vs. Belgium | 66 | 11:00 PM | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Sat, Jun. 27 | L | Panama vs. England | 67 | 5:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Sat, Jun. 27 | L | Croatia vs. Ghana | 68 | 5:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Sat, Jun. 27 | K | Colombia vs. Portugal | 69 | 7:30 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| Sat, Jun. 27 | K | IC Playoff 1 vs. Uzbekistan | 70 | 7:30 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Sat, Jun. 27 | J | Algeria vs. Austria | 71 | 10:00 PM | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Sat, Jun. 27 | J | Jordan vs. Argentina | 72 | 10:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
Playoff Team Explanations:
- UEFA Playoff A: Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina
- UEFA Playoff B: Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania
- UEFA Playoff C: Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
- UEFA Playoff D: Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland
- IC Playoff 1: Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia
- IC Playoff 2: Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname
Round of 32 Schedule
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 will take place from June 28, 2026, to July 3, 2026. This round marks the beginning of the knockout phase, where 32 teams will compete in 16 matches to progress to the Round of 16. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will battle it out in high-stakes games, with no second chances.
| Date | Team | Match | Time (EST) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jun. 28 | Runner-up Group A vs. Runner-up Group B | 73 | TBD | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Mon, Jun. 29 | Winner Group E vs. 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F | 74 | TBD | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Mon, Jun. 29 | Winner Group F vs. Runner-up Group C | 75 | TBD | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey |
| Mon, Jun. 29 | Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group F | 76 | TBD | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Tue, Jun. 30 | Winner Group I vs. 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H | 77 | TBD | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Tue, Jun. 30 | Runner-up Group E vs. Runner-up Group I | 78 | TBD | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Tue, Jun. 30 | Winner Group A vs. 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I | 79 | TBD | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Wed, Jul. 01 | Winner Group L vs. 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K | 80 | TBD | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Wed, Jul. 01 | Winner Group D vs. 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J | 81 | TBD | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara |
| Wed, Jul. 01 | Winner Group G vs. 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J | 82 | TBD | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Thu, Jul. 02 | Runner-up Group K vs. Runner-up Group L | 83 | TBD | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Thu, Jul. 02 | Winner Group H vs. Runner-up Group J | 84 | TBD | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Thu, Jul. 02 | Winner Group B vs. 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J | 85 | TBD | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Fri, Jul. 03 | Winner Group J vs. Runner-up Group H | 86 | TBD | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| Fri, Jul. 03 | Winner Group K vs. 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L | 87 | TBD | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Fri, Jul. 03 | Runner-up Group D vs. Runner-up Group G | 88 | TBD | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
Round of 16 Schedule
The Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 begins on Saturday, July 4 and concludes on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
In this stage, the top 16 teams from the Round of 32 will compete in a single-elimination format. Each match is a knockout, with the winning teams moving forward to the Quarterfinals, where the top 8 nations will continue their journey toward the World Cup trophy.
| Date | Team | Match | Time (EST) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jul. 4 | Winner Match 74 vs. Winner Match 77 | 89 | TBD | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Sat, Jul. 4 | Winner Match 73 vs. Winner Match 75 | 90 | TBD | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Sun, Jul. 5 | Winner Match 76 vs. Winner Match 78 | 91 | TBD | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Sun, Jul. 5 | Winner Match 79 vs. Winner Match 80 | 92 | TBD | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Mon, Jul. 6 | Winner Match 83 vs. Winner Match 84 | 93 | TBD | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Mon, Jul. 6 | Winner Match 81 vs. Winner Match 82 | 94 | TBD | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Tue, Jul. 7 | Winner Match 86 vs. Winner Match 88 | 95 | TBD | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Tue, Jul. 7 | Winner Match 85 vs. Winner Match 87 | 96 | TBD | BC Place, Vancouver |
Quarterfinals Schedule
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarterfinals will be held from July 9 to July 11, 2026. During this stage, 8 teams will compete in knockout matches, with the winners advancing to the semifinals.
| Date | Team | Match | Time (EST) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jul. 9 | Winner Match 89 vs. Winner Match 90 | 97 | TBD | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough |
| Fri, Jul. 10 | Winner Match 93 vs. Winner Match 94 | 98 | TBD | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
| Sat, Jul. 11 | Winner Match 91 vs. Winner Match 92 | 99 | TBD | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
| Sat, Jul. 11 | Winner Match 95 vs. Winner Match 96 | 100 | TBD | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Semifinals Schedule
| Date | Team | Match | Time (EST) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Jul. 14 | Winner Match 97 vs. Winner Match 98 | 101 | TBD | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| Wed, Jul. 15 | Winner Match 99 vs. Winner Match 100 | 102 | TBD | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
Third Place Schedule
| Date | Team | Match | Time (EST) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Jul. 18 | Loser Match 101 vs. Loser Match 102 | 103 | TBD | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens |
WC Final Schedule
| Date | Matchup | Match | Time (EST) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Jul. 19 | Winner Match 101 vs. Winner Match 102 | 104 | TBD | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
FIFA World Cup 2026: Everything You Need to Know
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest tournament in soccer history. It brings new changes, more teams and more games than ever before. Fans across the world are excited to see how this expanded tournament will look.
This guide gives you all the key facts you should know before the matches begin or before you plan your trip to a stadium.
When and Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. It will be hosted across three countries: the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Matches will take place in 16 cities, with the United States hosting the majority of the games. The last time North America hosted the World Cup was in 1994. This will be the first time that three countries share the honor.
When is the FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony?
The opening ceremony will be held on June 11, 2026, at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This venue has hosted World Cup openers before, including in 1970 and 1986.
Right after the ceremony, the first match of the tournament will kick off at the same stadium.
What is New in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The biggest change is the expanded format. Instead of 32 teams, this World Cup will include 48 national teams.
They will be placed in 12 groups of 4. The top two teams in each group, along with the 8 best third-place teams, will move on to a brand-new Round of 32. This adds more knockout games and gives more countries a shot at the title.
There will also be rule updates. IFAB has suggested new policies:
- Penalty rebounds may be removed
- More use of VAR for corners and yellow cards
- Goalkeepers may have a stricter time limit for holding the ball
FIFA is also planning more daytime matches in air-conditioned stadiums, especially in hotter U.S. cities like Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta.
How Many Matches Will Be Played?
A total of 104 matches will be played across the tournament. That’s 40 more matches than the previous 64-match format. With more teams and rounds, fans will enjoy more soccer days than ever before.
How Many Stadiums or Venues for the World Cup 2026?
There will be 16 stadiums used for the tournament:
- 11 in the USA
- 3 in Mexico
- 2 in Canada
This is the largest number of stadiums ever used in a single World Cup.
When Do World Cup 2026 Tickets Go on Sale?
The first ticket sales phase begins on September 10, 2025. Fans must register for a FIFA ticketing account to apply. This phase will follow a lottery-style draw, covering group stage and early knockout matches.
More ticket phases will open after the final group stage draw in December 2025, with sales continuing through July 2026.
Hospitality packages for premium seats are already available through FIFA’s official partners. You can read more details about FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets here.
When and Where is the FIFA World Cup Final Match?
The final match will be held on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, just outside New York City. This stadium has a capacity of over 82,000 and will be the center of attention for the final day.
Who will Produce the FIFA World Cup 2026 Halftime Show?
The halftime show for the 2026 final will be produced by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Phil Harvey, in partnership with Global Citizen. They will curate and organize the show but will not perform themselves. The performer lineup will be announced closer to the final.
When is the Next FIFA World Cup After 2026?
The next World Cup after 2026 will take place in 2030. FIFA has announced that Spain, Portugal and Morocco will co-host the tournament, with the opening matches taking place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay to celebrate the World Cup’s 100th anniversary.