FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: Complete Match Dates, Groups & Venues for All 104 Games
The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is finally here — and it’s the biggest in football history. Running from June 11 to July 19, 2026, this landmark tournament stretches across 16 stadiums in three countries (USA, Canada, and Mexico), features 48 teams, and packs in a record 104 matches over 39 exhilarating days.
Whether you’re planning a trip to a stadium, organising a watch party, or just want to know when your nation plays, this is your definitive World Cup 2026 schedule. We’ve got every group, every fixture, every knockout date, and every venue — all in one place.
World Cup 2026 Schedule: Key Dates at a Glance
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | June 11 – June 27, 2026 |
| Round of 32 | June 28 – July 3, 2026 |
| Round of 16 | July 4 – July 6, 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | July 9 – July 11, 2026 |
| Semi-finals | July 14 – July 15, 2026 |
| Third-Place Play-off | July 18, 2026 |
| THE FINAL | July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
Tournament Format: What’s New in 2026?
For the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule features a 48-team format — up from 32 at Qatar 2022. The 48 nations are split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two from each group (24 teams) plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, giving 32 teams a place in the knockout stage.
This expansion introduces a brand-new Round of 32 — a first in World Cup history — before the familiar Round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals. In total, there are 72 group-stage matches and 32 knockout matches, totalling 104 games.
All 12 Groups: World Cup 2026 Schedule — Group Stage Breakdown
Group A
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Mexico | CONCACAF (Host) |
| South Korea | AFC |
| South Africa | CAF |
| Czechia | UEFA |
Opening match: Mexico vs South Africa — June 11, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (Tournament opener)
Group B
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Canada | CONCACAF (Host) |
| Switzerland | UEFA |
| Qatar | AFC |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | UEFA |
Canada’s opener: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — June 12, Toronto
Group C
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Brazil | CONMEBOL |
| Morocco | CAF |
| Scotland | UEFA |
| Haiti | CONCACAF |
Group D
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| USA | CONCACAF (Host) |
| Paraguay | CONMEBOL |
| Australia | AFC |
| Türkiye | UEFA |
USA opener: USA vs Paraguay — June 12, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
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Group E
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Germany | UEFA |
| Ecuador | CONMEBOL |
| Ivory Coast | CAF |
| Curaçao | CONCACAF (World Cup debut) |
Group F
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | UEFA |
| Japan | AFC |
| Tunisia | CAF |
| Sweden | UEFA |
Group G
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Belgium | UEFA |
| Iran | AFC |
| Egypt | CAF |
| New Zealand | OFC |
Group H
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Spain | UEFA |
| Uruguay | CONMEBOL |
| Saudi Arabia | AFC |
| Cape Verde | CAF (World Cup debut) |
Group I
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| France | UEFA |
| Senegal | CAF |
| Norway | UEFA |
| Iraq | AFC |
Group J
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Argentina | CONMEBOL (Defending Champions) |
| Austria | UEFA |
| Algeria | CAF |
| Jordan | AFC |
Argentina’s opener: Argentina vs Algeria — June 16
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Group K
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| Portugal | UEFA |
| Colombia | CONMEBOL |
| Uzbekistan | AFC (World Cup debut) |
| DR Congo | CAF |
Group L
| Team | Confederation |
|---|---|
| England | UEFA |
| Croatia | UEFA |
| Panama | CONCACAF |
| Ghana | CAF |
England’s opener: England vs Croatia — June 17, Dallas Stadium
World Cup 2026 Schedule: The 16 Host Venues
USA (11 venues)
| City | Stadium (FIFA Name) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| New York/New Jersey | MetLife Stadium | ~82,500 |
| Dallas/Arlington | AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium) | ~94,000 |
| Los Angeles | SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium) | ~70,000 |
| Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium) | ~71,000 |
| Miami | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium) | ~65,000 |
| Houston | NRG Stadium (Houston Stadium) | ~72,000 |
| Seattle | Lumen Field (Seattle Stadium) | ~69,000 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | Levi’s Stadium (SF Bay Area Stadium) | ~68,500 |
| Philadelphia | Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium) | ~69,000 |
| Kansas City | Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Stadium) | ~76,000 |
| Boston | Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium) | ~65,000 |
Mexico (3 venues)
| City | Stadium (FIFA Name) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | ~72,766 |
| Guadalajara | Estadio Akron | ~44,330 |
| Monterrey | Estadio BBVA | ~53,500 |
Canada (2 venues)
| City | Stadium (FIFA Name) | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | BMO Field (Toronto Stadium) | ~44,315 |
| Vancouver | BC Place (Vancouver Stadium) | ~54,000 |
Note: FIFA has assigned tournament-specific names to all 16 venues, stripping commercial sponsor branding for the duration of the competition. AT&T Stadium becomes “Dallas Stadium,” SoFi becomes “Los Angeles Stadium,” and MetLife becomes the “New York New Jersey Stadium.”
World Cup 2026 Schedule: The Knockout Stage
After the group stage concludes on June 27, the tournament moves into the knockout rounds. Every match from this point is winner-takes-all — no second chances.
Round of 32 — June 28 to July 3, 2026
The brand-new Round of 32 is the defining innovation of the 2026 World Cup schedule. For the first time ever, 32 teams enter a win-or-go-home round before the traditional Round of 16. All 16 Round of 32 matches are played across six days, spread between USA and Mexico venues.
Round of 16 — July 4 to July 6, 2026
The surviving 16 teams battle through to the quarter-finals in matches hosted across multiple US cities.
Quarter-finals — July 9–11, 2026
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter-final 1 | Thursday, July 9 | Boston Stadium |
| Quarter-final 2 | Friday, July 10 | Los Angeles Stadium |
| Quarter-final 3 | Saturday, July 11 | Miami Gardens (Hard Rock Stadium) |
| Quarter-final 4 | Saturday, July 11 | Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium) |
Semi-finals — July 14–15, 2026
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-final 1 | Tuesday, July 14 | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX |
| Semi-final 2 | Wednesday, July 15 | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) |
Third-Place Play-off — Saturday, July 18, 2026
- Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Kick-off: 5:00 PM ET
The Final — Sunday, July 19, 2026 ⭐
- Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey (near New York City)
- Kick-off: 3:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM BST
- Capacity: ~82,500
MetLife Stadium — the largest stadium in the NFL — will host the greatest football match on earth. It will be the first time the World Cup final has been played in the New York metro area, and FIFA expects it to be the most-watched sporting event in television history.
World Cup 2026 Schedule: Key Games to Watch
The Opening Match
Mexico vs South Africa — June 11, 2026 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City The historic Azteca hosts its third World Cup opener — no other stadium in history can say that. With 72,000 roaring Mexican fans, the tournament begins in iconic fashion.
Defending Champions in Action
Argentina vs Algeria — June 16, 2026 Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina make their much-anticipated entrance. Argentina are tournament favourites once again under their iconic captain.
The USA’s Home Opener
USA vs Paraguay — June 12, 2026 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles Team USA kick off their campaign in front of a massive home crowd at one of the most spectacular stadiums in the world.
England vs Croatia (Group L Rematch)
England vs Croatia — June 17, 2026 | Dallas Stadium A repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, where Croatia’s late comeback broke English hearts. England will be desperate for revenge this time.
The Final — July 19, 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup concludes at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Whoever earns the right to lift the trophy on July 19 will be crowned world champions in front of a global audience of more than a billion viewers.
World Cup 2026 Schedule: How Qualification to Knockout Rounds Works
FIFA’s 2026 format produces 32 knockout qualifiers:
- 24 automatic qualifiers: The top two teams in each of the 12 groups
- 8 additional spots: The eight best third-placed teams, ranked by points earned, then goal difference, then goals scored
FIFA has also introduced a pathway system for the knockout bracket to prevent the top-ranked teams from meeting before the semi-finals. Spain (world’s top-ranked side) and Argentina (defending champions, ranked second) were placed on opposite sides of the bracket. Similarly, France and England are kept apart until at least the semis — guaranteeing marquee clashes in the latter stages.
World Cup 2026: First-Time Qualifiers & Debutants
The expanded 48-team format opens the door to new nations. Four teams will make their FIFA World Cup debut in 2026:
- Cape Verde (Group H)
- Curaçao (Group E)
- Jordan (Group J)
- Uzbekistan (Group K)
How to Watch the World Cup 2026 Schedule (USA)
All 104 matches are available to watch in the United States:
- Peacock (en Español) — every match streamed live
- Telemundo — 92 matches broadcast in Spanish
- Universo — 12 matches in Spanish
- English-language broadcast details to be confirmed via major US networks
World Cup 2026 Schedule: Summary
The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is the most ambitious football calendar ever constructed — 48 teams, 104 games, 16 stadiums, three nations, one champion. From the Azteca’s thunderous opening on June 11 to the MetLife Stadium final on July 19, this is the tournament that rewrites records.
Bookmark this page. The World Cup 2026 schedule will keep you on top of every kick-off time, venue, and result as the greatest show in sport unfolds across North America.
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