World Cup 2026 Full Schedule: Every Match Date, Time & Venue
World Cup 2026 full schedule — every match date, kick-off time (ET), and venue for all 104 games. Group stage, Round of 32, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the July 19 Final at MetLife Stadium. Updated daily.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here — and it is the biggest football tournament in history.
For the first time ever, 48 teams are competing across 104 matches in three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The group stage kicked off on June 11 with Mexico hosting South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and the drama runs all the way to the World Cup Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
This page gives you the complete World Cup 2026 schedule — every match, every kick-off time (ET), every venue — updated as results come in. Bookmark it and check back after every matchday.
World Cup 2026 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 7, 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | July 9 – July 11, 2026 |
| Semi-finals | July 14 – July 15, 2026 |
| Third Place Play-off | July 18, 2026 |
| World Cup Final | July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
What Makes World Cup 2026 Different
This is not just any World Cup. It is a tournament of firsts:
First World Cup with 48 teams. Every previous edition since 1998 had 32 teams. The expansion adds 16 more nations, 40 more matches, and a brand-new Round of 32 knockout stage that gives more teams a path to the latter stages.
First World Cup co-hosted by three nations. The USA, Mexico, and Canada are jointly hosting — the first time in history a World Cup has spanned more than two countries.
First World Cup with three opening ceremonies. One per host nation. The first was at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. The second followed on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto before Canada's opener. The third was also on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before the USA played Paraguay.
104 matches across 39 days. The longest and most match-dense World Cup ever staged.
Four nations making their World Cup debut: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
All 16 Host Venues
| Country | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Mexico City | Estadio Azteca | 87,523 |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Zapopan (Guadalajara) | Estadio Akron | 49,850 |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Monterrey | Estadio BBVA | 53,500 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Toronto | BMO Field | 45,000 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Vancouver | BC Place | 54,500 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Los Angeles | SoFi Stadium | 70,240 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Dallas/Arlington | AT&T Stadium | 80,000 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | New York/New Jersey | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | San Francisco Bay Area | Levi's Stadium | 68,500 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Miami | Hard Rock Stadium | 64,767 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Seattle | Lumen Field | 68,740 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Boston | Gillette Stadium | 65,878 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Atlanta | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Houston | NRG Stadium | 72,220 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Kansas City | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Philadelphia | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,796 |
MetLife Stadium hosts the World Cup Final on July 19 — the largest stadium in the tournament with a capacity of 82,500.
AT&T Stadium in Dallas hosts the most matches of any single venue — 9 games including a semi-final.
World Cup 2026 Groups: All 12 Groups
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia |
| Group B | Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland |
| Group C | Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland |
| Group D | United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye |
| Group E | Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador |
| Group F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia + playoff qualifier |
| Group G | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand |
| Group H | Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay |
| Group I | France, Senegal, Norway + playoff qualifier |
| Group J | Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan |
| Group K | Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia + playoff qualifier |
| Group L | England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama |
How qualification works: The top 2 teams from each group advance automatically. The 8 best third-place teams across all 12 groups also advance. All 32 qualifiers enter the new Round of 32 knockout stage.
Group Stage Schedule — All Matches (Times in ET)
Thursday, June 11
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 PM | Mexico vs South Africa | A | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City 🇲🇽 |
| 10:00 PM | South Korea vs Czechia | A | Estadio Akron, Zapopan 🇲🇽 |
Friday, June 12
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 PM | Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | B | BMO Field, Toronto 🇨🇦 |
| 9:00 PM | USA vs Paraguay | D | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles 🇺🇸 |
Saturday, June 13
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:00 PM | Qatar vs Switzerland | B | Levi's Stadium, San Francisco 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | Brazil vs Morocco | C | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Haiti vs Scotland | C | Gillette Stadium, Boston 🇺🇸 |
Sunday, June 14
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Germany vs Curaçao | E | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | Netherlands vs Japan | F | NRG Stadium, Houston 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | E | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Tunisia vs Playoff qualifier | F | BC Place, Vancouver 🇨🇦 |
Monday, June 15
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Spain vs Cape Verde | H | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | Belgium vs Egypt | G | Lumen Field, Seattle 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | H | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Iran vs New Zealand | G | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles 🇺🇸 |
Tuesday, June 16
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | France vs Senegal | I | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | Iraq vs Norway | I | Gillette Stadium, Boston 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | Argentina vs Algeria | J | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Austria vs Jordan | J | Levi's Stadium, San Francisco 🇺🇸 |
Wednesday, June 17
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | Portugal vs DR Congo | K | NRG Stadium, Houston 🇺🇸 |
| 4:00 PM | England vs Croatia | L | AT&T Stadium, Dallas 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | Ghana vs Panama | L | BMO Field, Toronto 🇨🇦 |
| 10:00 PM | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | K | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City 🇲🇽 |
Thursday, June 18
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | South Africa vs Czechia | A | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | South Korea vs Mexico | A | Estadio Akron, Zapopan 🇲🇽 |
| 6:00 PM | Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar | B | BC Place, Vancouver 🇨🇦 |
| 9:00 PM | Switzerland vs Canada | B | Lumen Field, Seattle 🇺🇸 |
Friday, June 19
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Morocco vs Haiti | C | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | USA vs Australia | D | Lumen Field, Seattle 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | Scotland vs Brazil | C | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Paraguay vs Türkiye | D | AT&T Stadium, Dallas 🇺🇸 |
Saturday, June 20
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Ivory Coast vs Germany | E | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | Ecuador vs Curaçao | E | BMO Field, Toronto 🇨🇦 |
| 6:00 PM | Japan vs Playoff qualifier | F | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey 🇲🇽 |
| 9:00 PM | Netherlands vs Tunisia | F | Gillette Stadium, Boston 🇺🇸 |
Sunday, June 21
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | H | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | New Zealand vs Belgium | G | NRG Stadium, Houston 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | Egypt vs Iran | G | Levi's Stadium, San Francisco 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Uruguay vs Cape Verde | H | Estadio Akron, Zapopan 🇲🇽 |
Monday, June 22
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Norway vs Playoff qualifier | I | AT&T Stadium, Dallas 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | Senegal vs Iraq | I | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | Algeria vs Austria | J | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Jordan vs Argentina | J | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey 🇲🇽 |
Tuesday, June 23
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | K | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami 🇺🇸 |
| 3:00 PM | Colombia vs Portugal | K | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 🇺🇸 |
| 6:00 PM | England vs Ghana | L | Gillette Stadium, Boston 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Croatia vs Panama | L | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City 🇲🇽 |
Wednesday, June 24 — Simultaneous final group matches (Groups A & B)
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 PM | Mexico vs Czechia | A | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City 🇲🇽 |
| 9:00 PM | South Korea vs South Africa | A | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta 🇺🇸 |
| 9:00 PM | Morocco vs Haiti | C | — |
| 6:00 PM | Canada vs Qatar | B | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey 🇲🇽 |
| 6:00 PM | Bosnia vs Switzerland | B | BC Place, Vancouver 🇨🇦 |
Thursday, June 25
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Germany vs Ecuador | E | NRG Stadium, Houston 🇺🇸 |
| 12:00 PM | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast | E | BMO Field, Toronto 🇨🇦 |
| 7:00 PM | Türkiye vs USA | D | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | Australia vs Paraguay | D | AT&T Stadium, Dallas 🇺🇸 |
Friday, June 26
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Tunisia vs Japan | F | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 🇺🇸 |
| 12:00 PM | Playoff qualifier vs Netherlands | F | Lumen Field, Seattle 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | Egypt vs New Zealand | G | Estadio Akron, Zapopan 🇲🇽 |
| 7:00 PM | Iran vs Belgium | G | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 🇺🇸 |
Saturday, June 27
| Time (ET) | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM | Cape Verde vs Uruguay | H | NRG Stadium, Houston 🇺🇸 |
| 12:00 PM | Saudi Arabia vs Spain | H | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey 🇲🇽 |
| 7:00 PM | England vs Panama | L | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | Croatia vs Ghana | L | Levi's Stadium, San Francisco 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | Argentina vs Austria | J | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | Algeria vs Jordan | J | BC Place, Vancouver 🇨🇦 |
| 7:00 PM | Portugal vs Colombia | K | Gillette Stadium, Boston 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | K | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | France vs Playoff qualifier | I | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 🇺🇸 |
| 7:00 PM | Senegal vs Norway | I | AT&T Stadium, Dallas 🇺🇸 |
Knockout Stage Schedule
Round of 32 — June 28 to July 3
The Round of 32 is a brand-new stage making its World Cup debut in 2026. All 32 qualifying teams — 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and 8 best third-place finishers — compete in single-elimination matches.
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, June 28 | 3:00 PM | Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Sat, June 28 | 7:00 PM | Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group D | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| Sun, June 29 | 12:00 PM | Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group F | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| Sun, June 29 | 4:00 PM | Winner Group G vs Runner-up Group H | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Sun, June 29 | 8:00 PM | Winner Group I vs Runner-up Group J | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
| Mon, June 30 | 12:00 PM | Winner Group K vs Runner-up Group L | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Mon, June 30 | 4:00 PM | Winner Group B vs Best 3rd (A/C/D) | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Mon, June 30 | 8:00 PM | Winner Group D vs Best 3rd (B/E/F) | Levi's Stadium, San Francisco |
| Tue, July 1 | 12:00 PM | Winner Group F vs Best 3rd (A/B/C) | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Tue, July 1 | 4:00 PM | Winner Group G vs Best 3rd (E/H/I/J) | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Tue, July 1 | 8:00 PM | Winner Group D vs Best 3rd (B/E/F/I/J) | Levi's Stadium, San Francisco |
| Wed, July 2 | 3:00 PM | Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Wed, July 2 | 7:00 PM | Runner-up Group K vs Runner-up Group L | BMO Field, Toronto |
| Wed, July 2 | 11:00 PM | Winner Group B vs Best 3rd (E/F/G/I/J) | BC Place, Vancouver |
| Thu, July 3 | 2:00 PM | Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group G | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| Thu, July 3 | 6:00 PM | Winner Group J vs Runner-up Group H | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Thu, July 3 | 9:30 PM | Winner Group K vs Best 3rd (D/E/I/J/L) | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City |
Round of 16 — July 4 to July 7
| Date | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, July 4 | 1:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| Sat, July 4 | 5:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| Sun, July 5 | 1:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle |
| Sun, July 5 | 5:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| Mon, July 6 | 1:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Mon, July 6 | 5:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Tue, July 7 | 1:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Tue, July 7 | 5:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
Quarter-finals — July 9 to July 11
| Date | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, July 9 | 3:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| Wed, July 9 | 7:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| Thu, July 10 | 3:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles |
| Thu, July 10 | 7:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
| Fri, July 11 | 3:00 PM | NRG Stadium, Houston |
Semi-finals — July 14 & 15
| Date | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, July 14 | 3:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| Tue, July 15 | 3:00 PM | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
Third Place Play-off — July 18
| Date | Time (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, July 18 | 3:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
🏆 World Cup Final — July 19, 2026
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey Kick-off: 3:00 PM ET
The World Cup Final is the centrepiece of the summer. MetLife Stadium holds 82,500 fans and has been rebranded as the New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament. It is the largest venue in the entire tournament and a fitting stage for the biggest match in football.
How to Watch World Cup 2026
| Country | Broadcaster | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 USA (English) | Fox Sports | Fox, FS1, FS2 |
| 🇺🇸 USA (Spanish) | Telemundo / Universo | Peacock (streaming) |
| 🇬🇧 UK | ITV / BBC | ITVX / BBC iPlayer (free) |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | TSN / CTV | TSN+ |
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | TV Azteca / Televisa | — |
| 🌍 Global | FIFA+ | Free streaming (selected matches) |
All 104 matches are available to stream on Peacock in Spanish in the USA. Fox Sports has English-language rights for all US-based matches.
World Cup 2026 Format Explained
New to the expanded format? Here's how it works:
Group Stage: 48 teams, 12 groups of 4. Every team plays 3 matches. Top 2 from each group qualify automatically. Best 8 third-place teams across all groups also advance.
Round of 32 (new): 32 teams compete in single-elimination matches. No draws — extra time and penalties decide tied matches.
Round of 16 onwards: Standard knockout format — one loss and you're out.
Total matches: 104 (up from 64 at Qatar 2022).
Tie-breaker rules in groups: Points → goal difference → goals scored → head-to-head results → FIFA fair play points → drawing of lots.
Key Matches to Watch
The Opening Match — June 11: Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. The most famous football stadium in the world, hosting the tournament's first game. History in every corner.
Argentina vs Algeria — June 16, Kansas City: Messi and the defending champions open their campaign. Every Argentina match is an event in itself.
England vs Croatia — June 17, Dallas: A rematch of the 2018 semi-final that ended England's dream. High stakes from day one.
France vs Senegal — June 16, New Jersey: One of the most anticipated group stage clashes — two continental powerhouses, one explosive fixture.
Spain vs Saudi Arabia — June 21, Atlanta: European champions Spain against the Middle East's most ambitious football nation.
USA vs Türkiye — June 25, Los Angeles: The USA's final group match, likely with qualification on the line in front of a home crowd at SoFi Stadium.
The Final — July 19, New Jersey: The biggest match in football. 82,500 fans. The world watching. Every kick-off from June 11 leads here.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does World Cup 2026 start and finish? The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 — 39 days of football across North America. The opening match was Mexico vs South Africa on June 11 at Estadio Azteca. The final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
How many teams are in World Cup 2026? 48 teams — up from 32 at every World Cup since 1998. The 48 nations are split into 12 groups of four. This is the first World Cup in history with this many participating nations.
How many matches are in World Cup 2026? 104 matches in total. That is 40 more than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which had 64 matches.
Where is the World Cup 2026 Final? The Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — rebranded as the New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament. Kick-off is July 19 at 3:00 PM ET.
Which countries are hosting the World Cup 2026? Three countries: the United States (11 venues), Mexico (3 venues — Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey), and Canada (2 venues — Toronto and Vancouver). It is the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations.
What is the Round of 32? The Round of 32 is a brand-new knockout stage introduced for the 2026 tournament because 48 teams qualify instead of 32. All 32 qualifying teams — group winners, runners-up, and the 8 best third-place finishers — compete in single-elimination matches before the Round of 16.
What channel is showing World Cup 2026 in the USA? Fox Sports has English-language broadcast rights in the USA. All 104 matches are available in Spanish on Telemundo and Peacock. Selected matches are available free on Fox and FS1.
Which teams are the favourites for World Cup 2026? Spain and France are co-favourites at approximately 16% each based on pre-tournament simulations. Argentina (defending champions), England, Brazil, and Portugal are also among the leading contenders. This is considered the most open World Cup in decades — no team is a clear favourite.
Iria Fredrick Victor
Iria Fredrick Victor(aka Fredsazy) is a software developer, DevOps engineer, and entrepreneur. He writes about technology and business—drawing from his experience building systems, managing infrastructure, and shipping products. His work is guided by one question: "What actually works?" Instead of recycling news, Fredsazy tests tools, analyzes research, runs experiments, and shares the results—including the failures. His readers get actionable frameworks backed by real engineering experience, not theory.
Share this article:
Related posts
More from WorldCup2026
June 11, 2026
38Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup opener at Estadio Azteca. Quiñones and Jiménez scored as three red cards made history.
June 10, 2026
50Where to watch World Cup 2026 for free in every country. Complete broadcaster list by nation — UK (BBC/ITV), US (Fox), India (ZEE5), Brazil (CazéTV on YouTube), Nigeria (New World TV), and 100+ more. Last updated June 2026.
June 9, 2026
57The 2026 World Cup is not just a football tournament. It is the largest live infrastructure project in history. AI referees, cloud synchronization across 3 countries, and streaming at 6 billion viewers. The tech story nobody is covering.
