📅 Full Tournament Schedule

World Cup 2026
Schedule

104 matches. 3 nations. 39 days of football that will change everything. From the Opening Ceremony in Mexico City to the Final at MetLife — every date, every phase, right here.

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27
Days
00
Hours
00
Mins
00
Secs
104
Total Matches
48
Nations
16
Venues
39
Days of Football
3
Host Nations
June 11–13, 2026

Opening Weekend

The tournament kicks off with three opening ceremonies across all three host nations — the first time in World Cup history.

🇲🇽
Mexico
Host Nation
Opening Match
VS
📅 June 11, 2026
🏟️ Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
⏰ 1:00 PM Local Time
🇿🇦
South Africa
Group A
Mexico Opening
June 11
Opening Ceremony at Estadio Azteca. Maná, Alejandro Fernández, J Balvin, and Tyla perform. Mexico faces South Africa in the tournament opener.
USA Opening
June 12
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles hosts Team USA's first match. Opening ceremony performers include Katy Perry, Future, Lisa (BLACKPINK), and Anitta.
Canada Opening
June 12
BMO Field in Toronto hosts Canada's opening game. Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara, and Nora Fatehi open the Canadian chapter of this World Cup.
June 11 – June 27, 2026

Group Stage

72 matches across 3 weeks. Every one of 48 teams plays 3 games. Top 2 from each group plus 8 best third-placed sides advance to the Round of 32.

Week 1 — Matchday 1
Jun 11–17
All 12 groups open. First matches for all 48 nations. Expect major upsets, Group of Death chaos, and the first superstar moments of the tournament.
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Week 2 — Matchday 2
Jun 18–22
Second group matches. Tables begin to take shape. Nations on the edge fight for survival. Every point is life or death at this stage.
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Week 3 — Matchday 3
Jun 23–27
Final group games — all played simultaneously within each group. Last-gasp drama, surprise eliminations, and the final 32 are confirmed. Don't blink.
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→ See all 12 groups and team predictions →

June 28 – July 19, 2026

Knockout Stage

32 teams. One loss and you're out. The new Round of 32 format is a first for the World Cup — more drama, more upsets, more football.

Round of 32
Jun 29 – Jul 3
32 teams enter, 16 survive. Brand new to the World Cup format. Group winners and runners-up plus the 8 best third-placed nations compete. Expect the first major giant killings.
16 Matches
Round of 16
Jul 4 – Jul 7
Independence Day football in the USA. Sixteen nations still standing, all dreaming of the final. Bracket tightens — one bad 90 minutes and it's over.
8 Matches
Quarterfinals
Jul 10 – Jul 11
The final eight. Only the very best remain. Expect tactical masterclasses, penalty drama, and the most-watched matches outside of the final itself.
4 Matches
Semifinals
Jul 14 – Jul 15
Four nations, two spots in the final. These are the matches that define legacies. Win here and you're 90 minutes from immortality.
2 Matches
Third Place Match
Jul 18
For pride, for bronze, for history. Two nations who fell at the last hurdle battle it out one final time before the world turns its eyes to the big one.
1 Match
🏆 The Final
Jul 19, 2026
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. The biggest sporting event on the planet. One match. One winner. One champion of the world.
🏟️ MetLife Stadium — capacity 82,500
Must-Watch Games

Matches You Can't Miss

From the emotional opening to the historic final — these are the fixtures the whole world will be watching.

Jun 11
Thursday
🇲🇽 Mexico  vs  South Africa 🇿🇦
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City • Group A
Opening Match
Jun 13
Saturday
🇧🇷 Brazil  vs  Morocco 🇲🇦
Group C — Group of Death opener
Group of Death
Jun 14
Sunday
🇩🇪 Germany  vs  Ivory Coast 🇨🇮
Group E
Power Clash
Jun 15
Monday
🇦🇷 Argentina  vs  Algeria 🇩🇿
Group J — Messi vs Africa's giants
Star Power
Jun 16
Tuesday
🇫🇷 France  vs  Senegal 🇸🇳
Group I — Nations League rivals reunite
Blockbuster
Jun 17
Wednesday
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England  vs  Croatia 🇭🇷
Group L — 2018 World Cup Final rematch
Rematch
Jul 14
Tuesday
Semifinal 1
Venue TBC • Bracket Dependent
Semifinal
Jul 19
Sunday
🏆 World Cup Final
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
THE FINAL
16 Venues Across 3 Nations

Host Stadiums

From the iconic Azteca to MetLife — these are the 16 cathedrals of football hosting the 2026 World Cup.

🇺🇸
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Hosts the Final — July 19
82,500 capacity
🇺🇸
SoFi Stadium
Los Angeles, California
USA Opening Match venue
70,000 capacity
🇺🇸
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Dallas, Texas
80,000 capacity
🇺🇸
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta, Georgia
71,000 capacity
🇺🇸
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
64,767 capacity
🇺🇸
Gillette Stadium
Foxborough, Boston, Massachusetts
65,878 capacity
🇺🇸
Lincoln Financial Field
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
69,796 capacity
🇺🇸
Levi's Stadium
Santa Clara, San Francisco Bay Area
68,500 capacity
🇺🇸
Lumen Field
Seattle, Washington
68,740 capacity
🇺🇸
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City, Missouri
76,416 capacity
🇺🇸
NRG Stadium
Houston, Texas
72,220 capacity
🇲🇽
Estadio Azteca
Mexico City, Mexico
Opening Match — June 11
87,523 capacity
🇲🇽
Estadio BBVA
Guadalupe, Monterrey, Mexico
53,500 capacity
🇲🇽
Estadio Akron
Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico
48,071 capacity
🇨🇦
BMO Field
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canada Opening Match venue
45,000 capacity
🇨🇦
BC Place
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
54,500 capacity
Don't Just Watch — Live It

Your World Cup Experience

The schedule is just the start. Find your crew, make your picks, and live every match like you're in the stadium.

🎯
Make Predictions
Call the winner of every group, every knockout match. Compete with fans worldwide and see who's the real expert.
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Where to Watch
Every broadcaster, every streaming platform, every free option — sorted by country so you never miss a match.
 🍻
Watch Parties
Find the best bars, fan zones, and public screenings near you. The group experience is half the fun.
 💰
Betting Odds
Latest outright and match odds updated daily. Who's the bookies' favourite to lift the trophy in New Jersey?
 🔥
Hottest Fans
The passionate supporters who travel the world for football. Every nation's most dedicated (and stunning) fanbase.
 🤖
AI Football Girlfriend
Talk tactics, celebrate goals, debate team selection — your AI football companion is always match-day ready.
Questions

Schedule FAQ

Everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup timeline.

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. Mexico face South Africa in the tournament opener at 1:00 PM local time, preceded by the opening ceremony featuring Maná, J Balvin, and Tyla.
When is the World Cup Final?
The 2026 World Cup Final takes place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium holds 82,500 fans and is one of the most iconic venues in American sports. The tournament spans 39 days from June 11 to July 19.
How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?
There are 104 matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup — a record for the tournament. This includes 72 group stage matches (48 teams × 3 games each ÷ 2), plus 16 Round of 32 matches, 8 Round of 16 matches, 4 quarterfinals, 2 semifinals, a third-place play-off, and the final.
What is the new Round of 32?
The Round of 32 is brand new to the World Cup. For the first time, 32 teams compete in the first knockout round — the 24 group stage qualifiers (2 from each of the 12 groups) plus the 8 best third-placed teams. This gives more nations a knockout experience and creates more drama with more must-win matches.
Where is the 2026 World Cup being played?
The 2026 World Cup is hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 venues. The USA hosts 11 stadiums across cities including New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia, and Kansas City. Mexico hosts 3 stadiums (Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara), and Canada hosts 2 (Toronto, Vancouver).
When does the group stage end?
The group stage runs from June 11 to June 27, 2026. All final group-stage matches are played simultaneously within each group on June 23–27, preventing any team from knowing their result before their opponents' game kicks off — ensuring maximum drama and no dead-rubber manipulation.
How many teams qualify from the group stage?
32 teams advance from the group stage to the Round of 32. This comprises the top 2 teams from each of the 12 groups (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams from across all groups. This means 67% of all 48 participating nations reach the knockout rounds — giving emerging footballing nations more opportunity to make their mark.
Is there an opening ceremony?
Yes — and it's historic. For the first time ever, the 2026 World Cup has three separate opening ceremonies across all three host nations. Mexico's ceremony is on June 11 at Estadio Azteca (Maná, J Balvin, Tyla). The USA's ceremony is June 12 at SoFi Stadium in LA (Katy Perry, Future, Lisa from BLACKPINK, Anitta). Canada's ceremony is also June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto (Alanis Morissette, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara).

Every Match.
Your Crew.

Don't watch the 2026 World Cup alone. Find fans, make predictions, and follow every kick from the Opening Match to the Final.

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