TL;DR
- The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 – 39 days, 104 matches, across 16 venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
- The opening match is Mexico vs. South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 at 3:00 PM ET.
- The group stage covers June 11 through June 27; the knockout stage begins June 28 with a brand-new Round of 32.
- The Final is at MetLife Stadium (listed by FIFA as New York New Jersey Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19 at 3:00 PM ET.
- You can print this full schedule or save it to your calendar using the ICS file available at the official FIFA.com website.
What Is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is the complete fixture list for all 104 matches of the 23rd edition of the men’s World Cup, covering dates, kickoff times (in Eastern Time), venues, and participating teams across every stage from the group stage through to the Final. This is the biggest World Cup ever played: 48 nations compete instead of the previous standard of 32, spread across 16 stadiums in three host countries – the United States, Mexico, and Canada (FIFA, 2026).
The tournament spans 39 days, from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and introduces a new Round of 32 knockout round that did not exist at any previous World Cup. Every stage – group stage, Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place play-off, and the Final – is covered in the sections below, grouped by date and venue.
Tournament Format: How the 104 Matches Are Structured
The expanded 48-team format changes how the tournament works compared to all editions since 1998. Here is how the match count breaks down:
| Stage | Matches | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | 72 | June 11 – June 27, 2026 |
| Round of 32 | 16 | June 28 – July 4, 2026 |
| Round of 16 | 8 | July 4 – July 7, 2026 |
| Quarterfinals | 4 | July 9 – July 11, 2026 |
| Semifinals | 2 | July 14 – July 15, 2026 |
| Third-Place Play-off | 1 | July 18, 2026 |
| Final | 1 | July 19, 2026 |
| Total | 104 | June 11 – July 19 |
The group stage places 48 teams into 12 groups of four (Groups A through L). Each team plays three group-stage matches. The top two teams from each group advance automatically. The eight best third-place finishers across all 12 groups also advance, bringing 32 teams into the knockout stage (FIFA, 2026).
Why the Round of 32 Is New
Every World Cup from 1986 to 2022 began its knockout stage with a Round of 16. In 2026, the expanded field means the knockout stage now starts one round earlier – the Round of 32 – before progressing through the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the Final. This means 32 nations experience knockout football, compared to 16 at every previous tournament (Wikipedia, 2026).
All 16 Host Venues by Country
FIFA assigned each venue a neutral tournament name to remove commercial branding from broadcasts. The table below lists every host stadium using both its official name and its FIFA tournament name, along with its host city and country.
United States (11 Venues)
| FIFA Tournament Name | Official Stadium Name | Host City |
|---|---|---|
| New York New Jersey Stadium | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ |
| Los Angeles Stadium | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA |
| Dallas Stadium | AT&T Stadium | Arlington, TX |
| San Francisco Bay Area Stadium | Levi’s Stadium | Santa Clara, CA |
| Atlanta Stadium | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA |
| Seattle Stadium | Lumen Field | Seattle, WA |
| Boston Stadium | Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, MA |
| Houston Stadium | NRG Stadium | Houston, TX |
| Philadelphia Stadium | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA |
| Miami Stadium | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, FL |
| Kansas City Stadium | Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, MO |
Mexico (3 Venues)
| FIFA Tournament Name | Official Stadium Name | Host City |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City Stadium | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City |
| Guadalajara Stadium | Estadio Akron | Guadalajara |
| Monterrey Stadium | Estadio BBVA | Monterrey |
Canada (2 Venues)
| FIFA Tournament Name | Official Stadium Name | Host City |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Stadium | BMO Field | Toronto, ON |
| Vancouver Stadium | BC Place | Vancouver, BC |
Note: Estadio Akron in Guadalajara is the only venue that will not host any knockout-stage matches; it is limited to group-stage games (Wego, 2026).
Group Stage Schedule: June 11 – June 27, 2026
The group stage opens with three ceremonies – one per host country – on June 11 and 12. This is the first time FIFA has staged multiple opening ceremonies for a single World Cup (WorldCupWiki, 2026).
The 12 Groups at a Glance
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Denmark/Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland |
| B | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia |
| C | Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti |
| D | USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo |
| E | Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao |
| F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania |
| G | Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand |
| H | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde |
| I | France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname |
| J | Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan |
| K | Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DRC/Jamaica/New Caledonia |
| L | England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana |
Opening Match
June 11, 2026 – Mexico vs. South Africa Venue: Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca), Mexico City, Mexico Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET (19:00 GMT)
Estadio Azteca becomes the only stadium in history to host a World Cup opening match three times, having done so in 1970 and 1986 as well (beIN Sports, 2026).
Selected Group-Stage Highlights by Date
June 12
- Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina – Toronto Stadium (BMO Field), Toronto – 6:00 PM ET
- USA vs. Paraguay – Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Los Angeles – 9:00 PM ET
June 13
- Brazil vs. Morocco – New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) – 12:00 PM ET
June 16
- France vs. Senegal – New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) – 12:00 PM ET
- Argentina vs. Algeria – Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium) – 9:00 PM ET (10:00 PM local)
June 17
- England vs. Croatia – Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX – 12:00 PM ET
June 23
- England vs. Ghana – Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) – 10:00 PM ET (4:00 AM GMT June 24)
June 27
- England vs. Panama – New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) – 11:00 PM ET
The group stage runs through June 27. All group-stage results determine which 32 teams advance to the Round of 32 starting June 28.
Round of 32 Schedule: June 28 – July 4, 2026
The Round of 32 is the first stage of the knockout phase. All 16 matches are listed below with confirmed venues and Eastern Time kickoffs (NBC Sports, 2026; Fox Sports, 2026).
| Match | Fixture | Venue | Date | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M73 | Runner-up Group A vs. Runner-up Group B | Los Angeles Stadium | June 28 | 3:00 PM |
| M74 | Winner Group C vs. Runner-up Group F | Houston Stadium | June 29 | 1:00 PM |
| M75 | Winner Group E vs. Best 3rd (A/B/C/D/F) | Boston Stadium | June 29 | 4:30 PM |
| M76 | Winner Group F vs. Runner-up Group C | Monterrey Stadium | June 29 | 9:00 PM |
| M77 | Runner-up Group E vs. Runner-up Group I | Dallas Stadium | June 30 | 1:00 PM |
| M78 | Winner Group I vs. Best 3rd (C/D/F/G/H) | New York New Jersey Stadium | June 30 | 5:00 PM |
| M79 | Winner Group A vs. Best 3rd (C/E/F/H/I) | Mexico City Stadium | June 30 | 9:00 PM |
| M80 | Winner Group L vs. Best 3rd (E/H/I/J/K) | Atlanta Stadium | July 1 | 12:00 PM |
| M81 | Winner Group G vs. Best 3rd (A/E/H/I/J) | Seattle Stadium | July 1 | 4:00 PM |
| M82 | Winner Group D vs. Best 3rd (B/E/F/I/J) | San Francisco Bay Area Stadium | July 1 | 8:00 PM |
| M83 | Runner-up Group K vs. Runner-up Group L | Toronto Stadium | July 2 | 7:00 PM |
| M84 | Winner Group H vs. Runner-up Group J | Los Angeles Stadium | July 2 | 3:00 PM |
| M85 | Winner Group B vs. Best 3rd (E/F/G/I/J) | Vancouver Stadium | July 2 | 11:00 PM |
| M86 | Winner Group J vs. Runner-up Group H | Miami Stadium | July 3 | 6:00 PM |
| M87 | Winner Group K vs. Best 3rd (D/E/I/J/L) | Kansas City Stadium | July 3 | 9:30 PM |
| M88 | Runner-up Group D vs. Runner-up Group G | Dallas Stadium | July 3 | 2:00 PM |
Note: “Best 3rd” matchups depend on which third-place teams qualify and their final group standings. FIFA will confirm exact matchups after the group stage concludes on June 27.
Round of 16 Schedule: July 4 – July 7, 2026
The Round of 16 takes place across four US venues and one Canadian venue, with two matches played on July 4 (Independence Day in the US) (Al Jazeera, 2026).
| Match | Venue | Date | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| R16 Match 1 | Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium) | July 4 | 1:00 PM |
| R16 Match 2 | Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field) | July 4 | 5:00 PM |
| R16 Match 3 | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) | July 5 | 4:00 PM |
| R16 Match 4 | Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) | July 5 | 8:00 PM |
| R16 Match 5 | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) | July 6 | 3:00 PM |
| R16 Match 6 | Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) | July 6 | 8:00 PM |
| R16 Match 7 | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) | July 7 | 12:00 PM |
| R16 Match 8 | Vancouver Stadium (BC Place) | July 7 | 4:00 PM |
Quarterfinals Schedule: July 9 – July 11, 2026
All four quarterfinals are played in the United States. Dallas and Kansas City host evening fixtures, while Boston and Los Angeles host afternoon matches (Fox Sports, 2026).
| Match | Venue | Date | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| QF1 | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) | July 9 | 4:00 PM |
| QF2 | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) | July 9 | 3:00 PM |
| QF3 | Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium) | July 11 | 5:00 PM |
| QF4 | Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium) | July 11 | 9:00 PM |
Semifinals, Third-Place Play-off, and the Final
The final four matches of the tournament are all in the United States. AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta host the two semifinals. The tournament ends at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (KickoffAdventures, 2026).
| Match | Venue | Date | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal 1 | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington, TX | July 14 | 3:00 PM |
| Semifinal 2 | Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), Atlanta, GA | July 15 | 3:00 PM |
| Third-Place Play-off | Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium), Miami, FL | July 18 | TBC |
| Final | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), East Rutherford, NJ | July 19 | 3:00 PM |
The Final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 is the only World Cup final at this venue. FIFA net seating capacity for the match is approximately 78,576 (Wego, 2026). Argentina enters as defending champion, having won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under captain Lionel Messi.
How to Get a Printable PDF Version of the Schedule
You have three practical options for a print-ready copy of the schedule:
- FIFA.com official PDF: The official match schedule is available as a downloadable PDF at FIFA.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/2026fifa-world-cup. It includes all 104 matches with local kickoff times.
- ICS calendar file: FIFA and third-party sites including Zoho Toolkit (zoho.com/toolkit/fifa-world-cup-2026.html) offer an ICS file covering all 104 matches from June 11 to July 19. Import it directly into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook (Zoho, 2026).
- Printable bracket PDFs: Sites including Fox Sports (foxsports.com) and NBC Sports (nbcsports.com) publish printable bracket versions you can fill in as the tournament progresses.
When downloading any schedule PDF, check that it shows times in your local time zone. The tournament spans Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern time zones across North America, which means a 3:00 PM ET kickoff is a 12:00 PM PT kickoff on the same day.
How to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026
Coverage rights vary by country. Here are the confirmed broadcast partners for the main markets:
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| USA (English) | Fox Sports, Peacock (streaming) |
| USA (Spanish) | Telemundo (92 matches) |
| UK | BBC and ITV (shared) |
| Australia | SBS On Demand |
| Middle East & North Africa | beIN Sports |
In the US, Fox Sports carries all matches from the Round of 16 onward in English. Peacock streams all 104 matches (fwcschedule.com, 2026).
Key Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa | June 11, 2026 | Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) |
| Group stage ends | June 27, 2026 | Various |
| Round of 32 begins | June 28, 2026 | Various |
| Round of 16 begins | July 4, 2026 | Various |
| Quarterfinals | July 9-11, 2026 | Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Kansas City |
| Semifinals | July 14-15, 2026 | Dallas, Atlanta |
| Third-place play-off | July 18, 2026 | Miami Stadium |
| Final | July 19, 2026 | New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) |
Frequently Asked Questions About the FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 start and end?
The tournament starts on June 11, 2026, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It ends on July 19, 2026, with the Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The full tournament spans 39 days (FIFA, 2026).
How many matches are in the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule?
There are 104 matches in total: 72 in the group stage, 16 in the Round of 32, 8 in the Round of 16, 4 quarterfinals, 2 semifinals, 1 third-place play-off, and the Final. This is 40 more matches than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which had 64 (FIFA, 2026).
Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final?
The Final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. FIFA refers to this venue as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament to remove commercial branding from broadcasts (FIFA, 2026).
What is the Round of 32 and why does it appear for the first time in 2026?
The Round of 32 is the first knockout round, played between June 28 and July 4. It exists because the 2026 World Cup expanded the field from 32 to 48 teams, which means 32 teams advance from the group stage instead of 16. Every previous World Cup since 1986 started its knockout stage at the Round of 16 (Wikipedia, 2026).
What time zone are World Cup 2026 kickoff times listed in?
Most international schedule guides use Eastern Time (ET). However, because the tournament is played across three countries and multiple time zones – Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, and two Canadian time zones – always check local kickoff times before traveling to or watching a match. The ICS calendar file automatically converts times to your local time zone.
Which venues host the most matches in the 2026 World Cup?
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (the Final venue) and Estadio Azteca in Mexico City host the most high-profile matches, including knockouts. Estadio Akron in Guadalajara is the only venue limited to group-stage matches only. The USA hosts 11 of the 16 venues, including all four quarterfinals, both semifinals, the third-place play-off, and the Final (Wego, 2026).
Can I download the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule as a printable PDF?
Yes. The official printable schedule is available at FIFA.com. An ICS calendar file for all 104 matches is also available through third-party tools including Zoho Toolkit, which lets you import the full fixture list into Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook. Printable bracket PDFs for fill-as-you-go tracking are available at Fox Sports and NBC Sports (Zoho, 2026).
Who is the defending World Cup champion in 2026?
Argentina is the defending champion. They won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defeating France in the final on penalty kicks. Lionel Messi captained that squad. Argentina is in Group J for 2026, opening against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16 (Al Jazeera, 2026).
Key Takeaways
- The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs June 11 to July 19 across 16 venues in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, with 104 total matches featuring 48 teams.
- The group stage (June 11-27) leads into a new Round of 32 (June 28-July 4), then the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the Final on July 19.
- The Final is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey; both semifinals are in Dallas and Atlanta; all four quarterfinals are in the USA.
- Print the official PDF at FIFA.com or import the ICS calendar file to your phone for automatic local-time conversion across all 104 matches.
