The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially begun, it started from June 11, 2026 and will end on July 19, 2026. This historic edition has expanded to a record-breaking 48 teams competing in 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The United States is hosting 78 of the 104 matches, while Canada and Mexico each host 13, making this the largest and most geographically widespread World Cup in history. Below is your complete fixture list, covering everything from the group stage kickoff to the grand finale at MetLife Stadium.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many matches are being played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 104 matches, compared to 64 matches in previous editions. This increase is due to the expansion of the tournament from 32 teams to 48 teams. In the new format, 12 groups of four teams compete in the group stage, and the knockout stage now includes an additional round (the Round of 32) before the traditional Round of 16, resulting in a longer and more action‑packed tournament.

Where is the 2026 World Cup final being played, and on what date?

The 2026 World Cup final will be played on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The venue, which is being referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament, will crown the 23rd FIFA World Cup champion. The third‑place play‑off will take place the day before, on July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Which national teams are competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the first time?

Several teams are making their FIFA World Cup debuts in 2026, including Curaçao and Cape Verde. The 48‑team field also includes the returns of familiar nations such as Canada (as co‑hosts) and the United States (co‑hosts), as well as African representatives such as Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, and DR Congo, making it the most globally diverse World Cup in history.

Tournament Match Timeline

The tournament follows an expanded multi‑city schedule across North America. The table below tracks the key tournament phase dates:

1. Tournament Phase 

i. Group Stage: June 11 – June 27, 2026 

ii. Round of 32:  June 28 – July 3, 2026 

iii. Round of 16: July 4 – July 7, 2026 

iv. Quarter‑finals: July 9 – July 11, 2026 

v. Semi‑finals: July 14 – July 15, 2026 

vi. Third‑Place Play‑off: July 18, 2026 

vii. FIFA World Cup Final: July 19, 2026 

Key Group Stage Fixtures & Match Schedule

All times listed below are local stadium kick‑off hours. For full group details, here are the confirmed groups:

1. Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czechia

2. Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

3. Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

4. Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey

5. Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Chile

6. Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Senegal, Iraq

7. Group G: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Ecuador

8. Group H: Belgium, Egypt, Panama, New Zealand

9. Group I: France, Algeria, Norway, Costa Rica

10. Group J: Argentina, Nigeria, Sweden, Tunisia

11. Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Ghana, Jordan

12. Group L: England, Croatia, Wales, Iran

Groups A–D: Selected Highlights

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opened on June 11 with Mexico defeating South Africa 2–0 in Mexico City. On June 12, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina played to a 1–1 draw at Toronto Stadium. The following day, the United States secured a convincing 4–1 victory over Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium.

Also on June 13, Qatar faced Switzerland at the San Francisco Bay Area venue, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 PM local time. Later that day, Brazil took on Morocco at New York/New Jersey Stadium, with the match beginning at 6:00 PM ET. On June 14, Haiti met Scotland at Boston Stadium in a match scheduled for 9:00 PM ET, while Australia faced Türkiye at BC Place in Vancouver, also kicking off at 9:00 PM local time.

Groups E–H: Selected Highlights

However, the action continued on June 14 with Germany playing Curaçao at Houston Stadium, with kick-off set for 12:00 PM local time. Later that day, the Netherlands faced Japan at Dallas Stadium at 3:00 PM local time. On June 15, Spain took on Cape Verde at Atlanta Stadium, with the match beginning at 12:00 PM local time. Belgium then faced Egypt at Seattle Stadium at 3:00 PM local time. Saudi Arabia and Uruguay completed the day's featured fixtures with a match at Miami Stadium scheduled for 6:00 PM ET.

Groups I–L: Selected Highlights

Additionally, on June 16, France played Senegal at New York/New Jersey Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 PM ET. Later that evening, Argentina faced Algeria at Kansas City Stadium, with the match set to begin at 8:00 PM local time. The featured fixtures continued on June 17 as Portugal met DR Congo at Houston Stadium at 12:00 PM local time. England then faced Croatia at Dallas Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 3:00 PM local time.

2026 FIFA World Cup Knockout Stage Schedule

After the conclusion of the group stage, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advance to the knockout rounds. The Round of 32 is scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 3 across the tournament's host locations. The Round of 16 will then be played daily from July 4 to July 7.

Nevertheless, the quarter-finals are scheduled for July 9 at Gillette Stadium, July 10 at SoFi Stadium, and July 11 at both Hard Rock Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium. The semi-finals will be played on consecutive days, July 14 and July 15. The third-place match is scheduled for July 18 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The tournament will conclude on July 19 with the FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is being referred to as New York/New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.

2026 FIFA World Cup Tournament Format

The 2026 FIFA World Cup introduces an expanded format featuring 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams from each group qualify automatically for the knockout phase. They are joined by the eight best third-placed teams, creating a 32-team knockout bracket. This structure introduces a new Round of 32 before the traditional Round of 16. As a result, teams must navigate an additional knockout round on their path to the final, making the competition longer and potentially more unpredictable.

The 2026 FIFA Host Cities and Stadiums

Matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played across 16 stadiums located in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The United States will host matches in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Boston at Gillette Stadium, Dallas at AT&T Stadium, Houston at NRG Stadium, Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium, Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, New York/New Jersey at MetLife Stadium, Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field, the San Francisco Bay Area at Levi’s Stadium, and Seattle at Lumen Field.

Mexico's host venues are Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with a capacity of 83,000, Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, which holds 48,000 spectators, and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, with a capacity of 53,300. Canada's two host venues are BMO Field in Toronto, which accommodates 45,000 spectators, and BC Place in Vancouver, which has a capacity of 54,500.

How to Watch the  2026 FIFA World Cup

Broadcast rights vary by region. In the United States, matches are airing on Fox and FS1, with Spanish‑language coverage on Telemundo and Universo. Canadian viewers can watch on CTV, TSN, and RDS. In Mexico, Televisa and TV Azteca are the official broadcasters. Global streaming is available through FIFA+ in select territories. Check your local listings for exact channels and kick‑off times in your time zone.

Wind Up

Furthermore, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest and most ambitious edition ever staged. With 104 matches spanning 16 host cities across three nations, this tournament is a celebration of global football on an unprecedented scale. From Mexico’s opening victory at the legendary Estadio Azteca to the showdown at MetLife Stadium on July 19, the world will be watching.