The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule spans 39 days, 104 matches, and 16 iconic venues across three countries. From the opening match at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11 to the Final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, this is the most ambitious World Cup fixture calendar ever assembled. Here is the complete, detailed 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule — every match, every venue, every date.
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2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule — At a Glance
| Stage | Dates | Matches | Venues |
|---|
| Group Stage — Matchday 1 | June 11–17, 2026 | 48 matches | All 16 venues |
| Group Stage — Matchday 2 | June 18–24, 2026 | 48 matches | All 16 venues |
| Group Stage — Matchday 3 | June 25 – July 2, 2026 | 48 matches (simultaneous) | All 16 venues |
| Round of 32 | July 3–7, 2026 | 16 matches | 12 selected venues |
| Round of 16 | July 8–11, 2026 | 8 matches | 8 venues |
| Quarter-Finals | July 12–13, 2026 | 4 matches | 4 venues |
| Semi-Finals | July 16–17, 2026 | 2 matches | Dallas + Los Angeles |
| Third Place Play-off | July 19, 2026 | 1 match | Miami |
| Final | July 19, 2026 | 1 match | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
🏆 The Final: July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. Capacity: 82,500
Group Stage Schedule — Matchday 1
The group stage opens on June 11 with the historic opening match at the Estadio Azteca — the first time this legendary venue has hosted a World Cup opening game since 1986. Four matches are played each day across multiple time zones.
Thursday, June 11
| Match |
Venue |
City |
Kickoff (ET) |
| Mexico vs. TBD | Estadio Azteca | Mexico City 🇲🇽 | 5:00 PM ET |
| USA vs. TBD | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles 🇺🇸 | 8:00 PM ET |
Friday, June 12
| Match |
Venue |
City |
Kickoff (ET) |
| France vs. TBD | AT&T Stadium | Dallas 🇺🇸 | 12:00 PM ET |
| Argentina vs. TBD | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami 🇺🇸 | 3:00 PM ET |
| Spain vs. TBD | MetLife Stadium | New York/NJ 🇺🇸 | 6:00 PM ET |
| Canada vs. TBD | BC Place | Vancouver 🇨🇦 | 9:00 PM ET |
Saturday, June 13
| Match |
Venue |
City |
Kickoff (ET) |
| England vs. TBD | NRG Stadium | Houston 🇺🇸 | 12:00 PM ET |
| Brazil vs. TBD | Levi's Stadium | San Francisco 🇺🇸 | 3:00 PM ET |
| Germany vs. TBD | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta 🇺🇸 | 6:00 PM ET |
| Portugal vs. TBD | Lumen Field | Seattle 🇺🇸 | 9:00 PM ET |
Sunday, June 14
| Match |
Venue |
City |
Kickoff (ET) |
| Netherlands vs. TBD | Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia 🇺🇸 | 12:00 PM ET |
| Belgium vs. TBD | Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City 🇺🇸 | 3:00 PM ET |
| Italy vs. TBD | Estadio BBVA | Monterrey 🇲🇽 | 6:00 PM ET |
| Croatia vs. TBD | Estadio Akron | Guadalajara 🇲🇽 | 9:00 PM ET |
ℹ️ Schedule note: Specific opponent matchups shown as TBD depend on the official FIFA group draw assignment. All kickoff times listed in Eastern Time (ET). Check FIFA.com for the complete fixture list with confirmed opponents.
Key Matchday 1 Fixtures — Must-Watch Games
🇲🇽 Mexico Opening Match — June 11, Estadio AztecaMexico opens the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the iconic Estadio Azteca before a capacity crowd of 87,523 fans — one of the most anticipated opening matches in World Cup history.
🇺🇸 USA Home Opener — June 12, SoFi StadiumThe host nation plays their first group stage game on home soil in Los Angeles — expected to be one of the highest-attended and most watched American sports events of 2026.
🇫🇷🇦🇷 France & Argentina — June 12Two of the pre-tournament favourites open their campaigns on the same day, providing immediate high-quality football from Day 2 of the tournament.
Group Stage Schedule — Matchday 2 (June 18–24)
Matchday 2 sees every team play their second group game. At this point, the group table picture begins to take shape — teams with a win from Matchday 1 look to secure early qualification, while those who lost must respond.
| Date | Key Matches | Venues |
|---|
| June 18 | Mexico vs. TBD (2nd group game) | MetLife Stadium |
| June 19 | France vs. TBD — Group B | AT&T Stadium, Dallas |
| June 20 | England vs. TBD — Group E | NRG Stadium, Houston |
| June 21 | Brazil vs. TBD — Group F | SoFi Stadium, LA |
| June 22 | Argentina vs. TBD — Group C | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| June 23 | Germany vs. TBD — Group E | Levi's Stadium, SF |
| June 24 | Spain vs. TBD — Group D | MetLife Stadium, NJ |
Group Stage Schedule — Matchday 3 (June 25 – July 2)
The third and final group stage matchday is played simultaneously — all 24 last-round games kick off at the same time within their respective groups. This prevents the classic scenario of a late group game being played with the result already known, ensuring maximum competitive integrity.
✅ Simultaneous Final Matchday: All 12 pairs of final group stage games kick off at the same time, just as in the traditional World Cup format. Two simultaneous time slots per group ensure both games are played without knowledge of the other's outcome.
| Group | Final Matchday Date | Time Slot 1 (ET) | Time Slot 2 (ET) |
|---|
| Groups A–C | June 25–27 | 2:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM ET |
| Groups D–F | June 28–30 | 2:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM ET |
| Groups G–I | July 1 | 2:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM ET |
| Groups J–L | July 2 | 2:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM ET |
Knockout Stage Schedule
Round of 32 — July 3–7, 2026
The new Round of 32 — introduced for the first time in World Cup history — features the 24 group winners and runners-up plus 8 of the best third-placed teams. 16 matches played over 5 days, with 3–4 games per day.
| Date | Matches | Key Venues |
|---|
| July 3 (Thu) | 4 matches | MetLife, AT&T, Hard Rock, Mercedes-Benz |
| July 4 (Fri) | 4 matches | SoFi, Levi's, Arrowhead, Azteca |
| July 5 (Sat) | 4 matches | NRG, Lumen, Lincoln Financial, BC Place |
| July 6 (Sun) | 2 matches | Estadio BBVA, Estadio Akron |
| July 7 (Mon) | 2 matches | BMO Field, Rose Bowl |
Round of 16 — July 8–11, 2026
Eight knockout matches determine the quarter-finalists. At this stage the World Cup enters its definitive high-drama phase — one bad game and you're eliminated.
| Date | Matches | Venues |
|---|
| July 8 (Tue) | 2 matches | MetLife Stadium + AT&T Stadium |
| July 9 (Wed) | 2 matches | SoFi Stadium + Hard Rock Stadium |
| July 10 (Thu) | 2 matches | Levi's Stadium + NRG Stadium |
| July 11 (Fri) | 2 matches | Mercedes-Benz Stadium + Arrowhead Stadium |
Quarter-Finals — July 12–13, 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | City |
|---|
| Saturday, July 12 | QF1: R16 Winner A vs R16 Winner B | MetLife Stadium | New York/NJ |
| Saturday, July 12 | QF2: R16 Winner C vs R16 Winner D | AT&T Stadium | Dallas |
| Sunday, July 13 | QF3: R16 Winner E vs R16 Winner F | SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles |
| Sunday, July 13 | QF4: R16 Winner G vs R16 Winner H | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami |
Semi-Finals — July 16–17, 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | City |
|---|
| Wednesday, July 16 | SF1: QF1 Winner vs QF2 Winner | AT&T Stadium | Dallas |
| Thursday, July 17 | SF2: QF3 Winner vs QF4 Winner | Rose Bowl | Los Angeles |
Third Place Play-Off — July 19, 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | City | Kickoff |
|---|
| Saturday, July 19 | Third Place: SF Losers | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami | 3:00 PM ET |
The Final — July 19, 2026
🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup Final
Date: Sunday, July 19, 2026
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA
Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET / 11:00 PM BST / midnight CET
Capacity: 82,500
Full Venue Schedule Summary
| Venue | City | Country | Total Matches | Stages Hosted |
|---|
| MetLife Stadium | New York/NJ | 🇺🇸 | 7 | Group + R32 + R16 + QF + Final |
| AT&T Stadium | Dallas | 🇺🇸 | 7 | Group + R32 + R16 + QF + SF |
| SoFi Stadium | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 | 6 | Group + R32 + R16 + SF |
| Rose Bowl | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 | 6 | Group + R32 + R16 + SF |
| Hard Rock Stadium | Miami | 🇺🇸 | 7 | Group + R32 + R16 + QF + 3rd place |
| Levi's Stadium | San Francisco | 🇺🇸 | 6 | Group + R32 + R16 |
| NRG Stadium | Houston | 🇺🇸 | 6 | Group + R32 + R16 |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | 🇺🇸 | 6 | Group + R32 + R16 |
| Lumen Field | Seattle | 🇺🇸 | 5 | Group + R32 |
| Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City | 🇺🇸 | 5 | Group + R32 + R16 |
| Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia | 🇺🇸 | 5 | Group + R32 |
| Estadio Azteca | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 | 5 | Group + Opening Match |
| Estadio BBVA | Monterrey | 🇲🇽 | 4 | Group + R32 |
| Estadio Akron | Guadalajara | 🇲🇽 | 4 | Group + R32 |
| BC Place | Vancouver | 🇨🇦 | 4 | Group + R32 |
| BMO Field | Toronto | 🇨🇦 | 3 | Group + R32 |
Time Zone Conversion — Key Kickoff Times
| Kickoff (ET) | Pacific (PT) | Central (CT) | London (BST) | Paris (CEST) | Dubai (GST) | Mumbai (IST) |
|---|
| 12:00 PM ET | 9:00 AM | 11:00 AM | 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:30 PM |
| 3:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM | 2:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 11:00 PM | 12:30 AM+1 |
| 6:00 PM ET | 3:00 PM | 5:00 PM | 11:00 PM | Midnight | 2:00 AM+1 | 3:30 AM+1 |
| 9:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM | 8:00 PM | 2:00 AM+1 | 3:00 AM+1 | 5:00 AM+1 | 6:30 AM+1 |
How to Watch the Full 2026 World Cup Schedule Live
All 104 matches across the full 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule are broadcast live globally. Broadcast rights vary by country:
- 🇺🇸 USA: Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, Telemundo (Spanish)
- 🇬🇧 UK: ITV1, ITV4, BBC One, BBC Two (shared rights)
- 🇨🇦 Canada: CTV, TSN, RDS (French)
- 🇦🇺 Australia: SBS, Optus Sport
- 🌍 MENA: beIN Sports
- 🇧🇷 Brazil: Globo, SporTV
- 🌐 Global via IPTV: All broadcast channels available live in HD and 4K
Frequently Asked Questions — 2026 World Cup Schedule
When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup began on June 11, 2026 with the opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
When is the 2026 World Cup Final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is at 6:00 PM ET.
How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup schedule?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 104 total matches — 96 group stage games plus 8 additional knockout matches thanks to the expanded 48-team format.
What time do World Cup 2026 matches kick off?
Most group stage matches kick off at 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, or 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). Evening matches at 9:00 PM ET also feature for select fixtures. Check the full schedule for specific kickoff times.
How do I watch the World Cup 2026 schedule live?
Matches are broadcast on Fox Sports and Telemundo in the USA, BBC/ITV in the UK, TSN/CTV in Canada, and locally in every country. IPTV services provide global access to all 104 matches in HD and 4K.
Where can I find the official 2026 World Cup fixture list?
The official fixture schedule is available on FIFA.com. This guide provides the complete framework schedule; exact match-ups in knockout rounds are determined by group stage results.
👉 Watch the Full 2026 World Cup Schedule Live →
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