FIFA
WORLD CUP
2026
FULL SCHEDULE
104 matches across 16 venues in Canada, USA and Mexico. From the opening kick in Mexico City on June 11 to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026.
Time until opening kick-off
Jun 11, 2026 — Estadio Azteca
6 phases, 39 days
The expanded 48-team format introduces a new Round of 32, making the 2026 World Cup the most action-packed in history with 104 total matches.
– Jul 2
– Jul 7
– Jul 10
– Jul 12
– Jul 15
| Phase | Dates 2026 | Matches | Teams | Advancement | Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | Jun 11 – Jul 2 | 72 | 48 | Top 2 + 8 best 3rd | All 16 |
| Round of 32 | Jul 4 – Jul 7 | 16 | 32 | 16 winners | Mixed |
| Round of 16 | Jul 8 – Jul 10 | 8 | 16 | 8 winners | Mixed |
| Quarter-finals | Jul 11 – Jul 12 | 4 | 8 | 4 winners | 4 venues |
| Semi-finals | Jul 14 – Jul 15 | 2 | 4 | 2 finalists | 2 venues |
| 3rd place | Jul 18 | 1 | 2 | — | MetLife, NJ |
| 🏆 FINAL | Jul 19, 2026 | 1 | 2 | Champion crowned | MetLife, NJ |
| TOTAL | 104 | 48 nations | 39 days of football | ||
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford NJ — Host of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, July 19, 2026
Schedule at a glance
Matches per host nation
3 nations, 1 tournament
| Nation | Venues | Matches | Opening match | Latest round | Largest stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Canada | 2 | 10 | Jun 12 — BC Place | Round of 32 | 54,500 (BC Place) |
 United States | 11 | 78 | Jun 13 — MetLife | FINAL (Jul 19) | 82,500 (MetLife) |
 Mexico | 3 | 13 | Jun 11 — Azteca | Group stage | 87,523 (Azteca) |
worldcup-2026.ca
Explore our sister site for the official Canada host guide — venue maps, ticket information, fan zones in Vancouver and Toronto, and the complete guide to attending FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada.
🇭 Visit worldcup-2026.caFIFA World Cup 2026 schedule — complete guide
The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, spanning 39 days and featuring a record 104 matches. This is the first World Cup with 48 teams, up from 32 at Qatar 2022. The expanded format adds 12 groups (A through L) and a new Round of 32 as the first knockout stage.
The tournament opens on June 11 with a group-stage match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the only stadium in history to host three World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026). Canada's first group-stage match takes place June 12 at BC Place, Vancouver. The USA start on June 13 in New Jersey. See the full match-by-match schedule for exact kick-off times and dates.
The knockout phase begins on July 4 with the new Round of 32. From July 8, the Round of 16 eliminates another tier. Quarter-finals follow on July 11–12, semi-finals July 14–15, and the Final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey — capacity 82,500, one of North America's largest venues. See all 16 venues and their scheduled matches.
New format in 2026 — what changes from 2022
FIFA's decision to expand from 32 to 48 teams fundamentally changes the World Cup schedule. At Qatar 2022, there were 64 matches over 29 days. At 2026, 104 matches play out over 39 days — 40 more games. Key structural changes include 12 groups (previously 8), a completely new Round of 32 elimination stage, and 16 host city venues spread across three countries.
In terms of the group stage format: each of the 12 groups has four teams. Every team plays three matches. The top two from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance to the Round of 32, giving a total of 32 teams in the knockouts. This means a team finishing third in their group can still progress — unlike in the 32-team format.
The match calendar is intense for the final days. From July 11, the World Cup enters a decisive phase with quarter-finals, semi-finals, the Third-Place match on July 18, and the Final on July 19. All these knockout matches take place at major US stadiums. Read frequently asked questions about the 2026 World Cup format.