FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule: All Dates, Times & Venues

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first edition with 48 teams — a record-breaking expansion producing 104 total matches across 16 stadiums and three countries. With the tournament starting in just weeks, this is your definitive, up-to-date guide to every stage, date, venue, and kickoff window. Use it to plan your attendance, track your team's path, and book remaining tickets.

World Cup 2026: Key Dates at a Glance

The New 48-Team Format Explained

For the first time ever, 48 national teams qualify for the World Cup — up from 32 in Qatar 2022. This expands the tournament to 104 total matches across a 39-day window. Here is how the format works:

• Group Stage (72 matches) — 12 groups of 4 teams each. The top 2 from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-place finishers (8 teams) advance — making 32 teams for the knockout round.
• Round of 32 (16 matches) — A new stage introduced in 2026. All 32 advancing teams compete in a single-elimination round.
• Round of 16 (8 matches) — The 16 winners advance.
• Quarter-Finals (4 matches) — 8 teams remain.
• Semi-Finals (2 matches) — 4 teams compete at AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and MetLife Stadium (New York).
• Third Place Play-Off — July 18 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.
• The Final — July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey (capacity 93,000+).

Group Stage Schedule (June 11 – July 2, 2026)

The group stage runs for three weeks across all 16 host cities. With 72 matches in 22 days, there are typically 3–5 matches per day during peak group stage weeks. Each of the 12 groups plays three matchdays. The final group stage matchday for each group is played simultaneously to prevent tactical manipulation of results.

Top Group Stage Matchdays to Watch

• June 11 — Opening Match, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. The most historic single fixture of the tournament.
• Mid-June — Clashes between top-seeded European and South American nations in New York, Dallas, and LA.
• Late June / July 2 — Final group stage matchdays. Every result matters — these are the highest-pressure group games.

Knockout Stage Dates (July 4–19, 2026)

The knockout rounds concentrate matches into fewer, higher-stakes venues. Here is the confirmed knockout schedule:

Host Cities & Match Distribution

The 16 host cities are spread across three countries, with the United States hosting the majority of matches. Here is how matches are distributed across the key hubs:

• New York / New Jersey — MetLife Stadium hosts the Final + multiple group and knockout matches. The biggest single venue in the tournament.
• Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium hosts multiple high-profile group stage matches. LA is the largest football market in the USA.
• Dallas — AT&T Stadium (capacity 100,000+) hosts a Semi-Final and group stage matches.
• Miami — Hard Rock Stadium hosts the Third Place Play-Off plus group stage matches.
• Mexico City — Estadio Azteca hosts the historic Opening Match on June 11.

TV Broadcast & Time Zones

With matches spanning four US time zones (ET, CT, MT, PT) plus Canada and Mexico, kickoff windows are staggered to give global broadcast partners the widest possible reach. Typical daily kickoff slots during the group stage are approximately 12:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 6:00 PM local time in each host city. Check the group stage schedule page for confirmed kickoff times as they are released.

Planning Your World Cup Trip Around the Schedule

The smartest way to attend multiple matches is to anchor your trip to a single city or region and catch 2–3 group stage matches at the same venue. This dramatically cuts down on internal flights between host cities. Use our AI Trip Planner to build a personalised itinerary based on your team's draw, budget, and preferred cities.

Once you have your target matches, book tickets, lock in hotels near your stadium, and sort your flights and Fan ID as early as possible.