The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the most expansive edition in the tournament’s history, featuring an unprecedented 48 teams competing in 104 thrilling matches across three North American nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As soccer fans worldwide gear up for this global spectacle, understanding the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is essential for planning travel, booking tickets, and marking your calendar.
Co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the tournament will utilize 16 state-of-the-art stadiums, with temporary naming conventions based on host cities to ensure fair play in branding. Defending champions Argentina enter as favorites, but with newcomers like Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan making their debuts, expect plenty of upsets and unforgettable moments.
Tournament Overview:
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11, 2026, in Mexico City and wraps up with the grand final on July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States. The expanded format includes:
- Group Stage: 12 groups of four teams each, running from June 11 to June 27. Every team plays three matches, with the top two from each group advancing.
- Knockout Rounds: A Round of 32 (June 28–July 3), Round of 16 (July 4–7), Quarterfinals (July 9–11), Semifinals (July 14–15), Bronze Medal Match (July 18), and the Final (July 19).
All times are listed in local time with GMT equivalents in parentheses for global accessibility. Stadiums are referred to by their host city names during the event.
The 12 Groups: Teams to Watch
Here’s a quick look at the groups, including some TBD qualifiers from playoffs:
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, TBD (Denmark/Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland) |
| B | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, TBD (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia) |
| C | Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti |
| D | USA, Australia, Paraguay, TBD (Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo) |
| E | Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao |
| F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, TBD (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania) |
| G | Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand |
| H | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde |
| I | France, Senegal, Norway, TBD (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname) |
| J | Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan |
| K | Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, TBD (DRC/Jamaica/New Caledonia) |
| L | England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana |
Powerhouses like Brazil, France, and Germany promise fireworks, while underdogs such as Haiti and New Zealand could steal the show.
Full Group Stage Schedule: Dates, Times, and Stadiums
Dive into the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage schedule below. Matches are spread across the three host countries, maximizing fan access and showcasing diverse venues.
June 11–13: Opening Weekend
- Thursday, June 11:
- Mexico vs South Africa at 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
- South Korea vs TBD at 10pm (04:00 GMT Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
- Friday, June 12:
- Canada vs TBD at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
- USA vs Paraguay at 9pm (05:00 GMT Saturday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
- Saturday, June 13:
- Qatar vs Switzerland at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
- Brazil vs Morocco at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
- Haiti vs Scotland at 9pm (02:00 GMT Sunday) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
- Australia vs TBD at midnight (08:00 GMT Sunday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
June 14–16: Momentum Builds
- Sunday, June 14:
- Germany vs Curacao at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
- Netherlands vs Japan at 4pm (22:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
- Ivory Coast vs Ecuador at 7pm (00:00 GMT Monday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
- TBD vs Tunisia at 10pm (04:00 GMT Monday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
- Monday, June 15:
- Spain vs Cape Verde at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
- Belgium vs Egypt at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
- Iran vs New Zealand at 9pm (05:00 GMT Tuesday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
- Tuesday, June 16:
- France vs Senegal at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
- TBD vs Norway at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
- Argentina vs Algeria at 9pm (03:00 GMT Wednesday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
- Austria vs Jordan at midnight (08:00 GMT Wednesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
June 17–19: Mid-Group Intensity
- Wednesday, June 17:
- Portugal vs TBD at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
- England vs Croatia at 4pm (22:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
- Ghana vs Panama at 7pm (00:00 GMT Thursday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
- Uzbekistan vs Colombia at 10pm (04:00 GMT Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
- Thursday, June 18:
- TBD vs South Africa at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
- Switzerland vs TBD at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
- Canada vs Qatar at 6pm (02:00 GMT Friday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Mexico vs South Korea at 9pm (03:00 GMT Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
- Friday, June 19:
- Scotland vs Morocco at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
- USA vs Australia at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
- Brazil vs Haiti at 9pm (02:00 GMT Saturday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
- TBD vs Paraguay at midnight (08:00 GMT Saturday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
June 20–22: Crucial Clashes
- Saturday, June 20:
- Netherlands vs TBD at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
- Germany vs Ivory Coast at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
- Ecuador vs Curacao at 8pm (04:00 GMT Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
- Tunisia vs Japan at midnight (06:00 GMT Sunday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
- Sunday, June 21:
- Spain vs Saudi Arabia at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
- Belgium vs Iran at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
- Uruguay vs Cape Verde at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
- New Zealand vs Egypt at 9pm (05:00 GMT Monday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Monday, June 22:
- Argentina vs Austria at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
- France vs TBD at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
- Norway vs Senegal at 8pm (01:00 GMT Tuesday) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
- Jordan vs Algeria at 11pm (07:00 GMT Tuesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
June 23–25: Deciding Fixtures
- Tuesday, June 23:
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
- England vs Ghana at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
- Panama vs Croatia at 7pm (00:00 GMT Wednesday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
- Colombia vs TBD at 10pm (04:00 GMT Wednesday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
- Wednesday, June 24:
- Switzerland vs Canada at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- TBD vs Qatar at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
- Scotland vs Brazil at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
- Morocco vs Haiti at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
- TBD vs Mexico at 9pm (03:00 GMT Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
- South Africa vs South Korea at 9pm (03:00 GMT Thursday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
- Thursday, June 25:
- Ecuador vs Germany at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
- Curacao vs Ivory Coast at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
- Japan vs TBD at 7pm (01:00 GMT Friday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
- Tunisia vs Netherlands at 7pm (01:00 GMT Friday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
- TBD vs USA at 10pm (06:00 GMT Friday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
- Paraguay vs Australia at 10pm (06:00 GMT Friday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
June 26–27: Group Stage Finale
- Friday, June 26:
- Norway vs France at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
- Senegal vs TBD at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
- Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at 8pm (02:00 GMT Saturday) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
- Uruguay vs Spain at 8pm (02:00 GMT Saturday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
- Egypt vs Iran at 11pm (07:00 GMT Saturday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
- New Zealand vs Belgium at 11pm (07:00 GMT Saturday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- Saturday, June 27:
- Panama vs England at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
- Croatia vs Ghana at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
- Colombia vs Portugal at 7:30pm (02:30 GMT Sunday) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
- TBD vs Uzbekistan at 7:30pm (02:30 GMT Sunday) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
- Algeria vs Austria at 10pm (04:00 GMT Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
- Jordan vs Argentina at 10pm (04:00 GMT Sunday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Knockout Stage Schedule:
Once the groups conclude, the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout schedule ramps up the stakes. Specific matchups will be determined post-group stage, but here’s the timeline and venues:
Round of 32 (June 28–July 3)
- June 28: 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
- June 29: 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US; 4:30pm (22:30 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US; 9pm (03:00 GMT Tuesday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
- June 30: 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US; 5pm (22:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US; 9pm (03:00 GMT Wednesday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
- July 1: 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US; 4pm (00:00 GMT Thursday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US; 8pm (04:00 GMT Thursday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
- July 2: 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US; 7pm (00:00 GMT Friday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada; 11pm (07:00 GMT Friday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
- July 3: 2pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US; 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US; 9:30pm (03:30 GMT Saturday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Round of 16 (July 4–7)
- July 4: 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US; 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
- July 5: 4pm (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US; 8pm (02:00 GMT Monday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
- July 6: 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US; 8pm (04:00 GMT Tuesday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
- July 7: 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US; 4pm (00:00 GMT Thursday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
(Note: The schedule continues seamlessly into Quarterfinals at venues like Philadelphia and Dallas on July 9–11, Semifinals in New York New Jersey and Houston on July 14–15, the Bronze Medal Match in Dallas on July 18, and the Final in New York New Jersey on July 19 at 3pm local time.)
This FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture list isn’t just a timetable—it’s a roadmap to soccer history. With matches spanning time zones from Vancouver to Mexico City, fans can catch games in iconic settings like the sun-soaked Miami Stadium or the electric atmosphere of Dallas Stadium. Early qualifiers like Mexico’s opener set the tone for host nation pride, while late-night thrillers in Los Angeles promise Hollywood-level drama.
