FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule, Fixtures, and Dates

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be one of the most historic editions of the tournament. With 48 teams participating for the first time, this global football spectacle will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Matches will take place across 16 cities, offering fans a wider reach and more exciting fixtures than ever before. The competition will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, delivering over a month of thrilling international football.

Host Nations and Venues

This is the first time the World Cup will be staged in three countries.

Canada: Toronto and Vancouver will host key matches.
Mexico: Iconic stadiums such as the Estadio Azteca will bring football history to life.
United States: With several venues, including MetLife Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the USA will cover the majority of fixtures.

In total, 16 world-class stadiums will stage the matches, ensuring top-notch facilities for both players and fans.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule, Fixtures, and Dates

The official World Cup 2026 schedule is spread across different phases of the tournament:

Stage	Dates	Details
Group Stage – Matchday 1	June 11 – 17, 2026	Opening round of matches across all groups
Group Stage – Matchday 2	June 18 – 23, 2026	Teams fight for qualification momentum
Group Stage – Matchday 3	June 24 – 27, 2026	Final group fixtures to decide standings
Round of 32	June 28 – July 3, 2026	First-ever extended knockout stage
Round of 16	July 4 – 7, 2026	Traditional elimination stage
Quarterfinals	July 9 – 11, 2026	Top eight teams battle for semifinal spots
Semifinals	July 14 – 15, 2026	Four teams compete for the final
Third Place Playoff	July 18, 2026	Bronze medal clash
Final	July 19, 2026	Championship match to crown the winner

Group A

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Mexico (H)	Advance to knockout stage
2	A2
3	A3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	A4

June 11 – Mexico vs A2, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
June 11 – A3 vs A4, Estadio Akron (Zapopan)
June 18 – A4 vs A2, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
June 18 – Mexico vs A3, Estadio Akron (Zapopan)
June 24 – A4 vs Mexico, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
June 24 – A2 vs A3, Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe)

Group B

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	Canada (H)	Advance to knockout stage
2	B2
3	B3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	B4

June 12 – Canada vs B2, BMO Field (Toronto)
June 13 – B3 vs B4, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara)
June 18 – B4 vs B2, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
June 18 – Canada vs B3, BC Place (Vancouver)
June 24 – B4 vs Canada, BC Place (Vancouver)
June 24 – B2 vs B3, Lumen Field (Seattle)

Group C

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	C1	Advance to knockout stage
2	C2
3	C3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	C4

June 13, 2026 – Match 5, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
June 13, 2026 – Match 7, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
June 19, 2026 – Match 29, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
June 19, 2026 – Match 30, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
June 24, 2026 – Match 49, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
June 24, 2026 – Match 50, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Group D

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	United States (H)	Advance to knockout stage
2	D2
3	D3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	D4

June 12, 2026 – United States vs D2 (Match 4), SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
June 13, 2026 – D3 vs D4 (Match 6), BC Place (Vancouver)
June 19, 2026 – D4 vs D2 (Match 31), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara)
June 19, 2026 – United States vs D3 (Match 32), Lumen Field (Seattle)
June 25, 2026 – D4 vs United States (Match 59), SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
June 25, 2026 – D2 vs D3 (Match 60), Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara)

Group E

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	E1	Advance to knockout stage
2	E2
3	E3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	E4

June 14, 2026 – Match 9, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
June 14, 2026 – Match 10, NRG Stadium (Houston)
June 20, 2026 – Match 33, BMO Field (Toronto)
June 20, 2026 – Match 34, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
June 25, 2026 – Match 55, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
June 25, 2026 – Match 56, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)

Group F

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	F1	Advance to knockout stage
2	F2
3	F3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	F4

June 14, 2026 – Match 11, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
June 14, 2026 – Match 12, Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe)
June 20, 2026 – Match 35, NRG Stadium (Houston)
June 20, 2026 – Match 36, Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe)
June 25, 2026 – Match 57, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
June 25, 2026 – Match 58, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

Group G

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	G1	Advance to knockout stage
2	G2
3	G3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	G4

June 15, 2026 – Match 15, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
June 15, 2026 – Match 16, Lumen Field (Seattle)
June 21, 2026 – Match 39, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
June 21, 2026 – Match 40, BC Place (Vancouver)
June 26, 2026 – Match 63, Lumen Field (Seattle)
June 26, 2026 – Match 64, BC Place (Vancouver)

Group H

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	H1	Advance to knockout stage
2	H2
3	H3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	H4

June 15, 2026 – Match 13, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
June 15, 2026 – Match 14, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
June 21, 2026 – Match 37, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
June 21, 2026 – Match 38, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
June 26, 2026 – Match 65, NRG Stadium (Houston)
June 26, 2026 – Match 66, Estadio Akron (Zapopan)

Group I

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	I1	Advance to knockout stage
2	I2
3	I3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	I4

June 16, 2026 – Match 17, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
June 16, 2026 – Match 18, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
June 22, 2026 – Match 41, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
June 22, 2026 – Match 42, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
June 26, 2026 – Match 61, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
June 26, 2026 – Match 62, BMO Field (Toronto)

Group J

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	J1	Advance to knockout stage
2	J2
3	J3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	J4

June 16, 2026 – Match 19, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
June 16, 2026 – Match 20, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara)
June 22, 2026 – Match 43, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
June 22, 2026 – Match 44, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara)
June 27, 2026 – Match 69, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
June 27, 2026 – Match 70, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)

Group K

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	K1	Advance to knockout stage
2	K2
3	K3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	K4

June 17, 2026 – Match 23, NRG Stadium (Houston)
June 17, 2026 – Match 24, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
June 23, 2026 – Match 47, NRG Stadium (Houston)
June 23, 2026 – Match 48, Estadio Akron (Zapopan)
June 27, 2026 – Match 71, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
June 27, 2026 – Match 72, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Group L

Pos	Team	Qualification
1	L1	Advance to knockout stage
2	L2
3	L3	Possible knockout stage based on ranking
4	L4

June 17, 2026 – Match 21, BMO Field (Toronto)
June 17, 2026 – Match 22, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
June 23, 2026 – Match 45, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
June 23, 2026 – Match 46, BMO Field (Toronto)
June 27, 2026 – Match 67, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
June 27, 2026 – Match 68, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

Round of 32

June 28 – Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group B, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
June 29 – Winner Group E vs 3rd A/B/C/D/F, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
June 29 – Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group C, Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe)
June 29 – Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group F, NRG Stadium (Houston)
June 30 – Winner Group I vs 3rd C/D/F/G/H, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
June 30 – Runner-up Group E vs Runner-up Group I, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
June 30 – Winner Group A vs 3rd C/E/F/H/I, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
July 1 – Winner Group L vs 3rd E/H/I/J/K, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
July 1 – Winner Group D vs 3rd B/E/F/I/J, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara)
July 1 – Winner Group G vs 3rd A/E/H/I/J, Lumen Field (Seattle)
July 2 – Runner-up Group K vs Runner-up Group L, BMO Field (Toronto)
July 2 – Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
July 2 – Winner Group B vs 3rd E/F/G/I/J, BC Place (Vancouver)
July 3 – Winner Group J vs Runner-up Group H, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
July 3 – Winner Group K vs 3rd D/E/I/J/L, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
July 3 – Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group G, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)

Round of 16

July 4 – Winner M74 vs Winner M77, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
July 4 – Winner M73 vs Winner M75, NRG Stadium (Houston)
July 5 – Winner M76 vs Winner M78, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
July 5 – Winner M79 vs Winner M80, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
July 6 – Winner M83 vs Winner M84, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
July 6 – Winner M81 vs Winner M82, Lumen Field (Seattle)
July 7 – Winner M86 vs Winner M88, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
July 7 – Winner M85 vs Winner M87, BC Place (Vancouver)

Quarterfinals

July 9 – Winner M89 vs Winner M90, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
July 10 – Winner M93 vs Winner M94, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
July 11 – Winner M91 vs Winner M92, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)
July 11 – Winner M95 vs Winner M96, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

Semifinals

July 14 – Winner M97 vs Winner M98, AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
July 15 – Winner M99 vs Winner M100, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Third Place Playoff

July 18 – Loser M101 vs Loser M102, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens)

Final

July 19 – Winner M101 vs Winner M102, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)

Expanded Format: 48 Teams

For the first time, the World Cup format expands from 32 to 48 teams. This allows more nations from different confederations to participate, giving football fans a chance to see new rivalries and underdog stories unfold. The tournament will feature:

6 confederations represented.
More knockout matches due to the new Round of 32.
Higher chances for emerging football nations to showcase their talent.

Key Highlights of the 2026 World Cup

Longest duration: Spanning over five weeks, making it one of the most extended World Cups ever.
Massive audience reach: With three host countries, fans from North America and beyond will have easy access to matches.
Historic venues: From the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico to modern arenas in the USA, the event blends tradition with modern football culture.
Global participation: The largest pool of teams in history ensures diversity and fresh competition.

Conclusion

The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule highlights a new era in international football. With an expanded format, matches across North America, and more opportunities for nations worldwide, this edition promises to be unforgettable. From the group stage in June to the final on July 19, 2026, fans can expect football at its finest on the world’s biggest stage.