World Cup 2026 Schedule: Dates, Format & Match Calendar
The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, July 19, 2026, across the United States, Mexico and Canada. It is the first 48-team World Cup and the first hosted by three nations, with 104 matches played in 16 host cities.
Key dates at a glance
| Stage | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Opening match | June 11, 2026 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Group stage | June 11 – 27, 2026 | 12 groups of 4 teams |
| Round of 32 | June 28 – July 3, 2026 | New knockout round for 2026 |
| Round of 16 | July 4 – 7, 2026 | |
| Quarter-finals | July 9 – 11, 2026 | |
| Semi-finals | July 14 – 15, 2026 | |
| Third-place play-off | July 18, 2026 | |
| Final | July 19, 2026 | MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey |
How the 2026 format works
For the first time, the tournament features 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. The top two teams in each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to a new Round of 32. From there the competition becomes a straight knockout: Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
This expanded format means more games (104 in total, up from 64) and a longer group stage, but it also means a single poor result is no longer automatically fatal — third place can still be enough to progress.
The big fixtures
- Opening match: June 11 at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the first stadium to host three different World Cups.
- Final: July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- Most matches: AT&T Stadium in Dallas hosts nine games, including a semi-final.
For the full venue breakdown see our guide to all 16 host cities and stadiums, follow the groups and standings, and read our daily results and analysis.
Exact kick-off times and match-by-match fixtures are confirmed by FIFA; dates for the knockout rounds reflect the official tournament calendar and may be refined as the bracket is set.