2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule: Key Dates, Rounds & Complete Timeline
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City and concludes with the Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Here is the complete tournament timeline.
Tournament Overview
- Opening match: June 11, 2026 — Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Group stage: June 11 – June 27, 2026
- Round of 32: June 28 – July 1, 2026
- Round of 16: July 3 – July 6, 2026
- Quarterfinals: July 9 – July 10, 2026
- Semifinals: July 13 – July 14, 2026
- Third-place match: July 18, 2026
- Final: July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Group Stage Schedule (June 11–27)
The group stage spans 17 days with typically 4–6 matches per day. Each of the 48 teams plays exactly 3 group stage matches. The final matchday (Matchday 3) for each group has both matches kick off simultaneously to prevent tactical manipulation of results.
| Date | Phase | Notable Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 11 | MD1 opens | 🇲🇽 Mexico vs 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| Jun 12 | MD1 | 🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇧🇦 Bosnia · 🇺🇸 USA vs 🇵🇾 Paraguay |
| Jun 13 | MD1 | 🇧🇷 Brazil vs 🇲🇦 Morocco · 🇧🇪 Belgium vs 🇪🇬 Egypt |
| Jun 17–20 | Matchday 2 | All groups — rematch round |
| Jun 24–27 | Matchday 3 | All groups — simultaneous finals |
| Jun 28 | Round of 32 begins | First knockout matches |
| Jul 3 | Round of 16 begins | Last 16 teams compete |
| Jul 9–10 | Quarterfinals | Last 8 teams |
| Jul 13–14 | Semifinals | Final four |
| Jul 19 | 🏆 FINAL | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
Host City Venues
Matches are spread across 16 stadiums in 11 US cities, 3 Mexican cities, and 2 Canadian cities. The US venues include MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey), SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), AT&T Stadium (Dallas), and more. The Final will be held at MetLife Stadium — the largest capacity venue in the tournament at approximately 82,500 seats.
When to Watch: Time Zones
With matches played across North America, kick-off times vary widely. Most group stage matches kick off at noon, 3 PM, 6 PM, or 9 PM local time. European fans watching from UTC+1 (BST) will see late-night matches, while Asian fans face early-morning starts for the key knockout games.
💡 Best matchday tip: The last day of the group stage (June 24–27) is when the most decisive drama happens. Every simultaneous final matchday produces at least one shocking result. Set your alarms.
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