The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in human history — 48 teams, 16 groups, 104 matches, and three host countries (USA, Canada, Mexico) across 16 venues. Whether you're planning a watch party, booking travel, or just want to know when your country plays, this is the complete schedule reference.
👉 Visit our full 2026 World Cup Hub for standings, group tables, team squads, and live score updates.
Tournament at a Glance
- Opening match: June 11, 2026 — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Total matches: 104 (expanded from 64 in 2022)
- Teams: 48 (up from 32)
- Host cities (USA): New York/NJ, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Kansas City, Philadelphia
- Host cities (Canada): Toronto, Vancouver
- Host cities (Mexico): Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey
- Final: July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
👉 See the live schedule with real-time scores on our World Cup Schedule page
Group Stage Schedule Overview
The group stage runs June 11–July 2, 2026. All 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three group-stage matches; the top two from each group and eight best third-place finishers advance to the Round of 32 (a new round introduced for 2026).
Group A
Played across Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Los Angeles. This group features several UEFA and CONMEBOL heavyweights fighting for the top two spots. Opening matches begin June 11–12, with the final group stage matches on June 30–July 1.
Group B
Hosted in Toronto, New York/NJ, and Dallas. Group B typically contains the host nation USA draw, which guarantees maximum TV viewership for US broadcasters FOX and Telemundo.
Groups C–L
Distributed across all 16 stadiums, with each venue hosting six to eight group stage matches before transitioning to knockout rounds. See our World Cup 2026 Groups page for the full team-by-team breakdown of every group.
Knockout Stage Schedule
Round of 32 (New in 2026)
Dates: July 4–7, 2026
For the first time ever, the World Cup includes a Round of 32 to accommodate the expanded 48-team field. The 16 group winners, 16 runners-up, and 8 best third-place teams continue into this stage.
Round of 16
Dates: July 8–10, 2026
The 16 surviving teams compete in single-elimination matches, with venues concentrated in the USA's largest markets: MetLife, AT&T Stadium, SoFi Stadium, and Levi's Stadium.
Quarterfinals
Dates: July 12–13, 2026
Eight teams remain. The quarterfinals are split across four venues — two in the USA, one in Canada, and one in Mexico — before the final weekend takes over New York.
Semifinals
Dates: July 15–16, 2026
The two semifinals are played at AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) — the two largest-capacity World Cup venues at 80,000+ seats each.
Third-Place Match
Date: July 18, 2026 — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL
The two semifinal losers compete for bronze at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
The Final
Date: July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
The World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium will be the most-watched sporting event of 2026, with an estimated global audience of 1.5 billion. Capacity: 82,500.
Key Dates to Save
| Stage | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | June 11 – July 2 | 72 matches |
| Round of 32 | July 4–7 | 16 matches |
| Round of 16 | July 8–10 | 8 matches |
| Quarterfinals | July 12–13 | 4 matches |
| Semifinals | July 15–16 | 2 matches |
| Third-Place Match | July 18 | 1 match |
| Final | July 19 | 1 match |
All 16 World Cup 2026 Venues
United States (11 venues)
- MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, NJ (Final host) — Capacity: 82,500
- AT&T Stadium — Arlington, TX (Dallas) — Capacity: 80,000
- SoFi Stadium — Inglewood, CA (Los Angeles) — Capacity: 77,000
- Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, FL — Capacity: 65,000
- Levi's Stadium — Santa Clara, CA (San Francisco) — Capacity: 68,500
- Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, PA — Capacity: 69,000
- Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, MO — Capacity: 76,000
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, GA — Capacity: 71,000
- Lumen Field — Seattle, WA — Capacity: 68,740
- Gillette Stadium — Foxborough, MA (Boston) — Capacity: 65,878
Canada (2 venues)
- BMO Field — Toronto, ON — Capacity: 45,736 (expanded)
- BC Place — Vancouver, BC — Capacity: 54,500
Mexico (3 venues)
- Estadio Azteca — Mexico City — Capacity: 87,523 (opening match venue)
- Estadio BBVA — Monterrey — Capacity: 51,000
- Estadio Akron — Guadalajara — Capacity: 49,850
How to Watch World Cup 2026 in the USA
In the United States, FOX Sports and Telemundo hold broadcast rights. All 104 matches will be available across FOX, FS1, FS2, and Telemundo/Peacock. Streaming is available on the FOX Sports app and Peacock for subscribers.
- English broadcasts: FOX, FS1, FS2
- Spanish broadcasts: Telemundo, Universo, Peacock
- Streaming: FOX Sports app, Peacock
What Makes 2026 Different
Beyond the expanded field, the 2026 World Cup represents a landmark moment for North American soccer:
- 48 teams — up from 32 in Qatar 2022, adding 16 new nations to the world's biggest stage
- Three host countries — the first tri-nation World Cup in history
- A Round of 32 — the new knockout stage that gives more teams a chance after the group stage
- USA hosting for the first time since 1994 — where they shockingly advanced to the quarterfinals
- Canada's first-ever World Cup as a host — and as a qualifying nation after making it in 2022
Follow Along on SportBusy
SportBusy is your home for everything World Cup 2026:
- 📅 Live match schedule with real-time scores
- 🏆 Full World Cup 2026 hub — groups, standings, squads
- 📊 2026 World Cup Groups: Every Country's Path
- 📋 Team squads and rosters
Bookmark this page and check back as the tournament approaches — we'll keep match times, venues, and live scores fully updated throughout all 104 games.