2026 World Cup schedule
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 across the US, Mexico and Canada. That's 39 days, 104 matches and 48 teams. Here is the full structure by round.
Schedule by round
| Round | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage | June 11–27 | 72 |
| Round of 32 | June 28 – July 3 | 16 |
| Round of 16 | July 4–7 | 8 |
| Quarter-finals | July 9 and 11 | 4 |
| Semi-finals | July 14 and 15 | 2 |
| Third place | July 18 | 1 |
| Final | July 19 | 1 |
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Ver App GratisIconic matches in the calendar
- Opening match: June 11, Azteca Stadium (Mexico City). Mexico hosts the curtain-raiser.
- Final: July 19, MetLife Stadium (New Jersey). The NY Giants/Jets home also hosted the 2025 Club World Cup final.
- Third place: July 18, venue TBC (likely Miami).
How to follow it day by day
- Group stage: up to 6 matches per day, spread across the Pacific, Central and Eastern time zones. Kick-offs from 12:00 to 21:00 local at each venue.
- Knockouts: 1–2 matches per day, usually in primetime US slots (evenings in the US = late nights in Europe).
Days without football
There are short breaks between rounds for prep and travel:
| Date | Reason |
|---|---|
| June 28–29 | Break between group stage and round of 32 |
| July 8 | Break before quarter-finals |
| July 12–13 | Break between quarters and semis |
| July 16–17 | Break before third-place play-off |
FAQ
How many group-stage matches does each team play? Three, one against each of the other three teams in the group.
Will there be Monday matches? Yes. The group stage covers all seven days of the week.
How long does the tournament last? 39 days, from June 11 to July 19.
When is the final match calendar drawn? FIFA releases the detailed match calendar after the final draw (early 2026).
Want to master football and the 2026 World Cup? Test your knowledge with Football One Quiz, the official app for iOS and Android.
