World Cup 2026 Schedule: Dates, Venues and Key Matches

The wait is over. World Cup 2026 finally has a roadmap.

FIFA has locked in the full schedule for the expanded 48‑team tournament, confirming dates, kick-off times and venues for all 104 matches across the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Mexico open the show in Mexico City, the final lands in New York/New Jersey, and the world’s biggest teams will crisscross a continent for five weeks of football that will test legs, lungs and depth charts like never before.

A World Cup stretched across a continent

Sixteen stadiums will share hosting duties, from the altitude and history of Estadio Azteca to the vast modern bowls of SoFi Stadium and AT&T Stadium. Every game will be shown on Telemundo and Peacock (en Español), with Universo picking up selected fixtures.

The curtain-raiser comes on Thursday, June 11, at the spiritual home of Mexican football: Estadio Azteca. Mexico face South Africa at 3pm ET in Group A, launching a tournament that will span three countries, six time zones and almost 40 days.

Later that night, Guadalajara gets its first taste. South Korea meet Czechia at Estadio Akron at 10pm, a reminder that this World Cup will not ease in gently.

Group A then rolls through Atlanta, Monterrey and back to the Azteca, with Mexico’s group-stage path rooted firmly on home soil: Guadalajara against South Korea on June 18, then a marquee clash with Czechia in Mexico City on June 24.

Canada steps onto the global stage

On Friday, June 12, it’s Canada’s turn. BMO Field in Toronto hosts Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina at 3pm ET to open Group B, the country’s first World Cup game on home turf.

The group is a mix of styles and storylines. Qatar and Switzerland meet at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area on June 13, before Switzerland head to SoFi Stadium to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 18.

Canada split their home base between Toronto and Vancouver, with BC Place staging Canada vs Qatar on June 18 and a potentially decisive Switzerland vs Canada on June 24. Lumen Field in Seattle rounds out the group with Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar the same day.

Brazil, Argentina, England and the heavyweights’ routes

The big hitters are scattered across the map.

Brazil begin in the New York/New Jersey area. MetLife Stadium hosts Brazil vs Morocco on Saturday, June 13 at 6pm ET in Group C. That same night, Haiti face Scotland in Boston at Gillette Stadium. Brazil then head to Philadelphia to meet Haiti on June 19, before a glamour tie against Scotland at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 24.

The USA start under the lights in Los Angeles. SoFi Stadium stages USA vs Paraguay at 9pm ET on Friday, June 12 in Group D. The Americans then fly north to Seattle for USA vs Australia on June 19, before returning to Los Angeles for a late showdown with Turkiye on June 25.

Germany’s Group E journey runs through Houston (vs Curacao, June 14), Toronto (vs Ivory Coast, June 20) and a heavyweight closer at MetLife Stadium against Ecuador on June 25. Ivory Coast and Ecuador split their dates between Philadelphia, Kansas City and Houston.

The Netherlands and Japan headline Group F, opening at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on June 14, with Sweden vs Tunisia later that night in Monterrey. The Dutch then meet Sweden in Houston on June 20, while Japan and Sweden return to Dallas for a key clash on June 25.

Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand make up Group G, with games in Los Angeles, Seattle and Vancouver. Group H sends Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay through Atlanta, Miami and Houston, with Uruguay vs Spain set for a primetime date at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara on June 26.

France’s title charge begins at MetLife Stadium on June 16 against Senegal in Group I, followed by Iraq vs Norway in Boston. France then travel to Philadelphia to face Iraq, before Norway and Senegal return to New York/New Jersey on June 22. The group finishes with Norway vs France in Boston and Senegal vs Iraq in Toronto on June 26.

Argentina anchor Group J. Lionel Scaloni’s side start at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City against Algeria on June 16 at 9pm ET. Austria face Jordan at Levi’s Stadium that same night. Argentina then head to AT&T Stadium to play Austria on June 22, with Jordan vs Algeria in California later that day. The group closes on June 27: Algeria vs Austria back at Arrowhead, Jordan vs Argentina in Dallas.

Portugal’s Group K route is built around Houston and Mexico. Cristiano Ronaldo’s side, if he is still involved by then, open against Democratic Republic of Congo at NRG Stadium on June 17. Uzbekistan vs Colombia follows at Estadio Azteca that night. Portugal return to Houston to face Uzbekistan on June 23, while Colombia meet DR Congo in Guadalajara. The group climaxes on June 27 with Colombia vs Portugal in Miami and DR Congo vs Uzbekistan in Atlanta.

England headline Group L. Their campaign starts in Dallas on June 17 against Croatia at AT&T Stadium. Ghana vs Panama kicks off later that day in Toronto. England then travel to Boston to play Ghana on June 23, with Panama vs Croatia in Toronto the same day. On June 27, England meet Panama at MetLife Stadium, while Croatia face Ghana in Philadelphia.

From 48 to 32: the new knockout maze

Once the 12 groups are settled, the new-look knockout phase begins with a Round of 32, a first in World Cup history.

It starts on Sunday, June 28 at SoFi Stadium with Match 73: the runners-up from Groups A and B collide in Los Angeles at 3pm ET.

Over the next six days, the bracket takes shape across Houston, Boston, Monterrey, Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Mexico City, Atlanta, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Miami and Kansas City. Group winners draw either runners-up or some of the best third-placed sides, creating a complex web of possible paths.

MetLife Stadium hosts Match 77 on June 30, featuring the winner of Group I against a third-placed side. Estadio Azteca gets its first knockout taste that same night with Match 79: the winner of Group A against a third-placed opponent.

By July 3, the Round of 32 closes in Dallas, Miami and Kansas City, with Match 88 in Arlington pitting the runners-up of Groups D and G, Match 86 in Miami pairing the winners of Groups J and H, and Match 87 in Kansas City giving the Group K winners a date with another third-placed qualifier.

The march to MetLife

From there, the tournament snaps back into a more familiar shape.

The Round of 16 runs from July 4 to July 7. Houston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver each host one tie.

Match 90, featuring the winners of Matches 73 and 75, opens the last‑16 in Houston on July 4. MetLife Stadium hosts Match 91 on July 5, while Estadio Azteca stages Match 92 that same evening, ensuring both iconic venues sit at the heart of the business end.

Quarterfinals stretch from July 9 to July 11. Boston gets Match 97, Los Angeles hosts Match 98 at SoFi Stadium, Miami welcomes Match 99 at Hard Rock Stadium, and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City carries Match 100 deep into the night.

The semifinal stage is set for Texas and Georgia. AT&T Stadium in Dallas hosts Match 101 on July 14, between the winners of the Boston and Los Angeles quarterfinals. A day later, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta takes Match 102, featuring the survivors of Miami and Kansas City.

Hard Rock Stadium will stage the third-place game on July 18 at 5pm ET. By then, two teams will be left standing.

They meet at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19, at 3pm ET, in Match 104: the World Cup final.

From Mexico City’s opening roar to New York/New Jersey’s final whistle, the route is clear. Now the question is simple: who can survive the miles, the heat, the travel and the pressure to still be standing when the lights come up on that last afternoon in July?