2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule: All 104 Matches, Groups, Dates & Venues

The 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule is officially underway. Today, June 11, 2026, is the day the world has been waiting for — the biggest World Cup in history has kicked off. With 48 teams, 12 groups, and 104 total matches spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, this tournament is on a completely different scale from anything we’ve seen before.

This guide gives you the full schedule, every group, all match dates, kickoff times (ET), and venues — all in one place.

Tournament Overview

The 48 Qualified Teams by Group

Group Stage Schedule — All 72 Matches

All times are Eastern Time (ET). TV listings are US broadcast (FOX / FS1).

Group A — Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia

Group B — Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C — Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D — USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye

Group E — Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Group F — Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Group G — Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H — Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I — France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

Group J — Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K — Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Group L — England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Knockout Stage Schedule

32 teams advance from the group stage — the top two from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers. From there, it’s win or go home.

Round of 32 (June 28 – July 3)

Round of 16 (July 4 – July 7)

Quarterfinals (July 9 – July 11)

Semifinals (July 14 – July 15)

Third-Place Match & Final

How to Watch

All 104 matches air on FOX and FS1 in the United States, with streaming available on the FOX One and FOX Sports apps. Select matches, including the opener (Mexico vs. South Africa) and the USA’s first game, are streaming free on Tubi.

FAQ

How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup? 48 teams — the biggest field in World Cup history. They’re split into 12 groups of four.

When does the 2026 World Cup start and end? It started today, June 11, 2026. The Final is on July 19, 2026 — a total of 39 days of football.

What is the Round of 32? It’s a brand-new knockout round introduced because 48 teams don’t fit neatly into a Round of 16. It runs June 28–July 3 and is the first elimination round after the group stage.

How many matches are there in total? 104 matches: 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockout rounds.

Who is the defending champion? Argentina, who won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under Lionel Messi.

Where is the 2026 World Cup Final? MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — right outside New York City — on July 19 at 3:00 PM ET.

What happens if a knockout match is tied after 90 minutes? 30 minutes of extra time (two 15-minute halves) are played. If still level, it goes to a penalty shootout.

Which country hosts the most matches? The United States hosts 78 out of 104 matches across 11 cities.