FIFA World Cup Schedule 2026, Groups, Fixtures & How to Watch — Complete Guide

Tournament Status: 🟢 Live — Group Stage Underway

When is the 2026 World Cup? June 11 – July 19, 2026 Where? USA, Canada & Mexico (16 host cities, 16 stadiums) How many teams? 48 teams — largest World Cup ever How many matches? 104 matches total Who plays in the Final? MetLife Stadium, New Jersey — July 19, 2026, 3:00 PM ET

Table of Contents

1. What Is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
2. Key Dates at a Glance
3. All 12 Groups — Full Team Breakdown
4. Group Stage Results So Far
5. Complete Match Schedule — All 104 Fixtures
6. Knockout Stage Schedule
7. Host Cities & Stadiums
8. How to Watch — TV & Streaming
9. Team USA Schedule
10. Team Mexico Schedule
11. Team Canada Schedule
12. Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the biggest football tournament in the world. For the first time in history, 48 countries are competing instead of the 32. That means more matches, and more entertainment than any World Cup before it.

The tournament is being co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Matches will be played in 16 different cities and 16 world-class stadiums. In total, fans can enjoy a total of 104 matches over 39 days, which is more than the 64 matches played in the 2022 World Cup.

The tournament format has also been expanded. After the group stage, teams will now play in a new Round of 32 before moving on to the Round of 16. This change gives more national teams the opportunity to advance and compete for the FIFA World Cup trophy.

Why Is This World Cup Different?

Key Dates

All 12 Groups — Full Team Breakdown

The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups, with 4 teams in each group. The top two teams from every group automatically qualify for the knockout stage. In addition, the eight best third-place teams also move forward. This means a total of 32 teams will compete in the knockout rounds, making the tournament more exciting and giving more teams a chance to progress.

Expert Tip: Groups A, B, and D are the “host nation groups.” Mexico (Group A), Canada (Group B), and USA (Group D) are the top in their groups, meaning they avoid each other until at least the semi-finals.

Group Stage Results So Far

Confirmed Results (Matches Played)

Result: USA 4–1 Paraguay

The United States started their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with 4–1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Folarin Balogun scored two goals and played a key role in the team’s strong first-half performance. The USA controlled the match from the beginning and secured one of the most opening-game wins seen in recent World Cup tournaments.

Complete Group Stage Schedule — All 72 Matches

Matchday 1 — Thursday, June 11

Matchday 2 — Friday, June 12

Matchday 3 — Saturday, June 13

Matchday 4 — Sunday, June 14

Matchday 5 — Monday, June 15

Matchday 6 — Tuesday, June 16

Matchday 7 — Wednesday, June 17

Matchday 8 — Thursday, June 18

Matchday 9 — Friday, June 19

Matchday 10 — Saturday, June 20

Matchday 11 — Sunday, June 21

Matchday 12 — Monday, June 22

Matchday 13 — Tuesday, June 23

Matchday 14 — Wednesday, June 24 (Final Group Stage Day — Multiple Simultaneous Kickoffs)

Matchday 15 — Thursday, June 25

Matchday 16 — Friday, June 26

Matchday 17 — Saturday, June 27 (Final Group Stage Matches)

Knockout Stage Schedule

Round of 32 — June 28 to July 3

The Round of 32 is brand new to the World Cup. 32 teams compete, and every result is now elimination football — one loss and you are out.

Round of 16 — July 4 to July 7

Quarter-Finals — July 9 to July 11

Semi-Finals — July 14 & July 15

Third-Place Match — July 18

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami — 5:00 PM ET | FOX

🏆 World Cup Final — July 19, 2026

MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey 3:00 PM ET | FOX & Telemundo

Host Cities & Stadiums — All 16 Venues

United States (11 Stadiums)

Canada (2 Stadiums)

Mexico (3 Stadiums)

Fun Fact: The Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is the only stadium to host a World Cup Final twice (1970 and 1986). Now it hosts the 2026 opening match — a historic third major occasion.

How to Watch the 2026 World Cup

English Language (USA)

Spanish Language (USA)

Canada

TSN and CTV cover English broadcasts. TVA Sports handles French-language coverage.

United Kingdom

BBC and ITV share broadcast rights for all 104 matches.

Team USA — Full 2026 World Cup Schedule

The United States are in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye. They have already beaten Paraguay 4–1 in their opener.

Group Stage

Knockout Stage Path (If USA Qualifies)

Team Mexico — Full 2026 World Cup Schedule

Mexico are in Group A and kicked off the whole tournament with a 2–0 win over South Africa at the Azteca. As a host nation, they play all group games in Mexico.

Group Stage

Knockout Stage Path

Team Canada — Full 2026 World Cup Schedule

Canada are in Group B and drew 1–1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening match in Toronto.

Group Stage

Knockout Stage Path

How Does the 2026 World Cup Format Work?

This is a new format, so here is a simple breakdown.

Step 1 — Group Stage (June 11–27) 48 teams play in 12 groups of 4. Each team plays 3 matches. The top 2 from each group qualify automatically (24 teams). The 8 best third-place teams from all 12 groups also qualify (8 teams). Total: 32 teams advance.

Step 2 — Round of 32 (June 28–July 3) The 32 remaining teams play single-elimination matches. Win and you move on. Lose and you go home.

Step 3 — Round of 16 (July 4–7) 16 teams left. Eight more matches. Eight teams advance to the quarter-finals.

Step 4 — Quarter-Finals (July 9–11) 8 teams fight for a place in the semi-finals. Only 4 move on.

Step 5 — Semi-Finals (July 14–15) The final 4 teams. Two matches. Two finalists and two third-place candidates.

Step 6 — Third-Place Match (July 18) & Final (July 19) The two losing semi-finalists play for bronze in Miami. The two winners meet at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the World Cup trophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026 World Cup start? The tournament began on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

When is the 2026 World Cup Final? The Final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kickoff is at 3:00 PM ET.

How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup? 48 teams — the most ever in World Cup history. Previous tournaments had 32 teams.

What is the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup? It is a brand new knockout round added for 2026. After the group stage, 32 teams remain and play elimination matches. This is the first time this round has existed in World Cup history.

Who won the first match of the 2026 World Cup? Mexico beat South Africa 2–0 in the opening match at Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026.

What was the score of USA vs Paraguay? The USA beat Paraguay 4–1 on June 12, 2026 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Folarin Balogun scored twice.

Can I watch the World Cup for free in the USA? Yes. FOX is a free over-the-air channel, and about 70 matches (including most big games) are broadcast on FOX. You can also stream free matches via the FOX One app. Tubi streamed the opening matches for free.

Which country is hosting the 2026 World Cup? Three countries are co-hosting: the United States (78 matches), Canada (13 matches), and Mexico (13 matches).

When was the 2026 World Cup draw? The Final Draw took place on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Which city hosts the 2026 World Cup Final? The Final is in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium — just outside New York City.

Where is Argentina in the 2026 World Cup? Argentina, the defending champions, are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. They opened with a win over Algeria on June 16.

Where is England in the 2026 World Cup? England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. They opened against Croatia on June 17.

Where is France in the 2026 World Cup? France are in Group I alongside Senegal, Norway, and Iraq. They played Senegal on June 16.

Where is Brazil in the 2026 World Cup? Brazil are in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. They played Morocco on June 13.

Summary

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is unlike any other. It is bigger, longer, and more spread out than any tournament before it. The new Round of 32 gives more teams a real chance at glory. The three-nation format means matches are happening across time zones, so there is almost always a game on from morning to midnight ET.

For fans of the US, Mexico, or Canada, this is a once-in-a-generation chance to watch your national team play a home World Cup. The group stage runs until June 27, and then the stakes get even higher from June 28 onward.

The Final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium will be one of the most-watched sporting events in human history — with FIFA projecting over 5 billion viewers worldwide.