The 2026 FIFA World Cup got underway on Thursday after years of preparation, expansion and scrutiny, with the tournament set to break new ground across three host nations.
Canada, Mexico and the United States jointly stage the competition for the first time in history, with matches spread across 16 cities.
The expanded 48-team format marks the biggest edition of the tournament since its inception in 1930, with a total of 104 matches scheduled over 39 days.
Argentina arrive as defending champions after their triumph at Qatar 2022, while attention now shifts to a reshaped global competition featuring new entrants, extended knockout rounds and a wider competitive field.
The opening match took place on June 11 at the Mexico City Stadium, where hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, while the final is scheduled for July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with kickoff set for 3pm ET (19:00 GMT).
In line with FIFA’s commercial regulations, several stadiums have been temporarily renamed for the duration of the tournament to avoid brand conflicts.
Venues such as MetLife Stadium and SoFi Stadium will operate under city-based names throughout the competition.
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The format introduces a round of 32 for the first time in World Cup history. The group stage runs from June 11 to June 27, followed by the knockout phase beginning on June 28. The round of 16 will be played from July 4 to July 7, quarterfinals from July 9 to July 11, semifinals on July 14 and July 15, with the third-place match on July 18 and the final on July 19.
Group stage
The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic (South Korea), Czechia (Czech Republic)
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye
Group E: Germany, Curacao, 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
Tournament format
The 2026 edition introduces a 12-group structure with the top two teams from each group, alongside the best third-placed teams, advancing to a newly created round of 32. From there, the competition progresses through single-elimination knockout rounds to the final.
Stage breakdown:
Group stage: June 11 – June 27
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: July 18
Final: July 19
Full match schedule
Group stage
Thursday, June 11
Mexico vs South Africa at 1pm CST (19:00 GMT) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
South Korea vs Czechia at 8pm CST (02:00 GMT on Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Friday, June 12
Canada vs Bosnia at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
USA vs Paraguay at 6pm PT (01:00 GMT on Saturday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Saturday, June 13
Qatar vs Switzerland at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Brazil vs Morocco at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Haiti vs Scotland at 9pm ET (01:00 GMT on Sunday) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Australia vs Turkiye at 6pm PT (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Sunday, June 14
Germany vs Curacao at 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Netherlands vs Japan at 3pm CDT (20:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador at 7pm ET (23:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Sweden vs Tunisia at 8pm CST (02:00 GMT on Monday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Monday, June 15
Spain vs Cape Verde at 12pm ET (16:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Belgium vs Egypt at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Iran vs New Zealand at 6pm PT (01:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Tuesday, June 16
France vs Senegal at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Iraq vs Norway at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Argentina vs Algeria at 8pm CDT (01:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Austria vs Jordan at 9pm PT (04:00 GMT on Wednesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Wednesday, June 17
Portugal vs DRC at 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
England vs Croatia at 3pm CDT (20:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Ghana vs Panama at 7pm ET (23:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Uzbekistan vs Colombia at 8pm CST (02:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
Thursday, June 18
Czechia vs South Africa at 12pm ET (16:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Switzerland vs Bosnia at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Canada vs Qatar at 3pm PT (22:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Mexico vs South Korea at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Friday, June 19
Scotland vs Morocco at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
USA vs Australia at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Brazil vs Haiti at 8:30pm ET (00:30 GMT on Saturday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Turkiye vs Paraguay at 9pm PT (03:00 GMT on Saturday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Saturday, June 20
Netherlands vs Sweden at 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Germany vs Ivory Coast at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Ecuador vs Curacao at 7pm CDT (03:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Tunisia vs Japan at 10pm CST (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Sunday, June 21
Spain vs Saudi Arabia at 12pm ET (16:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Belgium vs Iran at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Uruguay vs Cape Verde at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
New Zealand vs Egypt at 6pm PT (01:00 GMT on Monday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Monday, June 22
Argentina vs Austria at 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
France vs Iraq at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Norway vs Senegal at 8pm ET (00:00 GMT on Tuesday) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Jordan vs Algeria at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Tuesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs Uzbekistan at 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
England vs Ghana at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Panama vs Croatia at 7pm ET (23:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Colombia vs DRC at 8pm CST (02:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs Canada at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Bosnia vs Qatar at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Scotland vs Brazil at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Morocco vs Haiti at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Czechia vs Mexico at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
South Africa vs South Korea at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Thursday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs Germany at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Curacao vs Ivory Coast at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Japan vs Sweden at 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Tunisia vs Netherlands at 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,
Turkiye vs USA at 7pm PT (02:00 GMT on Friday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Paraguay vs Australia at 7pm PT (02:00 GMT on Friday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Friday, June 26
Norway vs France at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Senegal vs Iraq at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at 7pm CDT (00:00 GMT on Saturday) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Uruguay vs Spain at 6pm CST (00:00 GMT on Saturday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Egypt vs Iran at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Saturday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
New Zealand vs Belgium at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Saturday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Saturday, June 27
Panama vs England at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Croatia vs Ghana at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Colombia vs Portugal at 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
DRC vs Uzbekistan at 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Algeria vs Austria at 9pm CDT (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Jordan vs Argentina at 9pm CDT (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Knockout stage
Sunday, June 28
Round of 32 match at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Monday, June 29
Round of 32 match at 12pm CDT (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Round of 32 match at 4:30pm ET (20:30 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Round of 32 match at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Tuesday, June 30
Round of 32 match at 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Round of 32 match at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Round of 32 match at 7pm CST (01:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
Wednesday, July 1
Round of 32 match at 12pm ET (16:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Round of 32 match at 1pm PT (20:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Round of 32 match at 5pm PT (20:00 GMT) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Thursday, July 2
Round of 32 match at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Round of 32 match at 7pm ET (23:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Round of 32 match at 8pm PT (03:00 GMT on Friday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Friday, July 3
Round of 32 match at 1pm CDT (18:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Round of 32 match at 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Round of 32 match at 8:30pm CDT (01:30 GMT on Saturday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Saturday, July 4
Round of 16 match at 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Round of 16 match at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Sunday, July 5
Round of 16 match at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Round of 16 match at 6pm CST (00:00 GMT on Monday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
Monday, July 6
Round of 16 match at 2pm CDT (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Round of 16 match at 5pm PT (00:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Tuesday, July 7
Round of 16 match at 12pm ET (16:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Round of 16 match at 1pm PT (20:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Thursday, 9 July
First quarterfinal at 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Friday, 10 July
Second quarterfinal at 12pm PT (19:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Saturday, July 11
Third quarterfinal at 5pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Fourth quarterfinal at 8pm CDT (01:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Tuesday, July 14
First semifinal at 2pm CDT (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Wednesday, July 15
Second semifinal at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Saturday, July 18
Bronze medal match at 5pm ET (21:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Sunday, July 19
Final at 3pm ET (19:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
