FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: The Stage Is Set for Football’s Largest Show

Co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the 39-day FIFA World Cup 2026 spectacle will run from June 11 to July 19.

Argentina, the reigning champions, will attempt to defend the crown they lifted in Qatar 2022 under Lionel Messi. At 38, Messi is chasing a piece of history: only Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962) have successfully defended a World Cup. Remarkably, both achieved it with the Jules Rimet Trophy, meaning Argentina could become the first team to retain the modern FIFA World Cup Trophy, in use since 1974.

Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debuts, a testament to FIFA’s push toward broader representation. The tournament is a logistical feat unparalleled in football history, with 104 matches scheduled in 16 stadiums across three nations, promising a spectacle of both scale and intensity.

Group Stage

The 48 teams have been divided into 12 groups of four, with some heavyweight showdowns.

Group	Teams
A	Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Ireland
B	Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia
C	Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
D	USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
E	Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
F	Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania
G	Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
H	Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
I	France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname
J	Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
K	Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia
L	England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

Already, analysts are circling potential group-stage fireworks: Brazil vs Morocco in Group C, USA vs Australia in Group D, and Argentina vs Austria in Group J. 

Opening Match and Key Venues

The tournament opens on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium, with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa in a high-stakes debut. After 39 days, the grand finale will unfold on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), where the world will witness which nation lifts the trophy.

The North American spread ensures every matchday will have drama: Toronto, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Vancouver, San Francisco, Miami, Boston, and other iconic stadiums will host football’s global showcase.

Fixtures Highlights: Opening Week

Date	Match	Venue
June 11	Mexico vs South Africa	Mexico City Stadium
June 11	South Korea vs TBD	Estadio Guadalajara
June 12	Canada vs TBD	Toronto Stadium
June 12	USA vs Paraguay	Los Angeles Stadium
June 13	Qatar vs Switzerland	San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
June 13	Brazil vs Morocco	New York New Jersey Stadium
June 13	Haiti vs Scotland	Boston Stadium
June 13	Australia vs TBD	BC Place, Vancouver

From Mexico’s opening clash to Brazil’s highly anticipated face-off with Morocco, every matchday promises tension, surprise, and individual brilliance.

The New Format 

The 2026 edition debuts a revamped competition structure, with the top teams from each of the 12 groups moving into a Round of 32, a first in World Cup history:

Group Stage: June 11–27

Round of 32: June 28–July 3

Round of 16: July 4–7

Quarterfinals: July 9–11

Semifinals: July 14–15

Bronze Medal Match: July 18

Final: July 19

Knockout stages are intended to heighten drama, ensuring that each game bears significant weight. Messi's pursuit of back-to-back titles, Brazil's unrelenting attack, and debuting nations hoping to make an impression are part of the story. 

Hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico want to capitalize on home advantage, while traditional powerhouses Germany, Spain, France, and England will have a more crowded path to victory.

As the countdown begins, fans all over the world prepare for a summer in which every stadium echo, chant, and goal will go down in football history.

The 2026 World Cup, with 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 sites, is expected to be the largest, most ambitious, and inclusive tournament in football history.