📊 Tournament Overview
Key 2026 World Cup Dates at a Glance
Opening Match
June 11, 2026 — Tournament kicks off in the USA. The opening ceremony and first match.
Group Stage
June 11 – July 2 — 72 matches across 12 groups. 48 teams, 3 games each.
Round of 32
July 4 – July 7 — New for 2026: the round of 32 replaces the old round of 16 opener.
Round of 16
July 8 – July 11 — 16 teams remain. Upsets, extra time, VAR drama.
Quarter-Finals
July 11 – July 12 — Last 8 teams. The biggest matches outside of the Final.
Semi-Finals
July 14 – July 15 — Two epic semi-finals decide the finalists.
The Final
July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. The most watched event in human history.
Third-Place Play-off
July 18, 2026 — The two losing semi-finalists compete for the bronze medal.
📋 Full Tournament Schedule
Tournament Phase by Phase
All dates in local US time (Eastern). Exact kickoff times will be confirmed by FIFA closer to the tournament.
| Phase | Dates | Matches | Teams | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage — MD1 | Jun 11–17, 2026 | 24 | All 48 | Each group plays its first match |
| Group Stage — MD2 | Jun 18–24, 2026 | 24 | All 48 | Second round of group fixtures |
| Group Stage — MD3 | Jun 25–Jul 2, 2026 | 24 | All 48 | Simultaneous final group games |
| Round of 32 | Jul 4–7, 2026 | 16 | 32 | New for 2026 — replaces R16 opener |
| Round of 16 | Jul 8–11, 2026 | 8 | 16 | Single elimination knockout |
| Quarter-Finals | Jul 11–12, 2026 | 4 | 8 | Last 8 teams compete |
| Semi-Finals | Jul 14–15, 2026 | 2 | 4 | Winners advance to the Final |
| Third-Place Play-off | Jul 18, 2026 | 1 | 2 | Bronze medal match |
| 🏆 THE FINAL | Jul 19, 2026 | 1 | 2 | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
🌍 The 48 Teams
Groups & Teams
The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams across 12 groups of 4. The top 2 from each group, plus the 8 best third-placed teams, advance to the knock out rounds.
Group A — USA Group
- 🇺🇸 United States HOST
- 🇵🇦 Panama
- 🇧🇴 Bolivia
- TBC (Asia qualifier)
Group B — Mexico / Canada Group
- 🇲🇽 Mexico HOST
- 🇨🇦 Canada HOST
- TBC (CONMEBOL)
- TBC (UEFA)
Group C — European Powers
- 🏴 England
- 🇫🇷 France
- TBC (UEFA)
- TBC (AFC)
Group D — South American Giants
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇦🇷 Argentina
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
- TBC (CONCACAF)
⚽
Groups E–L
Full draw confirmed March 2026. All 48 nations, 12 groups.
Don't Miss a Single Match
Stream the entire tournament live in 4K. Group stage through the Final, every penalty, every goal.
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2026 World Cup US Host Cities
New York / New Jersey
MetLife Stadium — FINAL
Los Angeles
SoFi Stadium
Dallas
AT&T Stadium
Miami
Hard Rock Stadium
Seattle
Lumen Field
Boston
Gillette Stadium
Kansas City
Arrowhead Stadium
Atlanta
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Houston
NRG Stadium
Philadelphia
Lincoln Financial Field
San Francisco
Levi's Stadium
Canada + Mexico
Toronto, Vancouver, CDMX & more
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