📊 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 UK Time (BST). Kickoff times will vary between 5:00 PM and 3:00 AM BST depending on the US host city. Exact kickoff times to be confirmed.
🌍 Select Your Time Zone:
| Phase | Dates (UK Time) | 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 |
📅 Daily Fixtures
Group Stage Matches
The road to glory begins here. 72 matches to decide the top 32 teams.
June 11, 2026 — Opening Day
Match 1 (Group A)
🇲🇽 Mexico vs TBC
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Time TBC
Match 2 (Group A)
🇺🇸 USA vs TBC
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Time TBC
June 12, 2026
Match 3 (Group B)
🇨🇦 Canada vs TBC
BMO Field, Toronto
Time TBC
[Full group stage schedule pending final FIFA draw]
🏆 The Path to Glory
Knockout Bracket
For the first time, 32 teams advance to the knockout stages. Single elimination to the Final.
Round of 32
July 4 – July 7
- 1A vs 3C/D/E M73
- 2B vs 2F M74
- 1C vs 3A/B/F M75
- 1D vs 3B/E/F M76
+ 12 matches
Round of 16
July 8 – July 11
- Win M73 vs M74 M89
- Win M75 vs M76 M90
+ 6 matches
Quarter-Finals
July 11 – July 12
- Win M89 vs M90 M97
+ 3 matches
Semi & Final
July 14 – July 19
- Semi-Final 1 July 14
- Semi-Final 2 July 15
- 🏆 FINAL July 19
⚽ Don't Miss a Single Match — Regardless of the Time
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