2026 World Cup Schedule: Full Match Dates & Fixtures

The complete 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule — all matchdays, group-stage fixtures, and every knockout round date from June 11 to the July 19 final.

2026 World Cup Schedule Overview

The 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule spans 39 days, from the opening match on June 11 to the final on July 19, 2026. With 48 teams and 104 matches, the calendar is packed: the group stage runs through late June, then the knockouts take over with the new Round of 32.

Round	Dates
Group stage – Matchday 1	June 11 – 17
Group stage – Matchday 2	June 18 – 23
Group stage – Matchday 3	June 24 – 27
Round of 32	June 28 – July 3
Round of 16	July 4 – 7
Quarterfinals	July 9 – 11
Semifinals	July 14 – 15
Third-place match	July 18
Final	July 19

Each of the 12 groups plays its three matchdays on distinct dates, so the whole group stage unfolds across about two and a half weeks.

Group Stage Schedule by Matchday

Matchday 1 (June 11 – 17)

The tournament opens in Mexico City and rolls out group by group over the first week.

Date	Groups in action
June 11	Group A (Mexico vs South Africa, South Korea vs Czech Republic)
June 12	Groups B and D
June 13	Groups B, C and D
June 14	Groups E and F
June 15	Groups G and H
June 16	Groups I and J
June 17	Groups K and L

Matchday 2 (June 18 – 23)

Date	Groups in action
June 18	Groups A and B
June 19	Groups C and D
June 20	Groups E and F
June 21	Groups G and H
June 22	Groups I and J
June 23	Groups K and L

Matchday 3 (June 24 – 27)

The final group matchdays decide who advances. To keep the standings fair, each group's last two matches kick off at the same time.

Date	Groups in action
June 24	Groups A, B and C
June 25	Groups D, E and F
June 26	Groups G, H and I
June 27	Groups J, K and L

Knockout Stage Dates

Once the group stage ends on June 27, the bracket takes over. From the Round of 32 onward, every match is single elimination — a draw after 90 minutes goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties.

Round	First match	Last match
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	July 18
Final	July 19	July 19

Opening Week Results So Far

The first matches have already delivered drama. Here's how the opening week has gone (scores update on the results page):

Date	Match	Score
June 11	Mexico vs South Africa	2–0
June 11	South Korea vs Czech Republic	2–1
June 12	Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–1
June 12	United States vs Paraguay	4–1
June 13	Switzerland vs Qatar	1–1
June 13	Brazil vs Morocco	1–1
June 13	Scotland vs Haiti	1–0
June 13	Australia vs Turkey	2–0
June 14	Germany vs Curaçao	7–1
June 14	Ivory Coast vs Ecuador	1–0
June 14	Netherlands vs Japan	2–2
June 14	Sweden vs Tunisia	5–1
June 15	Spain vs Cape Verde	0–0

Where Matches Are Played

Host cities are grouped into three regions to cut down on travel:

Western: Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles
Central: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City
Eastern: Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey

The United States hosts 78 matches, including everything from the quarterfinals onward; Canada and Mexico host 13 each.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the 2026 World Cup start?

The tournament opens on June 11, 2026, with Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

When is the 2026 World Cup final?

The final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area.

How long is the 2026 World Cup?

It runs for 39 days, from June 11 to July 19, 2026 — longer than recent tournaments because of the expanded 48-team format and 104 total matches.

How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?

There are 104 matches in total: 72 in the group stage and 32 in the knockout stage.

When does the knockout stage start?

The Round of 32 — the first knockout round, new for the 48-team format — begins on June 28, 2026.

Note: FIFA Super Soccer Wiki is an independent fan site, not affiliated with FIFA or the game's developers. Schedule dates are based on public tournament information.