2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule
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Zilvinas Vasciunas -
29 Apr 20264 min. read
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19. This will be the first time that the World Cup is hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States. So far, the World Cup has only once been hosted by two countries.
The 2002 tournament took place in South Korea and Japan. Matches in the 2026 World Cup will be played in 16 different cities, while the final will be played on July 19 at 19:00 (GMT +0) at MetLife Stadium.
Here, the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule and other key information about the dates can be found.
Table of content
Key Takeaways
- The FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11, with the final to be played on July 19.
- The first World Cup in history to be hosted by 3 countries: Canada, Mexico, USA.
- Group matches run June 11–27, with the Round of 32 starting June 28.
- Only in the third group stage round will matches be played at the same time.
- The tournament features 104 matches, and the finalists will play eight.
Key FIFA World Cup 2026 Dates
The FIFA World Cup will begin on June 11 with the opening match Mexico vs South Africa at 19:00 (GMT +0). The first group stage round will take place from June 11 to 17, the second from June 18 to 23, while the decisive group matches will be played from June 24 to 27.
All the main 2026 FIFA World Cup dates can be seen here:
| Stage | Match | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | Matchday 1 | June 11 – 17 |
| Matchday 2 | June 18 – 23 | |
| Matchday 3 | June 24 – 27 | |
| Knockout Stage | Round of 32 | June 28 – July 3 |
| Round of 16 | July 4 – 7 | |
| Quarterfinals | July 9 – 11 | |
| Semifinals | July 14 – 15 | |
| Match for the 3rd place | July 18 at 21:00 (GMT +0) | |
| Final | July 19 at 19:00 (GMT +0) |
The Most Exciting FIFA World Cup Group Stage Matches
The expanded number of teams at the World Cup from 32 to 48 has also increased the number of matches. A total of 104 matches will be played in this year’s FIFA World Cup.
Even before the World Cup begins, it is already possible to place bets on the first two rounds of group stage matches. The odds are prepared in advance and there is enough time for analysis and the selection of valuable bets.
During the group stage from June 11 to 27, 72 matches will be played. The most interesting matches from all group stage meetings have been selected:
| Match | Date | Time (GMT +0) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico vs South Africa | June 11 | 19:00 |
| Brazil vs Morocco | June 13 | 22:00 |
| Netherlands vs Japan | June 14 | 20:00 |
| Belgium vs Egypt | June 15 | 19:00 |
| France vs Senegal | June 16 | 19:00 |
| Argentina vs Algeria | June 17 | 01:00 |
| England vs Croatia | June 17 | 20:00 |
| Mexico vs South Korea | June 19 | 01:00 |
| Japan vs Sweden | June 25 | 23:00 |
| Turkey vs USA | June 26 | 02:00 |
| Norway vs France | June 26 | 20:00 |
| Uruguay vs Spain | June 27 | 00:00 |
Main Things to Remember About 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played under a new format. It is important to remember that not only has the number of teams and matches played changed.
The Round of 32 has been added to the knockout stage, where the teams finishing in the top two places in each group will qualify, along with eight more teams that finish in third place.
The changed format means that more intriguing matches will be played. Quite often, everything used to be decided already in the final group matches, while some national teams would play without their full line-up.
Now, even in the final group matches, it will still be possible to secure a place in the knockout stage.
The importance of the matches means that more valuable bets can be found at the best sports bookies. When placing bets and following the FIFA World Cup schedule, it is recommended to pay attention to these aspects:
- A total of 72 matches will be played in the group stage. The number of matches is large enough to discover valuable bets.
- If profitability from the FIFA World Cup is the aim, avoid betting on every match.
- The first group matches are deceptive, as it is not clear what kind of football certain teams will show.
- At the start of the FIFA World Cup, it is recommended to place bets with smaller amounts and increase them as the tournament progresses. Bets with greater value can be found in the decisive group matches and in the knockout stage.
- 12 groups and 48 teams mean that there is a major imbalance in most groups. Almost every group has a clear favorite.
FAQ About FIFA World Cup Schedule
⭐ When and where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup take place?
The schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19, with matches taking place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
⭐ When will the 2026 FIFA World Cup final be played?
The 2026 World Cup Final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium. The match will take place at 19:00 (GMT +0).
⭐ When will the FIFA World Cup group stage end and the knockout stage begin?
The group stage will end on June 27, while the Round of 32 will begin immediately the next day, on June 28.
⭐ Will FIFA World Cup group matches be played at the same time?
Group matches will be played at different times because the tournament will take place in different countries with different time zones.
⭐ In which cities will FIFA World Cup matches take place?
Matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played in 16 cities: Dallas, Mexico City, East Rutherford, Atlanta, Kansas City, Houston, Santa Clara, Inglewood, Philadelphia, Seattle, Foxborough, Miami Gardens, Vancouver, Guadalupe, Zapopan, Toronto.
iGaming Content Writer
