2026 World Cup Schedule: Dates, Venues, and Key Matches

The wait is over. The 2026 World Cup finally has a roadmap.

FIFA has locked in the full schedule for the expanded 48‑team tournament, with dates, kick-off times and venues for all 104 matches across the USA, Canada and Mexico now confirmed. From Mexico City on June 11 to New York/New Jersey on July 19, every contender knows exactly where the journey could take them.

Azteca opens the show, MetLife gets the crown

It starts where it always felt destined to begin. On Thursday, June 11, Mexico walk out at the legendary Estadio Azteca to face South Africa at 3pm ET in the opening game of Group A. A few hours later, South Korea meet Czechia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, setting the tone for a World Cup spread across 16 stadiums and three nations.

The finish line is just as grand. MetLife Stadium in the New York/New Jersey area will stage the final on Sunday, July 19 at 3pm ET, hosting Match 104 between the winners of the two semifinals. Before that, Hard Rock Stadium in Miami will handle the third‑place game on July 18.

Between those bookends lies a tournament of sheer scale.

North America mapped out: who plays where

The group stage stretches from June 11 to June 27, with the new 12‑group format sending giants and debutants alike on sprawling tours of North America.

Mexico’s Group A campaign is rooted on home soil: Azteca for South Africa and Czechia, Akron in Guadalajara for South Korea. South Africa and South Korea also visit Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA, which becomes one of the key Mexican hubs.

Canada carry Group B’s flag, opening against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto on June 12. They then head west to Vancouver’s BC Place for clashes with Qatar and Switzerland, while Qatar and Switzerland also touch down in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle.

Brazil’s route in Group C feels like a tour of the U.S. East Coast. They begin at MetLife against Morocco, then move to Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field to meet Haiti, before a glamour tie with Scotland at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Scotland and Haiti trade blows in Boston, with Atlanta’s Mercedes‑Benz Stadium also in the mix.

The United States sit at the heart of Group D. They kick off against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12, then travel to Seattle to face Australia before returning to SoFi to meet Turkiye on June 25. Vancouver and the Bay Area share the other fixtures in a group that will keep the hosts constantly in the spotlight.

Germany’s Group E schedule takes them from Houston (Curacao) to Toronto (Ivory Coast) and finally to MetLife for a heavyweight closer against Ecuador. Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador shuttle between Philadelphia, Kansas City and those same venues, giving the group a distinctly cross‑continental feel.

In Group F, the Netherlands and Japan collide early at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on June 14. Sweden and Tunisia start in Monterrey, and Estadio BBVA also stages Tunisia vs Japan. Houston, Dallas and Kansas City round out a group that leans heavily on the central U.S. and northern Mexico.

Group G sends Belgium and Egypt to Seattle for their opener, while Iran meet New Zealand at SoFi. The group’s rhythm runs through Los Angeles, Vancouver and Seattle, with the final round on June 26 played simultaneously in Vancouver and Seattle under the lights.

Spain headline Group H, beginning at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium against Cape Verde at midday on June 15. Saudi Arabia and Uruguay share Miami, with Spain returning to Atlanta to meet Saudi Arabia. The group’s decisive night sees Uruguay face Spain in Guadalajara while Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia square off in Houston.

France’s Group I path starts at MetLife against Senegal, then moves to Boston (Iraq vs Norway), Philadelphia (France vs Iraq) and back to MetLife for Norway vs Senegal. The group closes with France in Boston and Senegal in Toronto, a tight cluster of East Coast and Canadian venues.

Argentina take center stage in Group J. Lionel Scaloni’s side open against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on June 16, then face Austria in Dallas on June 22. Jordan meet Austria and Algeria in the Bay Area before closing against Argentina back at AT&T Stadium. Kansas City and Dallas become de facto bases for the reigning champions.

Group K belongs to Portugal and Colombia. Cristiano Ronaldo’s nation open in Houston against Democratic Republic of Congo, then return there to face Uzbekistan. Colombia start in Mexico City at Azteca against Uzbekistan and later meet DR Congo in Guadalajara. The group’s marquee showdown, Colombia vs Portugal, lands in Miami on June 27.

England anchor Group L. They begin against Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on June 17. Ghana and Panama meet in Toronto, with England then facing Ghana in Boston. The final round sends England to MetLife to meet Panama, while Croatia and Ghana clash in Philadelphia.

Knockout road: from 104 to one

The new format introduces a Round of 32, stretching the knockout drama from June 28 to July 3. Group runners‑up and some of the best third‑placed sides scatter across the continent: Los Angeles, Houston, Boston, Monterrey, Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Mexico City, Atlanta, Seattle, the Bay Area, Toronto, Vancouver, Miami and Kansas City all host win‑or‑go‑home football.

The Round of 16 follows from July 4 to July 7. Houston, Philadelphia, MetLife, Azteca, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta and Vancouver each stage one tie, with the bracket tightening and travel routes becoming clearer for those still alive.

By the time the quarterfinals arrive, the stage narrows. Boston (Match 97), Los Angeles (Match 98), Miami (Match 99) and Kansas City (Match 100) host the last eight on July 9–11. Four cities, four defining nights.

Dallas and Atlanta then share the semifinals on July 14 and 15. AT&T Stadium gets Match 101 between the winners of the Boston and Los Angeles quarterfinals, while Mercedes‑Benz Stadium hosts Match 102 between the Miami and Kansas City survivors.

From there, it all leads to Miami for third place, then MetLife for the world title.

How to watch across the U.S.

Every one of the 104 matches will be available in Spanish on Peacock, with Telemundo showing 92 games and Universo carrying 12 more. Kick-off times are spread to suit a global audience, but the backbone of the schedule sits in the U.S. afternoon and evening windows, with a handful of midnight Eastern starts from the West Coast and Monterrey.

Spanish‑language coverage is locked in. English‑language rights in the U.S. sit with Fox, while Xfinity is pushing its World Soccer Ticket package as a one‑stop option for fans wanting Fox and Telemundo alongside top leagues and streaming services.

A continent turns into a canvas

Three countries. Sixteen stadiums. One month.

The calendar is now fixed. Coaches can start plotting travel and rotation. Fans can circle cities, book flights and dream up road trips from Toronto to Dallas, from Mexico City to Seattle, from Miami to New York.

The World Cup no longer feels like a distant idea. It has dates, places, and a path that ends with one team climbing the steps at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026.

Who gets there is the only detail left to write.