World Cup 2026 Schedule

⏲️ Reading time: 17 minutes

Time is nearly up and the largest sporting event of the year, of the past ten years, arguably of the century is about to begin. The 2026 FΙFA World Cup kicks off on the 11th of June 2026 in Mexico City and so begins almost six weeks of the best footballers in the world competing to be crowned champions.

Table of Contents

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The start of the 2026 World Cup: Where, When, and Who?

Where the World Cup takes place is an interesting question, the tournament has been jointly hosted before but in 2026 for the first time three separate nations (The USA, Canada, and Mexico) will be holding games in their major stadiums.

The World Cup begins on June 11th in Mexico city at 20:00  local time. The match will be between Mexico and South Africa who either deliberately or by a strange coincidence (we are not sure which) are the same pair that opened the 2010 World Cup, only on that occasion South Africa were the hosts. A few hours later the second Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic takes place also in Mexico.

The following day things move to Canada where their squad will face Bosnia. This first match will be in Toronto but then the group moves West and games are played in Vancouver, California, and Seattle.

A few hours later (Still June 12th local time) the US National Team will make its debut in Los Angeles against Paraguay. All matches in this group will be on the West coast too (California, Seattle).

What times will the 2026 World Cup matches be played?

The kick off times will vary depending on where you are located in the World. Each game starts at a different local time, and also due to the different time zones involved, which will also vary for you. There is no real answer to this but we have listed all the games, their local start times and what that corresponds to in GMT below. (You can then translate the GMT time to your local time).

How does the 2026 World Cup stages develop?

Initially there are twelve groups of four teams, labelled “Group A” to “Group L”, and these four teams will each play each other once, so a total of six matches per group. Since there are twelve groups a total of 72 games (12x6) will be played in the group stages.

The top two teams from each group plus eight of the best third placed teams will go through to the next round of thirty two teams. These teams will play each other once in a knock out format. There will be 16 games in this round leading to sixteen teams going through.

The winning teams from the previous round now form the last 16, and these will all play each other again,  requiring 8 games in total. The eight winners will then go through to the quarter finals, which is 4 more matches. Then the four winners play each other in the 2 semi finals. There is then a third placed decider between the two semi final losers and the final between the two semi final winners.

The total number of matches in the 2026 World Cup is 104 (72 + 16 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1)

Thursday, 11th June 2026

Match 1 - Group A

➡️ 🇲🇽 Mexico vs South Africa
🏟️ Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
🕗 20:00 (local time)

Friday, 12th June 2026

Match 2 - Group A

➡️ 🇰🇷 S Korea vs 🇨🇿 Czech Rep
🏟️ Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
🕙 03:00 (local)

 

Match 3 - Group B

➡️ 🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇧🇦 Bosnia
🏟️ Toronto Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

Saturday, 13th June 2026

Match 4 - Group D

➡️ 🇺🇸 USA vs 🇵🇾 Paraguay
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 8 - Group B

➡️ 🇶🇦 Qatar vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland
🏟️ San Fransisco Bat Area Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 7 - Group C

➡️ 🇧🇷 Brazil vs 🇲🇦 Morocco
🏟️ New York / New Jersey Stadium
🕗 23:00 (local)

Sunday, 14th June 2026

Match 5 - Group C

➡️ 🇭🇹 Haiti vs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
🏟️ Boston Stadium
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 6 - Group D

➡️ 🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇹🇷 Turkey
🏟️ BC Place Vancouver
🕗 05:00 (local)

 

Match 10 - Group E

➡️ 🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇨🇼 Curacao
🏟️ Houston Stadium
🕗 18:00 (local)

 

Match 11 - Group F

➡️ 🇳🇱 Netherlands vs 🇯🇵 Japan
🏟️ Dallas Stadium
🕗 21:00 (local)

Monday, 15th June 2026

Match 9 - Group E

➡️ 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast vs 🇪🇨 Ecuador
🏟️ Philadelphia Stadium
🕗 00:00 (local)

 

Match 12 - Group F

➡️ 🇸🇪 Sweden vs 🇹🇳 Tunisia
🏟️ Monterry Stadium
🕗 03:00 (local)

 

Match 14 - Group H

➡️ 🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇨🇻 Cape Verde
🏟️ Atlanta Stadium
🕗 17:00 (local)

 

Match 16 - Group G

➡️ 🇧🇪 Belgium vs 🇪🇬 Egypt
🏟️ Seattle Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 13 - Group H

➡️ 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia vs 🇺🇾 Uruguay
🏟️ Miami Stadium
🕗 23:00 (local)

Tuesday, 16th June 2026

Match 15 - Group G

➡️ 🇮🇷 Iran vs 🇳🇿 New Zealand
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 17 - Group I

➡️ 🇫🇷 France vs 🇸🇳 Senegal
🏟️ New York / New Jersey Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 18 - Group I

➡️ 🇮🇶 Iraq vs 🇳🇴 Norway
🏟️ Boston Stadium
🕗 23:00 (local)

Wednesday, 17th June 2026

Match 19 - Group J

➡️ 🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇩🇿 Algeria
🏟️ Kansas City Stadium
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 20 - Group J

➡️ 🇦🇹 Austria vs 🇯🇴 Jordan
🏟️ San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
🕗 05:00 (local)

 

Match 23 - Group K
➡️ 🇵🇹 Portugal vs 🇨🇩 DR Congo
🏟️ Houston Stadium
🕗 18:00 (local)

 

Match 22 - Group L

➡️ 🇬🇧 England vs 🇭🇷 Croatia
🏟️ Dallas Stadium
🕗 21:00 (local)

 

Thursday, 18th June 2026

Match 21 - Group L

➡️ 🇬🇭 Ghana vs 🇵🇦 Panama
🏟️ Toronto Stadium
🕗 00:00 (local)

 

Match 24 - Group K

➡️ 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan vs 🇨🇴 Colombial
🏟️ Mexico City Stadium
🕗 03:00 (local)

 

Match 25 - Group A

➡️ 🇨🇿 Czech Rep vs 🇿🇦 S Africa
🏟️ Atlanta Stadium
🕗 17:00 (local)

 

Match 26 - Group B

➡️ 🇨🇭 Switzerland vs 🇧🇦 Bosnia
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 27 - Group B

➡️ 🇨🇦 Canada vs 🇶🇦 Qatar
🏟️ BC Place Vancouver
🕗 23:00 (local)

Friday, 19th June 2026

Match 28 - Group A

➡️ 🇲🇽 Mexico vs 🇰🇷 S Korea
🏟️ Guadalajara Stadium
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 32 - Group D

➡️ 🇺🇸 USA vs 🇦🇺 Australia
🏟️ Seattle Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 30 - Group C

➡️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland vs 🇲🇦 Morocco
🏟️ Boston Stadium
🕗 23:00 (local)

Saturday, 20th June 2026

Match 29 - Group C

➡️ 🇧🇷 Brazil vs 🇭🇹 Haiti
🏟️ New York / New Jersey Stadium
🕗 01:30 (local)

 

Match 31 - Group D

➡️ 🇹🇷 Turkey vs 🇵🇾 Paraguay
🏟️ San Fransisco Bay Area Stadium
🕗 04:00 (local)

 

Match 35 - Group F

➡️ 🇳🇱 Netherlands vs 🇸🇪 Sweden
🏟️ Houston Stadium
🕗 18:00 (local)

 

Match 33 - Group E

➡️ 🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
🏟️ Toronto Stadium
🕗 21:00 (local)

Sunday, 21st June 2026

Match 34 - Group E

➡️ 🇪🇨 Ecuador vs 🇨🇼 Curacao
🏟️ Kansas City Stadium
🕗 01:00 (local)

 

Match 36 - Group F

➡️ 🇹🇳 Tunisia vs 🇯🇵 Japan
🏟️ Monterrey Stadium
🕗 05:00 (local)

 

Match 38 - Group H

➡️ 🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🏟️ Atlanta Stadium
🕗 17:00 (local)

 

Match 39 - Group G

➡️ 🇧🇪 Belgium vs 🇮🇷 Iran
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 37 - Group H

➡️ 🇺🇾 Uruguay vs 🇨🇻 Cape Verde
🏟️ Miami Stadium
🕗 23:00 (local)

Monday, 22nd June 2026

Match 40 - Group G

➡️ 🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇪🇬 Egypt
🏟️ BC Place Vancouver
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 43 - Group J

➡️ 🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇦🇹 Austria
🏟️ Dallas Stadium
🕗 18:00 (local)

 

Match 42 - Group I

➡️ 🇫🇷 France vs 🇮🇶 Iraq
🏟️ Philadelphia Stadium
🕗 22:00 (local)

Tuesday, 23rd June 2026

Match 41 - Group I

➡️ 🇳🇴 Norway vs 🇸🇳 Senegal
🏟️ New York / New Jersey Stadium
🕗 01:00 (local)

 

Match 44 - Group J

➡️ 🇯🇴 Jordan vs 🇩🇿 Algeria
🏟️ San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
🕗 04:00 (local)

 

Match 47 - Group K

➡️ 🇵🇹 Portugal vs 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
🏟️ Houstan Stadium
🕗 18:00 (local)

 

Match 45 - Group L

➡️ 🇬🇧 England vs 🇬🇭 Ghana
🏟️ Boston Stadium
🕗 21:00 (local)

Wednesday, 24th June 2026

Match 46 - Group L

➡️ 🇵🇦 Panama vs 🇭🇷 Croatia
🏟️ Toronto Stadium
🕗 00:00 (local)

 

Match 48 - Group K

➡️ 🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇨🇩 Congo DR
🏟️ Guadalajara Stadium
🕗 03:00 (local)

 

Match 51 - Group B

➡️ 🇨🇭 Switzerland vs 🇨🇦 Canada
🏟️ BC Place Vancouver
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 52 - Group B

➡️ 🇧🇦 Bosnia vs 🇶🇦 Qatar
🏟️ Seattle Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 49 - Group C

➡️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland vs 🇧🇷 Brazil
🏟️ Miami Stadium
🕗 23:00 (local)

 

Match 50 - Group C

➡️ 🇲🇦 Morocco vs 🇭🇹 Haiti
🏟️ Atlanta Stadium
🕗 23:00 (local)

Thursday, 25th June 2026

Match 53 - Group A

➡️ 🇨🇿 Czech Rep vs 🇲🇽 Mexico
🏟️ Mexico City Stadium
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 54 - Group A

➡️ 🇿🇦 S Africa vs 🇰🇷 S Korea
🏟️ Monterrey Stadium
🕗 02:00 (local)

 

Match 55 - Group E

➡️ 🇨🇼 Curacao vs 🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
🏟️ Philadephia Stadium
🕗 21:00 (local)

 

Match 56 - Group E

➡️ 🇪🇨 Ecuador vs 🇩🇪 Germany
🏟️ New York / New Jersey Stadium
🕗 21:00 (local)

Friday, 26th June 2026

Match 57 - Group F

➡️ 🇯🇵 Japan vs 🇸🇪 Sweden
🏟️ Dallas Stadium
🕗 00:00 (local)

 

Match 58 - Group F

➡️ 🇹🇳 Tunisia vs 🇳🇱 Netherlands
🏟️ Kansas City Stadium
🕗 00:00 (local)

 

Match 59 - Group D

➡️ 🇹🇷 Turkey vs 🇺🇸 USA
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕗 03:00 (local)

 

Match 60 - Group D

➡️ 🇵🇾 Paraguay vs 🇦🇺 Australia
🏟️ San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
🕗 03:00 (local)

 

Match 61 - Group I

➡️ 🇳🇴 Norway vs 🇫🇷 France
🏟️ Boston Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

 

Match 62 - Group I

➡️ 🇸🇳 Senegal vs 🇮🇶 Iraq
🏟️ Toronto Stadium
🕗 20:00 (local)

Saturday, 27th June 2026

Match 65 - Group H

➡️ 🇨🇻 Cape Verdel vs 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
🏟️ Houston Stadium
🕗 01:00 (local)

 

Match 66 - Group H

➡️ 🇺🇾 Uruguay vs 🇪🇸 Spain
🏟️ Guadalajara Stadium
🕗 01:00 (local)

 

Match 63 - Group G

➡️ 🇪🇬 Egypt vs 🇮🇷 Iran
🏟️ Seattle Stadium
🕗 04:00 (local)

 

Match 64 - Group G

➡️ 🇳🇿 New Zealand vs 🇧🇪 Belgium
🏟️ BC Place Vancouver
🕗 04:00 (local)

 

Match 67 - Group L

➡️ 🇵🇦 Panama vs 🇬🇧 England
🏟️ New York / New Jersey Stadium
🕗 22:00 (local)

 

Match 68 - Group L

➡️ 🇭🇷 Croatia vs 🇬🇭 Ghana
🏟️ Philadelphia Stadium
🕗 22:00 (local)

Sunday, 28th June 2026

Match 71 - Group K

➡️ 🇨🇴 Colombia vs 🇵🇹 Portugal
🏟️ Miami Stadium
🕗 00:30 (local)

 

Match 72 - Group K

➡️ 🇨🇩 DR Congo vs 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
🏟️ Atlanta Stadium
🕗 00:30 (local)

 

Match 69 - Group J

➡️ 🇩🇿 Algeria vs 🇦🇹 Austria
🏟️ Kansas City Stadium
🕗 03:00 (local)

 

Match 70 - Group J

➡️ 🇯🇴 Jordan vs 🇦🇷 Argentina
🏟️ Dallas Stadium
🕗 03:00 (local)

2026 World Cup last 32 fixtures

At this stage we do not know which teams will be qualified for the last 32 round but we will update this page as that becomes clear.

2026 World Cup last 16 fixtures

At this stage we do not know which teams will be qualified for the last 16 round but we will update this page as that becomes clear.

2026 World Cup Quarter Final fixtures

At this stage we do not know which teams will be qualified for the quarter finals but we will update this page as that becomes clear.

2026 World Cup Semi Final fixtures

At this stage we do not know which teams will be qualified for the semi finals but we will update this page as that becomes clear.

2026 World Cup Final Date

At this stage we do not know which teams will be qualified for the final but we will update this page as that becomes clear.

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FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions

  • When were the 2026 fixtures announced?

    December the 5th was when the draw was made, and the following day the fixtures with venues and schedule was released.

  • Who made the 2026 team draw?

    The draw was made ceremonially by the leaders of the three host countries, Donald J. Trump (President of the United States), Claudia Sheinbaum (President of Mexico), and Mark Carney (Prime Minister of Canada).

  • How long will the 2026 World Cup go on for?

    The World Cup will last a total of 39 days, so a little under six weeks from start to finish.

  • How many World Cup 2026 matches will there be?

    There will be a grand total of 104 World Cup matches made up of 72 Group matches, 16 in the first knock out stage, then 8 games for the last sixteen, 4 games for the quarter finals, 2 semi finals, a third place decider and of course the final.

Author
Andrew Heaford
Andy has over 20 years of experience in the online gambling arena. The potted history includes being a bonus hustler, professional sports bettor, website owner, content writer and affiliate manager!
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