The Short Version
As of May 13, 2026, 29 days from kickoff. The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs June 11 to July 19, 2026 — 39 days, 16 host cities across three nations (US, Canada, Mexico), 104 matches, 48 teams. First match: Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Banorte (Mexico City), June 11, 3 PM ET. Final: MetLife Stadium (New Jersey), July 19, 3 PM ET. The numbers: (1) Group stage runs June 11-27 with 72 matches across 12 groups; (2) Round of 32 runs June 20-23 (new round, 16 matches); (3) Round of 16 runs June 27-July 1; (4) Quarterfinals July 3-5; (5) Semifinals July 8-9; (6) Third-place match July 17; (7) Final July 19. The US hosts 78 of 104 matches, Canada 13, Mexico 13. All knockouts from quarterfinals onward are played in the US.
Dates That Matter — The Master Calendar
Tournament length: 39 days. From June 11 to July 19. This is the longest World Cup in history, expanded from the 32-day Qatar 2022 schedule due to the 48-team format requiring an additional knockout round.
| Phase | Dates | Matches | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Stage Matchday 1 | June 11-15 | 24 | Each team plays once |
| Group Stage Matchday 2 | June 16-19 | 24 | Each team plays second |
| Group Stage Matchday 3 | June 23-27 | 24 | Final round, simultaneous kickoffs in each group |
| Round of 32 | June 28-July 2 | 16 | New round, 48-team format only |
| Round of 16 | July 4-7 | 8 | |
| Quarterfinals | July 9-11 | 4 | All in US |
| Semifinals | July 14-15 | 2 | All in US |
| Third-place match | July 18 | 1 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami |
| Final | July 19 | 1 | MetLife Stadium, NJ — 3 PM ET kickoff |
The opening match has been set since the December 5, 2025 draw: Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Banorte (Mexico City), June 11, 3 PM ET. The opening ceremony begins 90 minutes before kickoff. Tickets at this venue start at $60 (Category 4, host-nation pricing) and reach $1,050 (Category 1).
June: The Group Stage Month
Twenty-four group-stage matches are scheduled before the United States plays its opener on June 12. That’s a denser schedule than Qatar 2022’s group stage, where matches were spread across 12 days versus 17 in 2026.
The reason: 12 groups instead of 8. With each of 12 groups playing three matchdays of two simultaneous matches per matchday, there are 72 group-stage matches in 17 days. June 11-15 covers Matchday 1 (24 matches at 2 per day × 12 groups, distributed). June 16-19 covers Matchday 2. June 23-27 covers the final, decisive Matchday 3 where kickoffs within each group are simultaneous to prevent collusion.
FOX Sports confirms the simultaneous-kickoff rule applies to all 12 final-matchday windows — meaning 6 pairs of matches per group will all kick off at the same minute.
June 28-July 2: The New Round of 32
The Round of 32 is the format’s signature innovation. It does not exist in the 32-team World Cup model. With 48 teams, 32 advance from group stage (24 group winners and runners-up + 8 best third-placed teams), making a Round of 32 necessary.
Sixteen matches across five days. Sixteen host cities, with no city hosting more than one Round-of-32 match. The American venues include SoFi Stadium (LA), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Gillette Stadium (Boston), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), and Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City). Canadian venues: BMO Field (Toronto), BC Place (Vancouver). Mexican venues: Estadio Banorte (Mexico City), Estadio Akron (Guadalajara), Estadio BBVA (Monterrey).
The Round of 32 increases tournament length by exactly 7 days versus the 2022 32-team format. Each team that reaches the final now plays 8 matches, up from 7 previously.
From Quarterfinals: Only US Venues
All 8 matches from quarterfinals onward are played in the United States. That’s a deliberate FIFA decision — the US carries 78 of the 104 total matches in this World Cup, with Canada (13) and Mexico (13) handling the rest.
The US-only knockout schedule:
- Quarterfinals (July 9-11): AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
- Semifinals (July 14-15): AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
- Third-place match (July 18): Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), 12 PM ET kickoff
- Final (July 19): MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ), 3 PM ET kickoff
MetLife seats 82,500. The 1994 Rose Bowl final in Pasadena was the last men’s World Cup final on US soil — 32 years ago.
Day-by-Day: What Happens When
The single busiest day is June 12 (Friday) — five matches across three nations including the US opener (Paraguay), Argentina’s opener (Saudi Arabia or another opponent depending on Group J draw), and the early CONMEBOL match. Television scheduling has been a logistical priority for FIFA due to the multiple time zones spanning the host countries.
The longest gap between match days is between June 27 (end of group stage) and June 28 (start of Round of 32) — a single rest day. This is shorter than the 2-3 day rest customary in earlier World Cups, but necessary to fit 104 matches in 39 days.
Knockout days have 2 matches each until the semifinals, which have 1 match per day. The third-place match and final are scheduled with a 24-hour gap. The schedule keeps US prime-time ET coverage for the marquee matches — Mexico opener at 3 PM ET (12 PM PT, 8 PM UK), final also at 3 PM ET.
What Time Zones, What Broadcasts
According to the FIFA tournament portal and Sky Sports:
- US: FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish), Tubi (free streaming)
- UK: BBC, ITV (free-to-air)
- Germany: ARD, ZDF (free-to-air)
- Japan: NHK, TV Asahi, Fuji TV (rotated)
- China: CCTV
- Brazil: Globo, SporTV
- Argentina: TV Pública, TyC Sports
- Global streaming: FIFA+ (selective by territory)
The final on July 19 at 3 PM ET means: 12 PM PT (Los Angeles), 8 PM BST (London), 9 PM CEST (Berlin/Paris/Madrid), 4 AM JST (Tokyo, July 20), 3 AM CST (Beijing, July 20), 4 PM BRT (São Paulo), 4 PM ART (Buenos Aires).
Squad Submission Deadlines Tied to the Calendar
The June 1 deadline for 26-man rosters is non-negotiable. Each of the 48 federations must submit final squads by then, with only injury replacements allowed up to 24 hours before the team’s first match.
FOX Sports squad coverage confirms the US announcement is scheduled for May 26 (Pochettino), with most other major selections following between May 27 and June 1. The preliminary 35-man lists, optional for federations, opened on May 13. Brazil’s preliminary 55-man list was submitted to FIFA on May 11 (Carlo Ancelotti), notably including Neymar and excluding the injured Estêvão.
FAQ
When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start? The opening match is Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 3 PM ET (12 PM PT, 2 PM local Mexico City time). Mexico hosts South Africa at Estadio Banorte (Mexico City).
When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup end? The final is Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3 PM ET at MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ). The tournament runs 39 days.
How many days is the 2026 World Cup? 39 days, from June 11 to July 19, 2026. This is the longest World Cup in history due to the 48-team format requiring an additional Round of 32.
How many matches are at the 2026 World Cup? 104 total: 72 group-stage + 16 Round of 32 + 8 Round of 16 + 4 quarterfinals + 2 semifinals + 1 third-place + 1 final.
Which countries host the 2026 World Cup? The United States (78 matches), Canada (13 matches), and Mexico (13 matches) co-host. This is the first World Cup with three host nations.
Where is the 2026 World Cup final? MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, capacity 82,500. July 19, 2026 at 3 PM ET kickoff.
How many teams play in the 2026 World Cup? 48 teams, expanded from the 32-team format used in Qatar 2022. The new format introduces a Round of 32.
When does the Round of 32 start? June 28, 2026. The 8 best third-placed teams from group stage join the 24 group winners and runners-up for 16 Round-of-32 matches across 5 days (June 28-July 2).
When are the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals? July 9-11, 2026. Four matches across three days. All quarterfinals are played in the United States: AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City).
What is the 2026 World Cup third-place match date? July 18, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, kickoff 12 PM ET. The match precedes the final by 24 hours.
