JUNE 11 – JUNE 27, 2026
GROUP STAGE
104 matches across 16 host cities. Each of 12 groups plays 6 matches. Top two and eight best thirds advance to the round of 32. Opening match: Mexico in Mexico City on June 11.
JUNE 28 – JULY 3, 2026
ROUND OF 32
16 matches. First knockout round — single elimination. All 32 qualified teams play in this round. Match-ups set by group finish and the 32-team bracket.
JULY 4 – JULY 7, 2026
ROUND OF 16
8 matches. Last-16 stage — the 16 winners from the Round of 32 advance.
JULY 9 – JULY 11, 2026
QUARTERFINALS
4 matches.
- Jul 9 — Boston / Foxborough
- Jul 9 — Dallas
- Jul 10 — Atlanta
- Jul 11 — Kansas City
JULY 18, 2026
THIRD-PLACE PLAYOFF
Miami — Hard Rock Stadium.
JULY 19, 2026
THE FINAL
The largest sporting event in the world.
New York / New Jersey — MetLife Stadium.
FORMAT
WC2026 is the first 48-team World Cup. 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of 4. The top two from each group (24 teams) and the 8 best third-placed teams (8 teams) advance to a 32-team knockout bracket — one extra round (Round of 32) versus the 32-team format of 2022.
Every one of the 32 qualified teams plays at least one knockout match — there is no bye or seeding that allows a team to skip the Round of 32. Match times are local to each host city and will be set after the December 2025 draw. Expect afternoon kickoffs (2–3 pm) in cooler cities (Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto) and evening kickoffs (8–9 pm) in hot-weather cities (Dallas, Houston, Miami, Monterrey) for heat management.
KEY DATES AT A GLANCE
| Date | Phase | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 11 | Opening Match | Mexico City |
| Jun 11 – Jun 27 | Group Stage | All 16 cities |
| Jun 28 – Jul 3 | Round of 32 | Multiple cities |
| Jul 4 – Jul 7 | Round of 16 | Multiple cities |
| Jul 9 | Quarterfinal | Boston & Dallas |
| Jul 10 | Quarterfinal | Atlanta |
| Jul 11 | Quarterfinal | Kansas City |
| Jul 14 | Semifinal | Dallas |
| Jul 15 | Semifinal | Atlanta |
| Jul 18 | Third-Place Playoff | Miami |
| Jul 19 | THE FINAL | New York / New Jersey |
Plan your travel to host cities using our city-to-city travel guide. Book accommodation early — see where to stay for price ranges and booking windows.
Written by the WC26 editorial team · Schedule data sourced from FIFA.com official tournament announcements · Last updated April 2026