🇺🇸🇲🇽🇨🇦June 11 – July 19, 2026

The biggest
World Cup
ever played.

48 national teams, 104 matches and 16 stadiums across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Schedule, groups, bracket and team guide — all in one place.

View the scheduleExplore groups
48
Teams
104
Matches
16
Stadiums
3
Host countries
12
Groups
$727M
Prize fund

Start with the tournament essentials

Everything fans need: schedule, groups, standings, bracket, teams and where to watch.

104 matchesScheduleEvery match date, kickoff time and venue.Open guide →48 teamsGroupsGroups A–L, opening fixtures and group-stage context.Open guide →12 groupsStandingsGroup tables, qualification rules and best-thirds system.Open guide →KnockoutBracketThe knockout path from Round of 32 to the final.Open guide →Team guideTeamsAll 48 qualified nations by group and confederation.Open guide →TV & streamingWhere to WatchFox, Telemundo, BBC, ITV and more — confirmed broadcasters.Open guide →

When does the 2026 World Cup start?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 opens on June 11, 2026, with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — a stadium that has hosted two previous World Cup finals (1970 and 1986). Kickoff is at 15:00 ET.

The group stage runs through June 27. The Round of 32 begins on June 28, and the tournament concludes with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, 2026 — 39 days in total.

Group stage

72 matches · 12 groups

Jun 11 – Jun 27

Round of 32

16 matches · first knockout round

Jun 28 – Jul 3

Round of 16

8 matches · quarterfinal draw

Jul 4 – Jul 7

Quarterfinals

4 matches

Jul 9 – Jul 11

Semifinals

2 matches

Jul 14 – Jul 15

Final

MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

Jul 19, 2026

What is new about the 2026 World Cup format?

Every World Cup from 1998 through 2022 featured 32 teams in 8 groups. The 2026 edition breaks with that tradition: 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. The wider field adds 16 nations across all confederations, with Africa and Asia gaining the most additional spots.

The most significant structural change is the Round of 32 — a brand-new first knockout round that replaces the old round of 16. All 32 qualifiers (24 group winners/runners-up + 8 best third-place teams) play a single-elimination match before the traditional bracket begins.

The champion must now win 7 matches instead of 7, meaning the total number of games to lift the trophy is the same. But the Round of 32 means even the strongest favorites can be eliminated one round earlier than in previous editions.

Format at a glance

Teams48 (up from 32)
Groups12 groups of 4 (up from 8)
Group matches72 (up from 48)
Total matches104 (up from 64)
Matches to win title7 (same as before)

Who are the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup?

Argentina enters as the defending champion after their penalty shootout victory over France in the Qatar 2022 final. Lionel Messi, the tournament's best player in 2022, is expected to play in what may be his final World Cup.

Morocco (2022 semifinalists — the first African team to reach the last four) and Portugal are also widely considered dark-horse contenders.

Where is the 2026 World Cup being played?

The 2026 World Cup is the first ever to span three countries. The United States hosts the most matches with 11 stadiums, including both semifinals, the third-place match and the final. Mexico hosts the opening match at Estadio Azteca. Canada provides two venues in Vancouver and Toronto.

🇺🇸

United States

11 stadiums

Final (MetLife, NJ), both Semifinals, Quarterfinals and group stage. From Seattle (WA) to Miami (FL).

See all venues →
🇲🇽

Mexico

3 stadiums

Opening match at Estadio Azteca (Mexico City). Also Monterrey and Guadalajara.

See all venues →
🇨🇦

Canada

2 stadiums

Vancouver (BC Place) and Toronto (BMO Field) host group stage and knockout matches.

See all venues →

Frequently asked questions about the 2026 World Cup

The most common questions from fans following the tournament.

When does the 2026 World Cup start?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts on June 11, 2026, with Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the opening match of the largest World Cup in history.

When does the 2026 World Cup end?

The final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The third-place match is one day earlier, on July 18.

How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup has 48 national teams — a 50% increase from the 32 teams used in every edition from 1998 through 2022. The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four.

How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?

There are 104 matches: 72 in the group stage (June 11–27), 16 in the Round of 32 (June 28–July 3), 8 in the Round of 16 (July 4–7), 4 quarterfinals (July 9–11), 2 semifinals (July 14–15), the third-place match (July 18) and the final (July 19).

Where is the 2026 World Cup being played?

The tournament is co-hosted by the United States (11 stadiums), Mexico (3 stadiums) and Canada (2 stadiums) — 16 venues in total, more than any World Cup in history.

What is the new Round of 32 in the 2026 World Cup?

The Round of 32 is a new first knockout round introduced for the 48-team format. All 32 qualified teams — the top two from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-place finishers — play a single-elimination match. The winners advance to the Round of 16 (traditional round of 16).

Who is the defending World Cup champion in 2026?

Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, beating France on penalties in the final. Argentina enters the 2026 tournament in Group J as the defending champion.

Where is the 2026 World Cup final?

The final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026. MetLife Stadium is the largest venue in the 2026 World Cup with a capacity of 78,576.