After 101 matches and 39 days of tournament, everything comes down to one weekend. The World Cup 2026 final has had its date, time and venue locked in since the draw, and this week's semifinals will decide its two protagonists. This is the complete guide.
In short: the World Cup 2026 final kicks off on Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York area). The finalists come from France vs Spain and England vs Argentina.
When is the World Cup 2026 final?
Sunday, July 19, 2026. The official kickoff is 3:00 PM ET (US Eastern Time). Here is how that converts:
| Zone | Kickoff |
|---|---|
| US East (ET) | 3:00 PM |
| US Central (CT) | 2:00 PM |
| US Pacific (PT) | 12:00 PM |
| United Kingdom | 8:00 PM |
| Central Europe (CET) | 9:00 PM |
Where is it played? MetLife Stadium
The venue is MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. With a capacity of 78,576, it is the stadium FIFA chose to close the first 48-team World Cup. It is the first time a World Cup final is played in this region: in 1994, the final was held at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles.
You can see its exact location and every other venue on the interactive stadium map, and the details of all 16 grounds in the World Cup 2026 stadium guide.
Who will play the final?
The finalists come from this week's semifinals: France vs Spain on Tuesday, July 14 in Dallas and England vs Argentina on Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta, both at 3:00 PM ET. Kickoff times, venues and how each team got there are in our World Cup 2026 semifinals guide.
Every possible matchup would pit world champions against each other: France (2018), Spain (2010), England (1966) and Argentina, three-time and reigning champion after Qatar 2022.
The third-place match
One day before the final, on Saturday, July 18 at 5:00 PM ET (10:00 PM in the UK), the semifinal losers play for third place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
How to watch the World Cup 2026 final
Coverage depends on your country: Fox Sports and Telemundo in the United States, BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom, and Bell Media (TSN/CTV) in Canada. The full broadcaster list is in our where to watch guide.
Follow the finish
The complete knockout picture, updated with every official result, is on the World Cup 2026 bracket. Day-by-day scores are in results, and if you want to mark your picks for the last three matches on paper, download the printable bracket PDF.
Source: official FIFA match schedule (FIFA.com). We will update this guide with the finalists as soon as the semifinals end.
Frequently asked questions
When is the World Cup 2026 final?
The World Cup 2026 final is on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT, 8:00 PM in the UK, 9:00 PM CET) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Where is the World Cup 2026 final being played?
At MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. It holds 78,576 spectators and this is the first World Cup final ever played in the region.
Who plays in the World Cup 2026 final?
The finalists come from the semifinals: France vs Spain (July 14 in Dallas) and England vs Argentina (July 15 in Atlanta). The winners of those two matches meet on July 19.
When is the World Cup 2026 third-place match?
On Saturday, July 18, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, between the losers of the two semifinals.
Article by
Luis MoralesJournalist and founder of the blog
Luis Morales is a professional journalist who graduated from Universidad del Externado de Colombia and the founder of this World Cup 2026 blog. He has worked for over three years as a copywriter specialized in football and major sporting events. Every article combines journalistic rigor with verification against official FIFA sources to deliver clear, accurate and useful information for fans.
Journalist and content writer · Universidad del Externado de Colombia · 3+ years
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