FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: Complete Fixtures, Groups, Format, and Tournament Dates

The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule has become one of the most searched topics among football fans worldwide as the biggest tournament in international football approaches. The competition will take place from June 12 to July 20, 2026, and will go down in history as the largest FIFA World Cup since the tournament was first held in 1930.

For the first time, FIFA has expanded the tournament to 48 participating nations, an increase from the 32-team format used since the 1998 World Cup. The event will also be jointly hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

A total of 16 host cities have been selected to stage matches from the group stage through to the final.

New FIFA World Cup 2026 Format

The increase in participating teams has led FIFA to introduce a new competition format.

The 48 nations are divided into 12 groups, with four teams in each group.

The top two teams from every group will automatically advance to the knockout stage. In addition, the eight best third-placed teams will also qualify for the next round.

Under this system, the knockout stage will begin with the Round of 32 rather than the traditional Round of 16.

Overall, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches, making it the largest edition in the tournament’s history.

Complete List of FIFA World Cup 2026 Participants

A total of 48 nations will compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026 hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Group A

• Mexico
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Czech Republic

Group B

• Canada
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Qatar
• Switzerland

Group C

• Brazil
• Morocco
• Haiti
• Scotland

Group D

• United States
• Paraguay
• Australia
• Türkiye

Group E

• Germany
• Curaçao
• Ivory Coast
• Ecuador

Group F

• Netherlands
• Japan
• Sweden
• Tunisia

Group G

• Belgium
• Egypt
• Iran
• New Zealand

Group H

• Spain
• Cape Verde
• Saudi Arabia
• Uruguay

Group I

• France
• Senegal
• Iraq
• Norway

Group J

• Argentina
• Algeria
• Austria
• Jordan

Group K

• Portugal
• DR Congo
• Uzbekistan
• Colombia

Group L

• England
• Croatia
• Ghana
• Panama

FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: Group Stage to Final

According to the official FIFA calendar, the group stage will be played from June 12 to June 28, 2026.

The tournament will then continue with the Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off, and the final.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Key Dates

• Group Stage: June 12–28, 2026
• Round of 32: June 29–July 4, 2026
• Round of 16: July 5–8, 2026
• Quarter-finals: July 10–12, 2026
• Semi-finals: July 15–16, 2026
• Third-Place Match: July 19, 2026
• Final: July 20, 2026

During the group stage, a total of 72 matches will be played across host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico before the tournament moves into the knockout rounds.

Opening Match and Final

The opening match will feature Mexico against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 12, 2026.

Meanwhile, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, United States, on July 20, 2026.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage – Matchday 1

Friday, June 12, 2026

• 02:00 WIB | Group A: Mexico vs South Africa
• 09:00 WIB | Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic

Saturday, June 13, 2026

• 02:00 WIB | Group B: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
• 07:00 WIB | Group D: United States vs Paraguay

Sunday, June 14, 2026

• 02:00 WIB | Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland
• 05:00 WIB | Group C: Brazil vs Morocco
• 08:00 WIB | Group C: Haiti vs Scotland
• 11:00 WIB | Group D: Australia vs Türkiye

Monday, June 15, 2026

• 00:00 WIB | Group E: Germany vs Curaçao
• 03:00 WIB | Group F: Netherlands vs Japan
• 06:00 WIB | Group E: Ivory Coast vs Ecuador
• 09:00 WIB | Group F: Sweden vs Tunisia
• 23:00 WIB | Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde

FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Schedule

Round of 32

June 29 – July 4, 2026

Round of 16

July 5 – 8, 2026

Quarter-finals

July 10 – 12, 2026

Semi-finals

July 15 – 16, 2026

Third-Place Match

July 19, 2026

Final

July 20, 2026

Download the Complete FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule

FIFA provides official tournament documents that can be downloaded free of charge by football fans around the world.

The complete FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule, covering every stage from the group phase to the final, is available through FIFA’s official website and can be used as a guide throughout the tournament.

As kick-off times and broadcasting arrangements may still be subject to technical adjustments, supporters are advised to follow official FIFA updates for the latest information ahead of the tournament.

Download FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule – Version 1

Download FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule – Version 2