The World Cup 2026 group stage is now fully confirmed following the final play-off matches on March 31, 2026. Italy failed to qualify after a penalty loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and placeholders for all continental play-offs have been filled by teams including the Czech Republic, Sweden, Norway, and Iraq.
The road to the 2026 World Cup Final begins here. For the first time in history, 48 nations will compete across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
From the opening whistle at the Estadio Azteca to the crowning of a champion at MetLife Stadium, this is your definitive guide to every fixture in the 104-match marathon.
Tournament at a Glance
- Total Matches: 104
- Host Cities: 16 (11 USA, 3 Mexico, 2 Canada)
- Group Stage: June 11 – June 27
- Round of 32: June 28 – July 3
- World Cup Final: July 19, 2026
The tournament kicks off with a triple-header of host nations. Mexico opens the festivities in the capital, followed by Canada and the USA beginning their campaigns on home soil.
World Cup 2026 schedule
| Date | Matchup | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| GROUP A | ||
| June 11 | Mexico 2-0 South Africa | Mexico City |
| June 12 | South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic | Guadalajara |
| June 18 | Czech Republic 1-1 South Africa | Atlanta |
| June 19 | Mexico 1-0 South Korea | Guadalajara |
| June 24 | South Africa vs South Korea | Monterrey |
| June 24 | Czech Republic vs Mexico | Mexico City |
| GROUP B | ||
| June 12 | Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Toronto |
| June 13 | Qatar 1-1 Switzerland | San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 18 | Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Los Angeles |
| June 18 | Canada 6-1 Qatar | Vancouver |
| June 24 | Switzerland vs Canada | Vancouver |
| June 24 | Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar | Seattle |
| GROUP C | ||
| June 13 | Brazil 1-1 Morocco | New York/New Jersey |
| June 14 | Haiti 0-1 Scotland | Boston |
| June 19 | Scotland 0-1 Morocco | Boston |
| June 20 | Brazil 3-0 Haiti | Philadelphia |
| June 24 | Scotland vs Brazil | Miami |
| June 24 | Morocco vs Haiti | Atlanta |
| GROUP D | ||
| June 12 | USA 4-1 Paraguay | Los Angeles |
| June 14 | Australia 2-0 Turkiye | Vancouver |
| June 19 | USA 2-0 Australia | Seattle |
| June 20 | Turkiye 0-1 Paraguay | San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 25 | Turkiye vs USA | Seattle |
| June 25 | Paraguay vs Australia | San Francisco Bay Area |
| GROUP E | ||
| June 14 | Germany 7-1 Curacao | Houston |
| June 14 | Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador | Philadelphia |
| June 20 | Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast | Toronto |
| June 21 | Ecuador 0-0 Curacao | Kansas City |
| June 25 | Ecuador vs Germany | Philadelphia |
| June 25 | Curacao vs Ivory Coast | New York/New Jersey |
| GROUP F | ||
| June 14 | Netherlands 2-2 Japan | Dallas |
| June 15 | Sweden 4-1 Tunisia | Monterrey |
| June 20 | Netherlands 5-1 Sweden | Houston |
| June 21 | Tunisia 0-4 Japan | Monterrey |
| June 25 | Tunisia vs Netherlands | Kansas City |
| June 25 | Japan vs Sweden | Dallas |
| GROUP G | ||
| June 15 | Belgium 1-1 Egypt | Seattle |
| June 15 | Iran 2-2 New Zealand | Los Angeles |
| June 21 | Belgium vs Iran | Los Angeles |
| June 22 | New Zealand vs Egypt | Vancouver |
| June 26 | New Zealand vs Belgium | Houston |
| June 26 | Egypt vs Iran | Guadalajara |
| GROUP H | ||
| June 15 | Spain 0-0 Cape Verde | Atlanta |
| June 15 | Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay | Miami |
| June 21 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
| June 22 | Uruguay vs Cape Verde | Miami |
| June 26 | Uruguay vs Spain | Boston |
| June 26 | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | Atlanta |
| GROUP I | ||
| June 16 | France 3-1 Senegal | New York/New Jersey |
| June 16 | Iraq 1-4 Norway | Boston |
| June 22 | Norway vs Senegal | New York/New Jersey |
| June 22 | France vs Iraq | Philadelphia |
| June 26 | Norway vs France | Boston |
| June 26 | Senegal vs Iraq | Philadelphia |
| GROUP J | ||
| June 16 | Argentina 3-0 Algeria | Kansas City |
| June 16 | Austria 3-1 Jordan | San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 22 | Argentina vs Austria | Dallas |
| June 22 | Jordan vs Algeria | San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 26 | Jordan vs Argentina | Monterrey |
| June 26 | Algeria vs Austria | Guadalajara |
| GROUP K | ||
| June 17 | Portugal 1-1 DR Congo | Houston |
| June 17 | Uzbekistan 1-2 Colombia | Mexico City |
| June 23 | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | Houston |
| June 23 | Colombia vs DR Congo | Guadalajara |
| June 27 | Colombia vs Portugal | Kansas City |
| June 27 | DR Congo vs Uzbekistan | Dallas |
| GROUP L | ||
| June 17 | England 4-2 Croatia | Dallas |
| June 17 | Ghana 1-0 Panama | Toronto |
| June 23 | England vs Ghana | Boston |
| June 23 | Panama vs Croatia | Toronto |
| June 27 | Panama vs England | Philadelphia |
| June 27 | Croatia vs Ghana | Boston |
World Cup knockout phase
While the top two teams from every group automatically qualify for the knockout stage, they are joined by the eight best third-placed teams, ensuring that almost every final group-stage match carries immense stakes.
This leads into a massive 104-game schedule and an entirely new knockout round—the Round of 32. Consequently, the road to the trophy is now longer than ever, requiring the eventual champions to navigate eight matches rather than the traditional seven.
When is the World Cup 2026 final?
The World Cup 2026 final will take place on July 19 at 3pm ET / 8pm GMT at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, USA.
| Date | Matchup | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| ROUND OF 32 | ||
| June 28 | Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/D/E | Los Angeles |
| June 28 | Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group B | San Francisco |
| June 29 | Winner Group B vs 3rd Group A/C/D | Boston |
| June 29 | Winner Group C vs 3rd Group A/B/F | Toronto |
| June 29 | Runner-up Group C vs Runner-up Group F | Houston |
| June 30 | Winner Group E vs Runner-up Group D | New York/New Jersey |
| June 30 | Winner Group F vs 3rd Group C/D/G | Dallas |
| June 30 | Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F | Mexico City |
| July 1 | Winner Group G vs 3rd Group A/E/H | Atlanta |
| July 1 | Runner-up Group G vs Runner-up Group H | San Francisco |
| July 1 | Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J | Monterrey |
| July 2 | Winner Group I vs 3rd Group C/D/L | Vancouver |
| July 2 | Winner Group J vs Runner-up Group I | Seattle |
| July 2 | Winner Group K vs 3rd Group B/E/I | Los Angeles |
| July 3 | Winner Group L vs Runner-up Group K | Miami |
| July 3 | Runner-up Group L vs Runner-up Group E | Dallas |
| ROUND OF 16 | ||
| July 4 | Match 73 Winner vs Match 74 Winner | Philadelphia |
| July 4 | Match 75 Winner vs Match 76 Winner | Houston |
| July 5 | Match 77 Winner vs Match 78 Winner | New York/New Jersey |
| July 5 | Match 79 Winner vs Match 80 Winner | Mexico City |
| July 6 | Match 81 Winner vs Match 82 Winner | Dallas |
| July 6 | Match 83 Winner vs Match 84 Winner | Seattle |
| July 7 | Match 85 Winner vs Match 86 Winner | Atlanta |
| July 7 | Match 87 Winner vs Match 88 Winner | Vancouver |
| QUARTER-FINALS | ||
| July 9 | Match 89 Winner vs Match 90 Winner | Boston |
| July 10 | Match 91 Winner vs Match 92 Winner | Los Angeles |
| July 11 | Match 93 Winner vs Match 94 Winner | Miami |
| July 11 | Match 95 Winner vs Match 96 Winner | Kansas City |
| SEMI-FINALS | ||
| July 14 | Match 97 Winner vs Match 98 Winner | Dallas |
| July 15 | Match 99 Winner vs Match 100 Winner | Atlanta |
| THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF | ||
| July 18 | Match 101 Loser vs Match 102 Loser | Miami |
| WORLD CUP FINAL | ||
| July 19 | Match 101 Winner vs Match 102 Winner | New York/New Jersey |
