The soccer world is about to change forever. We are looking at the biggest sports event in history. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will bring 48 teams together for the first time. This is a massive jump from the 32 teams we saw in the past. More teams mean more drama.
More goals. More memories. Fans are already hunting for the World Cup 2026 fixtures by date to plan their summer. You will see 104 matches across three giant countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This is the 23rd edition of the tournament. It is a total game changer.
First of all, you need to know the basic facts. The tournament starts on June 11, 2026. It ends with a massive final on July 19, 2026. FIFA confirmed the world cup 2026 fixtures release date on February 4, 2024. At that time, fans finally got to see the path their teams would take.
The expansion to 48 teams is a huge statistical shift. We are talking about 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from every group will move on. On top of that, the eight best third-placed teams will also make it to the knockout rounds. This creates a massive Round of 32 that we have never seen before.
The Opening Days: Group Stage Kickoff
The action begins in a legendary place. Mexico City will host the opening match at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026. Mexico will play against South Africa to start the party. Later that same day, South Korea will face a playoff winner in Guadalajara. It is history in the making.
Additionally, June 12, 2026, brings the tournament to Canada and the United States. Toronto will host Canada in their first-ever home World Cup match at 3 p.m. ET. The atmosphere will be electric. That night, the world cup 2026 fixtures dates and times show the United States playing Paraguay in Los Angeles at 9 p.m. ET.
Soccer fans are looking for world cup 2026 fixtures in date order to keep track of everything. Here is how the early schedule looks:
- June 11, 2026: Mexico vs. South Africa (Mexico City) and South Korea vs. Playoff Winner (Guadalajara).
- June 12, 2026: Canada vs. Playoff Winner (Toronto) and USA vs. Paraguay (Los Angeles).
- June 13, 2026: Four big games. Qatar vs. Switzerland in San Francisco. Brazil vs. Morocco in New York New Jersey. Haiti vs. Scotland in Boston. Australia vs. Playoff Winner in Vancouver.
- June 14, 2026: Germany vs. Curacao in Houston. Netherlands vs. Japan in Dallas. Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador in Philadelphia. Playoff Winner vs. Tunisia in Monterrey.
Gradually, the pressure will rise as every team plays their three group matches.
Focus on the Big Teams: England and the USA
Many fans are specifically asking about the world cup 2026 fixture dates england. The Three Lions have a clear path in Group L. First of all, England will play Croatia in Dallas on June 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET. This is a huge match between two European giants. Later, they travel to Boston to face Ghana on June 23, 2026. Finally, England will play Panama in New York New Jersey on June 27, 2026.
The United States also has a busy schedule in Group D. After their opener in Los Angeles, they head to Seattle to play Australia on June 19, 2026. Their final group game is back in Los Angeles on June 25, 2026, against a playoff winner. Fans are already checking world cup 2026 fixture dates tickets to see these home games.
Moving on, the host cities are preparing for the crowd. There are 16 host cities in total. Eleven are in the United States, three are in Mexico, and two are in Canada. Each city offers something unique.
Venue Spotlights: Where the Magic Happens
The world.cup.2026.fixture dates and venues are spread across the continent. Los Angeles is a major hub. The games there will happen at SoFi Stadium, which FIFA calls Los Angeles Stadium. It has a capacity of about 70,240 people. However, there were some worries about the field size at SoFi. It was designed for American football and is a bit narrow for soccer.
Similarly, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is a massive venue with 82,500 seats. FIFA calls it the “New York New Jersey Stadium”. It will host seven matches before the big final. To meet FIFA rules, the stadium will remove 1,740 seats in the corners to make the field wider.
Toronto will use BMO Field, known as Toronto Stadium, which holds about 28,000 fans. It is the smallest venue but will host six matches. In Mexico, Estadio Azteca remains the crown jewel with a capacity of 87,523. It is the first stadium to ever host games in three different World Cups.
The world cup 2026 fixtures dates and locations ensure that the quarter-finals and onwards only happen in the United States. This was part of the original “United” bid plan.
The Mid-Tournament Grind: June 15 to June 27
The group stage is a marathon. Between June 15 and June 27, the matches come fast.
- June 15: Spain starts their journey against Cape Verde in Atlanta. Belgium plays Egypt in Seattle.
- June 16: France takes on Senegal in the New York New Jersey area. Argentina plays Algeria in Kansas City.
- June 20: A big day for Group E and F. Germany plays Ivory Coast in Toronto. Netherlands faces a playoff winner in Houston.
- June 21: Spain is back in action against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta.
- June 22: Argentina plays Austria in Dallas.
Plus, the final group matches between June 24 and June 27 will decide who stays and who goes home. The schedule is designed to minimize travel for teams and fans. It also gives players as much rest as possible between fixtures.
The Knockout Stage: No Room for Error
The world cup 2026 fixtures draw date in late 2025 set the bracket. Once the group stage ends on June 27, the real drama starts. The knockout stage runs from June 28 to July 19, 2026. There are 32 matches in this stage, including a third-place game.
Round of 32 (June 28 – July 3):
- June 28: The first knockout game happens in Los Angeles.
- June 29: Matches in Boston, Houston, and Monterrey.
- June 30: Games in Dallas, East Rutherford, and Mexico City.
- July 1: Action in Atlanta, San Francisco, and Seattle.
- July 2: Matches in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Vancouver.
- July 3: Final Round of 32 games in Miami, Dallas, and Kansas City.
If a match is tied after 90 minutes, they play 30 minutes of extra time. If it is still tied, a penalty shootout happens. This is high stakes.
Round of 16 (July 4 – July 7): The Round of 16 matches happen in cities like Philadelphia, Houston, East Rutherford, and Mexico City. Dallas and Seattle also host games on July 6. The final two matches are in Atlanta and Vancouver on July 7.
The Final Push: Quarter-finals to the Final
Only eight teams will remain by July 9. The quarter-finals take place over three days.
- July 9: Boston hosts the first one.
- July 10: Los Angeles hosts the second.
- July 11: Miami and Kansas City host the final two quarter-finals.
Therefore, the four best teams will head to the semi-finals. Dallas will host a semi-final on July 14, 2026. Atlanta will host the other one on July 15, 2026. These are the biggest games before the finale.
The match for third place will happen in Miami on July 18, 2026.
The Grand Finale in New Jersey
Everything leads to July 19, 2026. The World Cup final will take place at MetLife Stadium. The kick-off is set for 3:00 p.m. local time.
On top of that, this final will have something we have never seen before. FIFA announced a halftime show for the first time in World Cup history. Global Citizen will produce the show. The band Coldplay is helping to pick the performers and will even play a concert in Times Square that weekend. It is going to be a massive celebration of music and sport.
Dallas was a favorite to host the final for a long time. They even planned to show the match at nearby venues to sell more tickets. However, MetLife Stadium won because of its location near New York City and its history of hosting huge events.
Statistical and Historical Nuggets
This World Cup is a numbers game.
- Matches: 104 games, up from 64 in 2022.
- Teams: 48 nations, up from 32.
- Venues: 16 stadiums across a whole continent.
- Economic Impact: Toronto alone expects a $940 million boost and 6,600 new jobs.
- Capacity: Over 1 million people will likely attend the games in person.
Fans are also looking at the world cup 2026 fixtures release date and time for ticket sales. The third phase of ticket sales began on December 11, 2025. Nearly two million tickets were already sold before this phase. You can apply through the official FIFA ticket portal. Prices range from $60 for some group games to thousands of dollars for the final.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen on 19 July 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will take place on this day. The match will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It will also feature the first-ever World Cup halftime show.
Is Messi playing in the World Cup 2026?
Lionel Messi is expected to be among the stars playing in the tournament. Fans around the world are hoping to see the legend defend Argentina’s title.
Can Ronaldo play in the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to be part of the tournament. He recently returned to action with his club and scored, showing he is still ready for big games.
Concluding Words
The World Cup 2026 fixtures by date show a massive 104-match schedule starting in Mexico City and ending in New Jersey. This expanded 48-team tournament will be the largest and most exciting soccer event ever held.
Fans can look forward to historic matches at venues like Estadio Azteca and SoFi Stadium. With the final set for July 19, 2026, the world is ready for a summer of incredible goals and new legends.
