ZURICH / GLOBAL — FIFA has unveiled the updated match schedule, list of venues, and official kick-off times for all 104 matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™, providing fans, broadcasters, host cities and national teams with critical details as preparations accelerate for the most expansive and eagerly anticipated edition of football’s flagship event. (inside.fifa.com)
With the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, the 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature an expanded format of 48 national teams, 16 more than in previous editions, and a total of 104 matches — the most ever contested in the history of the competition.
A Tournament of Record Scale
The revised schedule outlines competitive matches starting from the opening match on 11 June 2026, and culminating in the final on 19 July 2026. The full list includes:
- Group stage fixtures
- Round of 32 and Round of 16
- Quarter-finals and semi-finals
- Third-place play-off and Final
Matches will be played across 16 host cities spanning three countries and 12 stadiums, including iconic venues and historic grounds that showcase North America’s diverse sporting landscape.
12 World Cup 2026™ Host Stadiums Across North America
FIFA’s updated calendar assigns fixtures to a range of world-class stadiums, including:
Canada
- Commonwealth Stadium — Edmonton
- BMO Field — Toronto
- BC Place — Vancouver
Mexico
- Estadio Azteca — Mexico City
- Estadio Akron — Guadalajara
- Estadio BBVA — Monterrey
United States
- MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford / New York
- SoFi Stadium — Inglewood / Los Angeles
- AT&T Stadium — Arlington / Dallas
- Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta
- Hard Rock Stadium — Miami
- Levi’s Stadium — Santa Clara / San Francisco
- Lumen Field — Seattle
- NRG Stadium — Houston
- Gillette Stadium — Foxborough / Boston area
These venues reflect international standards for capacity, broadcast infrastructure and fan experience — reaffirming the 2026 World Cup as a truly global festival of football.
Kick-Off Times Designed for Global Audiences
In collaboration with broadcast partners and host nations, FIFA has scheduled kick-off times with fan accessibility in mind. The calendar balances:
- Prime-time viewing windows across Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia
- Local host city considerations for travel and recovery
- Broadcaster requirements for global television and digital platforms
The scheduling ensures that groups and knockout matches are spread thoughtfully throughout the day, giving fans around the world opportunities to watch marquee fixtures live.
Group Stage: A Weekend of Football and Rivalries
The updated fixture list highlights several headline matchups in the group stage, with traditional powerhouses and emerging nations set to clash. The early rounds — spanning 48 group matches — have been distributed across multiple time zones to facilitate maximum participation from global audiences.
Knockout Stage and Football Drama
With a Round of 32 and Round of 16 added to the expanded tournament format, FIFA World Cup 2026™ promises more knockout drama than ever before, culminating in quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place play-off and a final that will crown the world’s next football champions on 19 July 2026.
FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström underscored the careful planning behind the schedule, stating that the structure balances competitive integrity with logistical efficiency — enabling teams to perform at their best while supporting fan travel and staging unforgettable matchday experiences.
A New Era of World Cup Engagement
The updated schedule not only provides operational clarity but also begins to shape narratives for broadcast campaigns, fan tours, local celebrations and economic planning in host cities. With football’s global community now able to align calendars, tourism partners, national associations and media organisations have new certainty as they prepare for the biggest sporting event of 2026.
From the opening kickoff to the final whistle, the 2026 World Cup’s match schedule, venue assignments and kick-off times are set to unify global audiences around the world’s most popular sport.
Read more sports news here.
Sources
- FIFA — Updated World Cup 2026 match schedule, venues & kick-off times (104 matches)
https://www.inside.fifa.com/media-releases/updated-world-cup-2026-match-schedule-venues-kick-off-times-104-matches - FIFA — FIFA World Cup 2026™ host cities and stadium information
https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canada-mexico-usa2026 (general tournament overview)
