2026 FIFA World Cup: The Complete Schedule and PDF Download

The 2026 FIFA World Cup (marketed as FIFA World Cup 26) will be the 23rd edition of football's most prestigious tournament. This historic event marks several groundbreaking firsts in World Cup history.

• Tournament Dates: June 11 – July 19, 2026
• Motto: "We Are 26 / Somos 26 / Nous Sommes 26"
• Defending Champions: Argentina (2022 winners)
• Draw Completed: December 5, 2025, at Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

Historic Milestones

First Tri-Nation World Cup

For the first time ever, the World Cup will be hosted by three countries simultaneously:

• United States (main host) – 11 host cities, 78 matches
• Mexico (co-host) – 3 host cities, 13 matches
• Canada (co-host) – 2 host cities, 13 matches

Expansion to 48 Teams

The tournament expands from 32 to 48 teams, the first format change since 1998. This means:

• 104 total matches (up from 64)
• 12 groups of 4 teams each
• 39-day tournament (up from 32 days)
• Top 2 teams from each group plus 8 best third-placed teams advance to a new Round of 32

Mexico Makes History

Mexico becomes the first country to host the men's World Cup three times, having previously hosted in 1970 and 1986.

Canada's World Cup Debut

This will be Canada's first time hosting or co-hosting the men's tournament.

How They Won the Bid

The United 2026 bid (Canada-Mexico-USA) competed against Morocco at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow on June 13, 2018.

Final Vote Results

• United Bid: 134 votes
• Morocco: 65 votes
• None of the bids: 1 vote
• Abstentions: 3 votes

The victory came after FIFA opened co-hosting possibilities following its ban after the 2002 tournament. All three host nations automatically qualified for the tournament.

Tournament Format

Group Stage

• 12 groups (A through L) with 4 teams each
• Each team plays 3 group matches
• Top 2 teams from each group automatically advance
• 8 best third-placed teams also advance

Knockout Stages

1. Round of 32 (new stage)
2. Round of 16
3. Quarter-finals
4. Semi-finals
5. Third-place playoff
6. Final (July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey)

Match Count

• Group stage: 48 matches
• Round of 32: 16 matches
• Round of 16: 8 matches
• Quarter-finals: 4 matches
• Semi-finals: 2 matches
• Finals: 2 matches (third place + final)
• Total: 104 matches

Complete Group Stage Draw (December 5, 2025)

Following the official draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., all 12 groups have been finalized. The ceremony featured U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, along with sports legends Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal.

GROUP A

1. Mexico (Host)
2. South Africa
3. Korea Republic
4. UEFA Playoff D winner (Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland)

Match Schedule:

• Thu, June 11: Mexico vs. South Africa – Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) [OPENING MATCH]
• Thu, June 11: Korea Republic vs. UEFA Playoff D winner – Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
• Thu, June 18: UEFA Playoff D winner vs. South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• Thu, June 18: Mexico vs. Korea Republic – Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
• Wed, June 24: UEFA Playoff D winner vs. Mexico – Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
• Wed, June 24: South Africa vs. Korea Republic – Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)

GROUP B

1. Canada (Host)
2. UEFA Playoff A winner (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
3. Qatar
4. Switzerland

Match Schedule:

• Fri, June 12: Canada vs. UEFA Playoff A winner – BMO Field (Toronto)
• Sat, June 13: Qatar vs. Switzerland – Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
• Thu, June 18: Switzerland vs. UEFA Playoff A winner – SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
• Thu, June 18: Canada vs. Qatar – BC Place (Vancouver)
• Wed, June 24: Switzerland vs. Canada – BC Place (Vancouver)
• Wed, June 24: UEFA Playoff A winner vs. Qatar – Lumen Field (Seattle)

GROUP C

1. Brazil
2. Morocco
3. Haiti
4. Scotland

Match Schedule:

• Sat, June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
• Sat, June 13: Haiti vs. Scotland – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
• Fri, June 19: Scotland vs. Morocco – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• Fri, June 19: Brazil vs. Haiti – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
• Wed, June 24: Scotland vs. Brazil – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
• Wed, June 24: Morocco vs. Haiti – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

GROUP D

1. United States (Host)
2. Paraguay
3. Australia
4. UEFA Playoff C winner (Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)

Match Schedule:

• Fri, June 12: United States vs. Paraguay – SoFi Stadium (Inglewood) [USA OPENER]
• Sat, June 13: Australia vs. UEFA Playoff C winner – BC Place (Vancouver)
• Fri, June 19: UEFA Playoff C winner vs. Paraguay – Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
• Fri, June 19: United States vs. Australia – Lumen Field (Seattle)
• Thu, June 25: UEFA Playoff C winner vs. United States – SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
• Thu, June 25: Paraguay vs. Australia – Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)

GROUP E

1. Germany
2. Curaçao (World Cup Debut)
3. Ivory Coast
4. Ecuador

Match Schedule:

• Sun, June 14: Germany vs. Curaçao – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• Sun, June 14: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador – NRG Stadium (Houston)
• Sat, June 20: Ecuador vs. Curaçao – BMO Field (Toronto)
• Sat, June 20: Germany vs. Ivory Coast – Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
• Thu, June 25: Ecuador vs. Germany – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• Thu, June 25: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)

GROUP F

1. Netherlands
2. Japan
3. UEFA Playoff B winner (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania)
4. Tunisia

Match Schedule:

• Sun, June 14: Netherlands vs. Japan – AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
• Sun, June 14: UEFA Playoff B winner vs. Tunisia – Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
• Sat, June 20: Tunisia vs. Japan – NRG Stadium (Houston)
• Sat, June 20: Netherlands vs. UEFA Playoff B winner – Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
• Thu, June 25: Tunisia vs. Netherlands – AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
• Thu, June 25: Japan vs. UEFA Playoff B winner – Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

GROUP G

1. Belgium
2. Egypt
3. Iran
4. New Zealand

Match Schedule:

• Mon, June 15: Belgium vs. Egypt – SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
• Mon, June 15: Iran vs. New Zealand – Lumen Field (Seattle)
• Sun, June 21: New Zealand vs. Egypt – SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
• Sun, June 21: Belgium vs. Iran – BC Place (Vancouver)
• Fri, June 26: New Zealand vs. Belgium – Lumen Field (Seattle)
• Fri, June 26: Egypt vs. Iran – BC Place (Vancouver)

GROUP H

1. Spain
2. Cape Verde (World Cup Debut)
3. Saudi Arabia
4. Uruguay

Match Schedule:

• Mon, June 15: Spain vs. Cape Verde – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
• Mon, June 15: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• Sun, June 21: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
• Sun, June 21: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• Fri, June 26: Uruguay vs. Spain – NRG Stadium (Houston)
• Fri, June 26: Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia – Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)

GROUP I - "GROUP OF DEATH"

1. France
2. Senegal
3. Intercontinental Playoff winner 2 (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname)
4. Norway

Match Schedule:

• Tue, June 16: France vs. Senegal – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
• Tue, June 16: Intercontinental Playoff winner 2 vs. Norway – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
• Mon, June 22: Norway vs. Senegal – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
• Mon, June 22: France vs. Intercontinental Playoff winner 2 – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
• Fri, June 26: Norway vs. France – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
• Fri, June 26: Senegal vs. Intercontinental Playoff winner 2 – BMO Field (Toronto)

Why it's the "Group of Death": Features France (2018 winners), Norway with Erling Haaland, and Senegal who famously defeated France 1-0 in the 2002 World Cup opener.

GROUP J

1. Argentina (Defending Champions)
2. Algeria
3. Austria
4. Jordan (World Cup Debut)

Match Schedule:

• Tue, June 16: Argentina vs. Algeria – Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
• Tue, June 16: Austria vs. Jordan – Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
• Mon, June 22: Jordan vs. Algeria – AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
• Mon, June 22: Argentina vs. Austria – Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara)
• Sat, June 27: Jordan vs. Argentina – AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
• Sat, June 27: Algeria vs. Austria – Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

GROUP K

1. Portugal
2. Intercontinental Playoff winner 1 (Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia)
3. Uzbekistan (World Cup Debut)
4. Colombia

Match Schedule:

• Fri, June 17: Portugal vs. Intercontinental Playoff winner 1 – NRG Stadium (Houston)
• Fri, June 17: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia – Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)
• Tue, June 23: Colombia vs. Intercontinental Playoff winner 1 – NRG Stadium (Houston)
• Tue, June 23: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan – Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)
• Sat, June 27: Colombia vs. Portugal – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
• Sat, June 27: Intercontinental Playoff winner 1 vs. Uzbekistan – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

GROUP L

1. England
2. Croatia
3. Ghana
4. Panama

Match Schedule:

• Fri, June 17: England vs. Croatia – BMO Field (Toronto)
• Fri, June 17: Ghana vs. Panama – AT&T Stadium (Arlington)
• Tue, June 23: Panama vs. Croatia – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough)
• Tue, June 23: England vs. Ghana – BMO Field (Toronto)
• Sat, June 27: Panama vs. England – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford)
• Sat, June 27: Croatia vs. Ghana – Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

Host Cities & Stadiums

United States (11 cities)

City	Stadium	Capacity	Notes
New York/New Jersey	MetLife Stadium	82,500	Final venue
Dallas	AT&T Stadium	80,000	9 matches (most)
Los Angeles	SoFi Stadium	70,240	Expandable to 100,240
Atlanta	Mercedes-Benz Stadium	71,000	Retractable roof
Kansas City	Arrowhead Stadium	76,416
Houston	NRG Stadium	72,220	Retractable roof
Philadelphia	Lincoln Financial Field	69,176
Seattle	Lumen Field	69,000	Expandable to 72,000
San Francisco Bay Area	Levi's Stadium	68,500
Miami	Hard Rock Stadium	64,767
Boston	Gillette Stadium	65,878

Mexico (3 cities)

City	Stadium	Capacity	Notes
Mexico City	Estadio Azteca	87,523	Opening match venue
Guadalajara	Estadio Akron	46,232
Monterrey	Estadio BBVA	53,500

Special Note: Estadio Azteca is the only stadium that hosted matches in the 1970 and 1986 World Cups. None of the stadiums from the 1994 US World Cup will be used.

Canada (2 cities)

City	Stadium	Capacity	Notes
Toronto	BMO Field	45,736	Expanded for tournament
Vancouver	BC Place	54,500	Retractable roof

Geographic Grouping

Cities are divided into three regions to minimize travel:

• West Region: Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles
• Central Region: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City
• East Region: Atlanta, Miami, Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey

Qualification

Automatic Qualifiers

• Canada (host)
• Mexico (host)
• United States (host)

Continental Allocation

The 48 tournament spots are distributed as follows:

• UEFA (Europe): 16 spots
• CAF (Africa): 9 spots
• AFC (Asia): 8 spots
• CONMEBOL (South America): 6 spots
• CONCACAF (North/Central America/Caribbean): 6 spots (including 3 hosts)
• OFC (Oceania): 1 spot (first-ever guaranteed berth)
• Inter-confederation playoffs: 2 spots

Historic First for Oceania

For the first time in World Cup history, Oceania (OFC) has a guaranteed spot in the finals. Previously, OFC teams had to win playoffs against teams from other confederations.

Inter-Confederation Playoffs

Six teams will compete in March 2026 for the final two World Cup spots:

• Intercontinental Playoff 1: Congo vs. New Caledonia or Jamaica
• Intercontinental Playoff 2: Iraq vs. Bolivia or Suriname

Teams Qualified (as of December 2025)

42 teams have qualified, with 6 playoff spots remaining (4 UEFA + 2 Intercontinental)

CONCACAF (6 teams qualified):

• Canada (host)
• Mexico (host)
• United States (host)
• Curaçao (debut)
• Haiti
• Panama

CONMEBOL (6 teams qualified):

• Argentina (defending champions)
• Brazil
• Uruguay
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Paraguay

UEFA (12 teams qualified + 4 playoff spots):

Qualified:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Croatia
• England
• France
• Germany
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Portugal
• Scotland
• Spain
• Switzerland

UEFA Playoffs (March 2026):

• Playoff A: Italy vs. Northern Ireland / Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Playoff B: Ukraine vs. Sweden / Poland vs. Albania
• Playoff C: Türkiye vs. Romania / Slovakia vs. Kosovo
• Playoff D: Denmark vs. North Macedonia / Czechia vs. Ireland

CAF (9 teams qualified):

• Algeria
• Cape Verde (debut)
• Egypt
• Ghana
• Ivory Coast
• Morocco
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• South Africa

AFC (8 teams qualified):

• Australia
• Iran
• Japan
• Jordan (debut)
• Korea Republic
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Uzbekistan (debut)

OFC (1 team qualified):

• New Zealand

World Cup Debutants

Four nations will make their World Cup debut in 2026:

• Cape Verde – Group H
• Curaçao – Group E
• Jordan – Group J
• Uzbekistan – Group K

Notable Returns

• Colombia – Returns after missing 2022
• New Zealand – Returns after last appearing in 2010
• Paraguay – Returns after last appearing in 2010
• Norway – Returns after last appearing in 1998

Notable Absences (so far)

• Chile (2015 & 2016 Copa América winners) – Missing their third consecutive World Cup
• Italy – Currently in UEFA playoffs, seeking to avoid missing a third straight World Cup

Opening Matches

Tournament Opener

June 11, 2026 – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Mexico vs. South Africa

This historic match marks:

• The first match of the 2026 World Cup
• The third World Cup opening at Estadio Azteca (1970, 1986, 2026)
• Mexico's record-setting third time hosting

Host Nation Openers

• Mexico: June 11, 2026 – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (first match of tournament)
• Canada: June 12, 2026 – BMO Field, Toronto vs. UEFA Playoff A winner
• United States: June 12, 2026 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles vs. Paraguay

Each host nation will play all three group stage matches within their own country.

Key Dates & Schedule

Group Stage

• Matchday 1: June 11-17, 2026
• Matchday 2: June 18-23, 2026
• Matchday 3: June 24-27, 2026

Knockout Rounds

• Round of 32: June 28 – July 3, 2026
• Round of 16: July 4-7, 2026
• Quarter-finals: July 9-11, 2026
• Semi-finals: July 14-15, 2026
• Third Place Playoff: July 18, 2026
• Final: July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

Player Release

• Final club matchday: May 24, 2026
• Clubs must release players by: May 25, 2026
• Exception for continental finals: up to May 30, 2026

Stadium Features

Playing Surfaces

Eight stadiums normally have artificial turf, which will be replaced with natural grass under FIFA direction with assistance from University of Tennessee and Michigan State University research teams.

Climate Control

Four venues feature retractable roofs with climate control:

• AT&T Stadium (Dallas)
• NRG Stadium (Houston)
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
• BC Place (Vancouver)

SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) has a translucent roof but no climate control.

Naming Rights

Due to FIFA rules on stadium sponsorships, all venues will use alternative names during the tournament (official names without corporate sponsors).

Tournament Innovations

Why the Format Changed

The original 2017 plan called for 16 groups of 3 teams, but this was changed in March 2023 due to concerns about:

• Increased risk of collusion between teams in 3-team groups
• The infamous 1982 "Disgrace of Gijón" incident
• Competitive integrity concerns

The new 12 groups of 4 teams format maintains the traditional group stage structure while accommodating 48 teams.

Tie-Breaking Criteria

If teams are level on points in group stage, ranking is determined by:

1. Head-to-head points between tied teams
2. Head-to-head goal difference
3. Head-to-head goals scored
4. Overall goal difference
5. Overall goals scored
6. Fair play score (yellow/red card deductions)
7. FIFA World Ranking (most recent, then progressively older)

Economic Impact

Match Distribution

• United States: 78 matches (75% of tournament)
• Mexico: 13 matches
• Canada: 13 matches

Record Capacity

Several stadiums can expand capacity for World Cup matches:

• AT&T Stadium: expandable to 105,000
• SoFi Stadium: expandable to 100,240
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium: expandable to 83,000
• NRG Stadium: expandable to 80,000

Historical Context

World Cup Hosting History

• Mexico: 1970 FIFA World Cup, 1986 FIFA World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup (first country to host three times)
• United States: 1994 FIFA World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup
• Canada: 2026 FIFA World Cup (first time)

Return to Summer Schedule

After the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was held in November-December due to extreme heat, the 2026 tournament returns to the traditional Northern Hemisphere summer window.

Controversies & Challenges

Bidding Process

The United 2026 bid was influenced by:

• FIFA's 2017 rotation rule changes
• UEFA and AFC exclusion (due to Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022)
• Morocco's strong competing bid
• The 2022 Querétaro–Atlas riot in Mexico raised concerns about safety

Stadium Selection

Several major cities didn't make the final cut:

• Washington D.C. (poor stadium condition)
• Chicago (dropped out over financial terms)
• Minneapolis (dropped out over financial terms)
• Montreal (dropped out in 2021, lack of provincial funding)
• Cincinnati, Denver, Nashville, Orlando, Edmonton (eliminated)

Format Debates

Critics of the 48-team expansion argued:

• Dilution of quality
• Already high game load on players
• Political motivations rather than sporting reasons
• Gianni Infantino accused of using expansion to win FIFA presidency

Fun Facts

• Most matches: AT&T Stadium in Dallas will host 9 matches, more than any other venue
• Highest elevation: Estadio Azteca in Mexico City sits at 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level
• No repeat stadiums: None of the 1994 World Cup stadiums will be used in 2026
• Estadio Azteca legacy: The only stadium to host matches in three different World Cups (1970, 1986, 2026)
• All continents represented: For the first time since 2010, every confederation will have at least one team in the finals
• Record tournament: 104 matches makes this the longest World Cup ever
• Capital cities snubbed: Mexico City is the only capital city among the three host nations selected as a venue
• Smallest nation ever: Curaçao (population ~150,000) becomes the smallest nation ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup

2026 World Cup Betting Odds

Following the draw, Spain is the favorite to win at MetLife Stadium on July 19:

• Spain: +400
• England: +600
• France: +650
• Brazil: +750
• Argentina: +800
• United States: +6600

Group Analysis & Predictions

Easiest Groups

• Group D: United States catches a break with Paraguay, Australia, and a UEFA playoff winner
• Group J: Argentina should cruise past Algeria, Austria, and Jordan

Toughest Groups

• Group I (Group of Death): France, Senegal, Norway (Erling Haaland), plus playoff winner
• Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama all capable of advancing
• Group H: Spain and Uruguay in the same group creates immediate tension

Matchups to Watch

• France vs. Senegal (June 16) – Rematch of Senegal's shocking 1-0 win in 2002
• Brazil vs. Morocco (June 13) – Morocco's semifinal run in 2022 vs. Seleção
• England vs. Croatia (June 17) – Nations League rivals meet again
• Spain vs. Uruguay (June 26) – Two former champions battle for top spot

Looking Ahead

Team Composition

The expanded format allows:

• More underdog stories
• Greater geographic diversity
• Increased global participation
• More nations experiencing World Cup for first time

Legacy Goals

The tournament aims to:

• Boost soccer/football popularity in North America
• Leave infrastructure legacy for future tournaments
• Generate record revenues for FIFA and host nations
• Inspire next generation of players across three countries

PDF Schedule Download

Access the complete match schedule in PDF format using the embedded viewer below.

Download the 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule PDF

How to Follow

Following the historic draw on December 5, 2025, the world now counts down to June 11, 2026, when Mexico kicks off the tournament against South Africa at the legendary Estadio Azteca. With 48 teams, 16 cities, three countries, 12 diverse groups, and 39 days of non-stop action, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be the most expansive and inclusive World Cup in history.

The tournament will feature four debutant nations, the return of Norway's golden generation led by Erling Haaland, and defending champions Argentina looking to become the first back-to-back winners since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Whether it's the "Group of Death" in Group I or the USMNT's favorable draw in Group D, every group offers compelling storylines that will captivate fans worldwide.

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Last Updated: December 6, 2025
Full schedule with kickoff times available via FIFA.com