When is the FIFA World Cup 2026?

When is the FIFA World Cup 2026?
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on 11 June 2026, featuring the opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa (Match 1) at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The event lasts 39 days, ending on 19 July 2026 with the World Cup Final (Match 104) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Both games start at 3:00 p.m. ET or 7:00 p.m. UTC.

How many teams are competing, and how does that change the format?

For the first time ever, 48 countries will take part in the FIFA World Cup, rising from 32 teams in earlier tournaments. This growth creates notable shifts, raising the count of fixtures played and shown around the world from 64 to 104.

The length of the full competition and its group phase extends by several days too, plus an entirely new stage (the Round of 32) comes right after the groups. This adds at least 3,600 extra minutes of live World Cup football coverage, reaching a minimum of 9,360 minutes of global soccer broadcasts to more than 200 countries and areas.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage?

The group phase includes 12 sets of four countries apiece. Every side plays three games, meeting each other opponent in their set once. The group stage spans roughly two weeks, from 11 June to 27 June 2026. Altogether, it covers 72 fixtures shown live worldwide, totalling at least 6,480 minutes of airtime. Here is the timetable for each group phase day:

  • Matchday 1: 11 to 17 June 2026

  • Matchday 2: 18 to 23 June 2026

  • Matchday 3: 24 to 27 June 2026

What is the round of 32, and when will it take place?

The round of 32 serves as a fresh addition for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup, premiering in the 2026 version hosted jointly by the USA, Mexico, and Canada. It forms the initial knockout phase after the groups.

This stage involves the top two finishers from each of the 12 groups (24 teams in all) alongside the top eight third-place teams. The round of 32 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup runs for around one week, from 28 June to 3 July 2026, opening with the initial match at 3:00 p.m. ET or 7:00 p.m. UTC on 28 June. Overall, it includes 16 matches, providing 1,440 minutes of World Cup viewing. Fans can watch on television and online streams globally, such as in the USA via FOX and Telemundo, in the UK through ITV and BBC, and in Canada on CTV, TSN, and RDS. For the full broadcaster details, check the World Cup event page.

When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 start?

The round of 16 occurs across four days, beginning on 4 July and finishing on 7 July 2026. It pits the round of 32 victors against one another, starting with the opening last-16 game at 1:00 p.m. ET or 5:00 p.m. UTC. In all, eight matches happen here, offering at least 720 minutes of live World Cup shows and streams around the globe.

When are the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals and semi-finals?

The quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup unfold over three days from 9 to 11 July 2026, whereas the semi-finals are set for two days on 14 and 15 July 2026.

The quarter-final round opens with its first match at 4:00 p.m. ET or 7:00 p.m. UTC, and the semi-final phase starts with the opening semi at 3:00 p.m. ET or 7:00 p.m. UTC. Combined, four quarter-final games and two semi-final games will occur and air on TV plus stream in over 200 nations. These stages contribute another 540 minutes of World Cup live coverage and streaming worldwide.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final starts at 3:00 p.m. ET or 7:00 p.m. UTC on 19 July 2026, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This decisive clash closes the 39-day summer spectacle, marking the longest World Cup in records.

The third-place match happens the previous day, on 18 July, at 5:00 p.m. ET or 9:00 p.m. UTC.

World Cup Final coverage will conclude this landmark 2026 tournament. Expect the final to reach viewers via TV and digital streams in over 219 countries and territories.

How many rest days are there between the different 2026 FIFA World Cup rounds?

Planning around the 2026 FIFA World Cup? The initial three phases in the USA, Canada, and Mexico (group stage, round of 32, and round of 16) feature no gaps between them. Thus, each subsequent round begins the day after the last one finishes.

That said, a rest day without games falls on 8 July between the round of 16 and quarter-finals. From the quarter-finals end on 11 July to the semi-finals start on 14 July, two days pass without action.

Post semi-finals, ending 15 July, two off-days follow (16 and 17 July) ahead of the third-place game on 18 July, and three off-days (16, 17, and 18 July) lead to the key final on 19 July 2026.

To sum up, the off-days without World Cup fixtures are: 8, 12, 13, 16, and 17 July.

How many games per day will be played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar became legendary with four daily matches across much of the phase.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the pattern evolves more. The opening two days hold two group matches each, building to four daily, and peaking at six group games per day over the last four days of the groups.

How many days will each round at the 2026 FIFA World Cup take?

  • Group stage: 17 days, 72 games (11 to 27 June 2026)

  • Round of 32: 6 days, 16 games (28 June to 3 July 2026)

  • Round of 16: 4 days, 8 games (4 to 7 July 2026)

  • Quarter-finals: 3 days, 4 games (9 to 11 July 2026)

  • Semi-finals: 2 days, 2 games (14 to 15 July 2026)

  • Third-place playoff: 1 day, 1 game (18 July 2026)

  • Final: 1 day, 1 game (19 July 2026)