FIFA World Cup 2026: Schedule, Dates, & Where to Watch

Key Group-Stage Matches

June 11

• Mexico vs. South Africa (Opening Match)

June 12

• United States vs. Czech Republic
• Canada vs. Belgium

June 13

• Brazil vs. Morocco

June 15

• Spain vs. Costa Rica
• Germany vs. Colombia

June 16

• France vs. Senegal
• Argentina vs. Algeria

June 17

• England vs. Croatia
• Netherlands vs. Egypt

June 18

• Portugal vs. Paraguay
• Italy vs. Australia

June 20

• Brazil vs. Scotland
• Belgium vs. Canada

June 22

• Argentina vs. Austria
• France vs. New Zealand

June 23

• England vs. Ghana
• Germany vs. South Korea

June 24

• Scotland vs. Brazil
• Morocco vs. Haiti

June 25-27

The final round of group-stage matches will determine:

• Group winners
• Runner-up finishers
• The eight best third-place teams advancing to the knockout rounds

What Happens After the Group Stage?

The expanded tournament introduces a brand-new Round of 32.

Round of 32

• June 28 - July 3
• 32 teams remain
• Win and advance
• Lose and go home

Round of 16

• July 4 - July 7
• The field is cut to 16 teams
• Traditional knockout format begins

Quarterfinals

• July 9 - July 11
• Eight teams compete for semifinal spots

Semifinals

• July 14 - July 15
• Four teams remain
• Winners advance to the World Cup Final

Third-Place Match

• July 18
• Semifinal losers compete for third place

World Cup Final

• July 19
• The last two teams battle for the biggest trophy in football

Important Dates at a Glance

• June 11: Opening Match
• June 11-27: Group Stage
• June 28-July 3: Round of 32
• July 4-7: Round of 16
• July 9-11: Quarterfinals
• July 14-15: Semifinals
• July 18: Third-Place Match
• July 19: World Cup Final

What Makes This World Cup Different?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will look very different from every tournament that came before it. For the first time, the competition is being hosted by three countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is also expanding from 32 teams to 48 teams, creating more opportunities for nations that previously struggled to qualify.

The larger field means fans will get significantly more football, with the total number of matches increasing from 64 to 104. FIFA has also introduced a new Round of 32, adding an extra knockout stage before the traditional Round of 16. The expansion has opened the door for more teams from Africa, Asia, the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), and Oceania, making this one of the most globally representative World Cups ever held.

Where to Watch

United States

American viewers will have multiple ways to follow the tournament, whether they prefer English-language or Spanish-language broadcasts. Every match will also be available through streaming platforms tied to the official broadcasters.

• FOX
• FS1
• FOX Sports App
• Telemundo (Spanish)
• Universo (Spanish)
• Peacock (Spanish streaming)

Canada

Canadian fans will be able to watch matches across the country's major sports networks, with coverage available in both English and French.

• TSN
• CTV
• RDS (French)

United Kingdom

UK viewers can once again expect extensive free-to-air World Cup coverage from the country's traditional tournament broadcasters.

• BBC
• ITV

Worldwide Schedule & Fixtures

For fans outside these markets, FIFA's official match centre remains the best place to find kickoff times, fixtures, results, standings, and broadcast information for each region.

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