FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule Released: Key Dates and Match Details
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule Announced
On Saturday, FIFA revealed the complete schedule for the 2026 World Cup, following the announcement of the tournament's groups for the 48 participating teams. Defending champions Argentina will kick off their title defense against Algeria on June 16. The championship match is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, starting at 3 PM ET, which translates to 9 PM in Europe and 8 PM in the UK. The tournament will commence with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City at 3 PM ET.
Important Dates and Star Players
The group stage will wrap up on June 27, featuring prominent teams such as Argentina and Portugal, with legendary players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, respectively. Other notable teams include Croatia, who finished third in the 2022 World Cup, and a talented England squad led by Harry Kane, alongside stars like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, and Phil Foden. (Photo courtesy: FIFA)
Knockout Stage Schedule
The knockout phase will commence on June 28 and continue until July 3, followed by the round of 16 from July 4 to 7, the quarterfinals from July 9 to 11, and the semifinals on July 14 and 15.
Host Venues and Match Distribution
A total of 78 matches will take place in the USA, with Canada and Mexico hosting 13 matches each. The quarterfinals and finals will be exclusively held in the USA, with venues including Los Angeles, Boston, Kansas City, and Miami for the quarterfinals, while Dallas and Atlanta will host the semifinals, and New Jersey will be the site for the final. Notably, South Korea, along with Canada and Mexico, is one of the few teams without any matches scheduled in the US.
USMNT Group Stage Matches
The US Men's National Team (USMNT) will begin their group stage matches with a game against Paraguay in Inglewood on June 12 at 9 PM ET. They will then face Australia in Seattle on June 19 at 3 PM ET, followed by a match on June 25 against either Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, starting at 7 PM ET.