June 3, 2026 | Updated daily through July 19
The wait is finally over. In just eight days, the most ambitious FIFA World Cup in history kicks off — and if you haven’t wrapped your head around the sheer scale of this thing yet, that’s completely understandable. We’re talking 48 countries, 104 matches, 16 stadiums spread across three nations, and 39 days of football that will pull the entire planet into its orbit.
This isn’t your father’s World Cup. This is something different — louder, wider, and in many ways, more chaotic. And that’s what makes it so exciting.
Whether you’re planning your watch schedule, tracking your favorite team, or just trying to figure out what time the USA plays (more on that shortly), this is the only guide you’ll need.
The Big Picture: What Makes 2026 Different
Let’s start with the basics, because the format change here is genuinely significant and will affect how you watch the tournament.
For the first time ever, the World Cup has expanded to 48 teams — up from 32. Those teams are split into 12 groups of four rather than the old eight groups. The top two teams from each group advance, plus the eight best third-place finishers, giving you 32 teams in a new Round of 32 before things progress to the quarterfinals, semis, and final.
What that means practically: more games, more upsets, and more nights where you’ll want to stay up late (or wake up early) to catch something memorable.
The tournament runs from June 11 through July 19, 2026, spanning three host countries — the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’s the first time three nations have shared hosting duties, and it creates a genuinely continental feel. You can fly from a group stage match in Vancouver to a knockout game in Miami and feel like you’ve crossed half the world — even though you never left North America.
The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19. If you’re within driving distance of New York City, start making plans now.
The 16 Stadiums: Where the Games Will Be Played
This is where things get interesting for American fans specifically. Eleven of the 16 venues are right here in the US — and chances are, there’s a stadium within a few hours of wherever you’re reading this.
United States Venues
MetLife Stadium — East Rutherford, New Jersey Capacity: 78,576 | Time zone: ET The home of the New York Giants and Jets becomes the home of football’s biggest night on July 19. It’s the largest stadium in the tournament, and it’s hosting the final — which means this building will be the loudest place on earth when the closing whistle sounds. Eight matches total, including the final.
AT&T Stadium — Dallas, Texas Capacity: 70,122 | Time zone: CT (subtract 1hr from ET) Everything is bigger in Texas, and AT&T Stadium proves the point. One of the largest indoor arenas in world sport, it has a retractable roof (essential for Dallas summers) and a video board so massive it’s practically its own attraction. It’s hosting a semifinal on July 14, plus six other matches.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium — Atlanta, Georgia Capacity: 67,382 | Time zone: ET Atlanta’s venue has the tournament’s most distinctive architectural feature — a retractable petal roof that opens and closes like a camera aperture. It’s hosting a semifinal on July 15, plus six earlier matches. Spain opens their campaign here on June 15.
SoFi Stadium — Los Angeles, California Capacity: 69,650 | Time zone: PT (subtract 3hrs from ET) The newest stadium in the tournament and arguably the most technologically impressive. That giant dual-sided halo video board suspended above the field is something to see. The USA opens their World Cup campaign here against Paraguay on June 12 at 6 PM local time (9 PM ET). Six matches total, including a quarterfinal.
NRG Stadium — Houston, Texas Capacity: 68,311 | Time zone: CT Houston gets six matches, and the covered roof will be a genuine blessing given the city’s legendary summer humidity. Portugal opens their 2026 campaign here on June 17 against DR Congo.
Levi’s Stadium — San Francisco Bay Area, California Capacity: 69,391 | Time zone: PT Silicon Valley’s NFL home is an interesting venue — San Francisco evenings can turn surprisingly cool even in July, which makes evening kickoffs particularly appealing. Six matches including a Round of 32 game.
Hard Rock Stadium — Miami, Florida Capacity: 64,091 | Time zone: ET Miami brings exactly the energy you’d expect — it’s one of the most event-tested venues in the Americas and sits in the middle of the largest Latin American soccer fan base in the United States. The third-place match will be played here on July 15. Six matches total.
Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Capacity: 65,827 | Time zone: ET Philly fans are known for their passion — and honestly, that suits the World Cup just fine. Six matches including a Round of 32 game.
Arrowhead Stadium — Kansas City, Missouri Capacity: 67,513 | Time zone: CT Consistently ranked among the loudest stadiums in professional sports, Arrowhead will bring something that slicker, newer venues sometimes lack: genuine crowd electricity. Five matches including a Round of 32 game.
Lumen Field — Seattle, Washington Capacity: 65,123 | Time zone: PT Seattle’s weather is a pleasant outlier in this tournament — expect mild temperatures around 65–70°F rather than the heat you’ll find in Dallas or Miami. Five matches total, including Belgium’s opener against Egypt on June 15.
Gillette Stadium — Boston, Massachusetts Capacity: 63,815 | Time zone: ET The most suburban venue in the lineup, but New England soccer culture runs deep. Five matches total. Scotland and Haiti open Group C here on June 13 at 9 PM ET.
Mexico Venues
Estadio Azteca — Mexico City Capacity: 83,264 | Time zone: CT (1hr behind ET during June/July) Here’s a piece of history that almost defies description. The Azteca becomes the first stadium ever to host three different World Cup opening matches — it did it in 1970, again in 1986, and now in 2026. It sits at 7,300 feet above sea level, which will affect gameplay in ways that the altitude-inexperienced teams will feel in their lungs. Mexico opens the entire tournament here on June 11 at 3 PM ET. Five matches total.
Estadio BBVA — Monterrey Capacity: 53,500 | Time zone: CT Monterrey is a passionate football city, and the BBVA (home of Liga MX giants Rayados) will deliver an intense atmosphere. Four matches including a Round of 32 game.
Estadio Akron — Guadalajara Capacity: 44,330 | Time zone: CT The smallest of the Mexican venues, but home of Chivas — arguably the most culturally important club in Mexican football. Four matches in the group stage only.
Canada Venues
BC Place — Vancouver, British Columbia Capacity: 54,500 | Time zone: PT Vancouver is one of the most beautiful World Cup host cities in tournament history. BC Place has a retractable roof and sits in the heart of a city with one of the strongest soccer cultures in Canada. Canada plays all three of their group matches on home soil, two of which are here. Six matches total.
BMO Field — Toronto, Ontario Capacity: 45,000 | Time zone: ET The most intimate venue in the tournament and the only one purpose-built for soccer. That actually matters — the sightlines are better, the noise stays inside the bowl, and the atmosphere in a packed BMO Field is something NFL stadium conversions can’t quite replicate. Five matches total, including Canada’s opening match against Bosnia on June 12.
All 48 Teams: The 12 Groups
The draw took place on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Here’s every group and what to watch for.
Group A Mexico | South Africa | South Korea | Czechia
Mexico opens the entire tournament on June 11. South Africa makes their first merit-based qualifying appearance in years. South Korea’s Kim Min-jae brings elite European pedigree. Czechia snuck through via the UEFA playoffs.
Group B Canada | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Qatar | Switzerland
Canada plays at home, which is a massive advantage — the crowd pressure at BMO Field and BC Place will be unlike anything their opponents have experienced. Switzerland are the group’s safe, reliable dark horse.
Group C Brazil | Morocco | Haiti | Scotland
Brazil are five-time champions carrying the enormous weight of South American expectation. Morocco are 2022 semi-finalists and arguably the world’s best African team right now. Haiti return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 — remarkable story. Scotland aim to finally escape a group stage for the first time.
Group D United States | Paraguay | Australia | Turkey
The Americans start at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which is basically a home game. Turkey qualified through the UEFA playoffs. Australia and Paraguay are dangerous enough to make this group genuinely competitive. No guarantees for the hosts.
Group E Germany | Curaçao | Ivory Coast | Ecuador
Germany returns as legitimate contenders after years of rebuilding. Curaçao makes their World Cup debut as one of the smallest nations ever to qualify — a fairytale starts. Ivory Coast are the reigning African champions. Ecuador is a growing South American force.
Group F Netherlands | Japan | Sweden | Tunisia
Japan have knocked out former champions in back-to-back World Cups. The Netherlands are built to go deep in tournaments. Sweden and Tunisia are capable of nicking points off anyone. This is the group stage’s best group for genuine unpredictability.
Group G Belgium | Egypt | Iran | New Zealand
Kevin De Bruyne leads a Belgian side that has been rebuilding for years. Egypt arrive with Mohamed Salah, who at 33 is playing what could be his final World Cup. New Zealand are Oceania’s sole representatives.
Group H Spain | Cape Verde | Saudi Arabia | Uruguay
Spain are one of the tournament’s two joint-favorites at +450. Cape Verde are making their World Cup debut — one of the tournament’s best stories. Uruguay always punch above their weight.
Group I France | Senegal | Iraq | Norway
France are co-favorites alongside Spain at +500. Kylian Mbappé headlines what might be the tournament’s deepest attacking lineup. Senegal are dangerous enough to cause an upset. Norway with Erling Haaland are everyone’s pick for the tournament’s most fun dark horse.
Group J Argentina | Algeria | Austria | Jordan
Argentina arrive as defending champions. Lionel Messi is 38 — this is, almost certainly, his last World Cup. Every match he plays should be watched. Jordan makes their World Cup debut. Algeria and Austria are the group’s ambitious interlopers.
Group K Portugal | DR Congo | Uzbekistan | Colombia
Cristiano Ronaldo at 41 playing a World Cup. Whether you love him or not, you’ll watch. Colombia are a legitimate Round of 16 threat. DR Congo and Uzbekistan are making history just by being here.
Group L England | Croatia | Ghana | Panama
England enter as the fourth betting favorites at +650. Three Lions fans have heard that before, but the squad depth this time around is genuinely different. Croatia remains clever and tournament-hardened. Ghana and Panama are determined to play spoiler.
Full Group Stage Schedule with EST Times
All times below are Eastern Time (ET). Local stadium time is noted where it differs significantly.
Thursday, June 11
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 3:00 PM | 2:00 PM CT |
| Group A: South Korea vs. Czechia | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM CT |
Friday, June 12
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group B: Canada vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina | BMO Field, Toronto | 3:00 PM | 3:00 PM ET |
| Group D: USA vs. Paraguay | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM PT |
Saturday, June 13
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group B: Qatar vs. Switzerland | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco | 3:00 PM | 12:00 PM PT |
| Group C: Brazil vs. Morocco | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | 6:00 PM | 6:00 PM ET |
| Group C: Haiti vs. Scotland | Gillette Stadium, Boston | 9:00 PM | 9:00 PM ET |
| Group D: Australia vs. Turkey | BC Place, Vancouver | 12:00 AM* | 9:00 PM PT |
*Next day EST
Sunday, June 14
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group E: Germany vs. Curaçao | NRG Stadium, Houston | 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM CT |
| Group F: Netherlands vs. Japan | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM CT |
| Group E: Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador | Gillette Stadium, Boston | 7:00 PM | 7:00 PM ET |
| Group F: Sweden vs. Tunisia | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM CT |
Monday, June 15
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group H: Spain vs. Cape Verde | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 1:00 PM | 1:00 PM ET |
| Group G: Belgium vs. Egypt | Lumen Field, Seattle | 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM PT |
| Group H: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 6:00 PM | 6:00 PM ET |
| Group G: Iran vs. New Zealand | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | 12:00 AM* | 9:00 PM PT |
Tuesday, June 16
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group I: France vs. Senegal | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | 3:00 PM | 3:00 PM ET |
| Group I: Iraq vs. Norway | Gillette Stadium, Boston | 6:00 PM | 6:00 PM ET |
| Group J: Argentina vs. Algeria | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM CT |
| Group J: Austria vs. Jordan | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco | 12:00 AM* | 9:00 PM PT |
Wednesday, June 17
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group K: Portugal vs. DR Congo | NRG Stadium, Houston | 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM CT |
| Group L: England vs. Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM CT |
| Group L: Ghana vs. Panama | BMO Field, Toronto | 7:00 PM | 7:00 PM ET |
| Group K: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM CT |
Thursday, June 18
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group B: Switzerland vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | 3:00 PM | 12:00 PM PT |
| Group A: Czechia vs. South Africa | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 1:00 PM | 1:00 PM ET |
| Group B: Canada vs. Qatar | BC Place, Vancouver | 6:00 PM | 3:00 PM PT |
| Group A: Mexico vs. South Korea | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | 11:00 PM | 10:00 PM CT |
Friday, June 19
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group D: USA vs. Australia | Lumen Field, Seattle | 3:00 PM | 12:00 PM PT |
| Group C: Scotland vs. Morocco | Gillette Stadium, Boston | 6:00 PM | 6:00 PM ET |
| Group C: Brazil vs. Haiti | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 9:00 PM | 9:00 PM ET |
| Group D: Turkey vs. Paraguay | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco | 12:00 AM* | 9:00 PM PT |
Saturday, June 20
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group E: Germany vs. Ivory Coast | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 1:00 PM | 12:00 PM CT |
| Group F: Japan vs. Sweden | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 4:00 PM | 4:00 PM ET |
| Group E: Ecuador vs. Curaçao | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 7:00 PM | 7:00 PM ET |
| Group F: Tunisia vs. Netherlands | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM CT |
Sunday, June 21
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group H: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 1:00 PM | 1:00 PM ET |
| Group G: Belgium vs. Iran | NRG Stadium, Houston | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM CT |
| Group H: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 7:00 PM | 6:00 PM CT |
| Group G: New Zealand vs. Egypt | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM CT |
Monday, June 22
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group I: France vs. Iraq | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 5:00 PM | 5:00 PM ET |
| Group J: Argentina vs. Austria | Lumen Field, Seattle | 1:00 PM | 10:00 AM PT |
| Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | 9:00 PM | 8:00 PM CT |
| Group I: Norway vs. Senegal | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | 8:00 PM | 8:00 PM ET |
Tuesday, June 23
| Match | Venue | EST | Local Time |
| Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 4:00 PM | 3:00 PM CT |
| Group L: England vs. Ghana | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco | 7:00 PM | 4:00 PM PT |
| Group L: Panama vs. Croatia | BMO Field, Toronto | 10:00 PM | 10:00 PM ET |
| Group K: Colombia vs. DR Congo | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | 10:00 PM | 9:00 PM CT |
Wednesday, June 24 — Final Group Stage Matchday (Simultaneous Kickoffs)
On the final matchday of each group, both games kick off simultaneously to keep things fair. We’ve marked groups where the stakes are highest.
| Match | Venue | EST |
| Group A: Mexico vs. Czechia | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | 9:00 PM |
| Group A: South Africa vs. South Korea | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | 9:00 PM |
| Group B: Switzerland vs. Canada | BC Place, Vancouver | 3:00 PM |
| Group B: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Qatar | Lumen Field, Seattle | 3:00 PM |
| Group C: Scotland vs. Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 6:00 PM |
| Group C: Morocco vs. Haiti | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 6:00 PM |
Thursday, June 25
| Match | Venue | EST |
| Group D: USA vs. Turkey | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 9:00 PM |
| Group D: Paraguay vs. Australia | NRG Stadium, Houston | 9:00 PM |
| Group E: Germany vs. Ecuador | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | 4:00 PM |
| Group E: Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast | Gillette Stadium, Boston | 4:00 PM |
Friday, June 26
| Match | Venue | EST |
| Group F: Netherlands vs. Sweden | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 6:00 PM |
| Group F: Japan vs. Tunisia | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | 6:00 PM |
| Group G: Belgium vs. New Zealand | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | 9:00 PM |
| Group G: Egypt vs. Iran | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | 9:00 PM |
Saturday, June 27
| Match | Venue | EST |
| Group H: Spain vs. Uruguay | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | 6:00 PM |
| Group H: Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | 6:00 PM |
| Group I: France vs. Norway | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | 7:30 PM |
| Group I: Senegal vs. Iraq | NRG Stadium, Houston | 7:30 PM |
| Group J: Argentina vs. Jordan | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco | 10:00 PM |
| Group J: Algeria vs. Austria | BMO Field, Toronto | 10:00 PM |
Sunday, June 28
| Match | Venue | EST |
| Group K: Portugal vs. Colombia | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | 6:00 PM |
| Group K: DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (2nd match) | 7:30 PM |
| Group L: England vs. Panama | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | 6:00 PM |
| Group L: Croatia vs. Ghana | BC Place, Vancouver | 6:00 PM |
Knockout Rounds: Key Dates
Once the group stage closes, the new Round of 32 begins. Here are the milestone dates:
- Round of 32: June 30 – July 3
- Round of 16: July 5 – July 8
- Quarterfinals: July 10 – July 11
- Semifinals: July 14 (AT&T Stadium, Dallas) & July 15 (Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
- Third-Place Match: July 17, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami — 3:00 PM ET
- THE FINAL: July 19, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ — 3:00 PM ET
How to Watch in the United States
Every single match is on American television. Here’s where:
- FOX — 70 matches including the final and both semifinals
- FS1 — 34 matches
- Streaming: FOX One app (all 104 matches in 4K), available with most TV provider sign-ins
- Spanish: Telemundo (92 matches), Universo (12 matches), Peacock en Español
The opening match (Mexico vs. South Africa) and the USA’s opener (vs. Paraguay on June 12) will both stream free on Tubi — no subscription needed.
The Players to Watch
You can’t talk about this tournament without talking about the two men who have defined football for the past 15 years, both playing what is almost certainly their final chapter on the biggest stage.
Lionel Messi (Argentina) is 38 years old and arrives as the defending champion. His Argentina team is deep, experienced, and hungry to repeat. Every time he touches the ball, watch.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) is 41. Some doubted he’d make it here. He did. Whether you think he belongs or not, he will score goals — he always does at World Cups — and his journey through this tournament will be one of the storylines of the summer.
Beyond those two, Kylian Mbappé and France carry the weight of everyone else’s expectations. Erling Haaland will have the entire world watching every time Norway attacks. Lamine Yamal, 18 years old and already starting for Spain, might be the player you’ll spend the next decade talking about.
Final Thought
Eight days from now, Estadio Azteca fills up, Mexico walks out to face South Africa, and 39 days of football begin. This tournament will produce moments no one can predict — stunning upsets, heartbreaking penalties, individual performances that become permanent fixtures in the sport’s memory.
Clear your calendar, figure out your local streaming setup, and pick a game to watch live. You don’t want to be the person who missed the summer this happened.
Bookmark this page — we’ll be updating results, standings, and knockout bracket information throughout the tournament.