The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played this summer from June to July for a month-long tournament with 48 national teams.
This 2026 World Cup is very different from previous World Cups, as this year's tournament will be the first to have 48 national teams.
This is the 23rd edition of the tournament, and the competition will have 12 groups of four teams, following to a knockout stage that will lead to the World Cup Final.
The 2026 World Cup is also the first to have three host nations -- the United States, Mexico, and Canada -- with 16 stadiums hosting matches this summer. The 2026 World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, and spans through the Final match on July 19, 2026.
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The first game of the 2026 World Cup will be Mexico vs. South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT in the United States. The match will kick off at 1 p.m. local time at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico.
The United States will host 78 matches, while Canada and Mexico each host 13 matches. This includes group stage matches and knockout stage matches.
The United States will play all of its matches on home soil. Canada and Mexico will play all of their group stage matches on their home soil. If Canada and/or Mexico progress further in the tournament, their knockout stage matches will be played in the United States.
Will There Be World Cup Matches Every Day From June to July?
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11, 2026, to July 19, 2026, but there is not a game every day in between. However, there will only be five rest days during the tournament's duration.
The group stage of the 2026 World Cup begins on June 11, 2026, and there will be group stage matches played every day. The group stage of the 2026 World Cup lasts from June 11, 2026, to June 27, 2026.
Following the group stage are the knockout stages. The Round of 32 and the Round of 16 matches will be played right after the group stage matches. The Round of 32 matches will be played from June 28, 2026, to July 3, 2026. The Round of 16 matches will be played from July 4, 2026, to July 7, 2026.
The quarterfinals will be from July 9, 2026, to July 11, 2026. The semifinals will be played on July 14, 2026, and July 15, 2026. The third-place match will be played on July 18, 2026, and the 2026 World Cup Final will be played on July 19, 2026.
Each World Cup match will be played at different times and can range between 12 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET.
