FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the 23rd edition of the world’s largest football tournament. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held jointly in the US, Canada, and Mexico, with matches taking place in 16 cities.
The tournament will start on June 11, 2026, and finish on July 19, 2026, with 48 teams competing in a record 104 matches, making it the largest FIFA tournament ever.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Overview
Tournament: FIFA World Cup 2026
Host Countries: United States, Canada, Mexico
Total Teams: 48
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Total Matches: 104
Start Date: June 11, 2026
Final Date: July 19, 2026
Total Duration: 39 Days
The opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held on June 11, 2026, at the iconic stadium, Estadio Azteca, located in Mexico City, while the final of the tournament will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
When Does FIFA World Cup 2026 Start?
The opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The first match of the tournament will be played between Mexico national football team and South Africa national football team.
When Is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final?
The final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This stadium ranks as one of the largest venues in the United States, and this tournament’s largest match will be held here.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament Format
The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 will have a new format featuring 48 participating nations as opposed to the standard 32 teams.
Tournament Overview
Group Play – June 11 – June 27
Round of 32 – June 29 – July 03
Round of 16 – July 04 – July 07
Quarter Finals – July 09 – July 11
Semi-Finals – July 14 – July 15
Third Place Match – July 18
Final – July 19
This allows for more games being played; which gives an equal opportunity for different countries around the globe to take part in the ultimate event in Soccer.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Matches
Some of the first major matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage are as follows:
June 11, 2026
Mexico vs South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
South Korea vs UEFA Path D Winner – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
June 12, 2026
Canada vs UEFA Path A Winner – BMO Field, Toronto
USA vs Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
June 13, 2026
Qatar vs Switzerland – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
Brazil vs Morocco – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Haiti vs Scotland – Gillette Stadium, Boston
June 14, 2026
Germany vs Curacao – NRG Stadium, Houston
Netherlands vs Japan – AT&T Stadium, Dallas
FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Schedule
Round of 32
June 29 – July 3 across venues such as SoFi Stadium, NRG Stadium, and Gillette Stadium.
Round of 16
July 4 – July 7 at venues including Estadio Azteca, MetLife Stadium, and Lumen Field.
Quarterfinals
July 9 – Gillette Stadium, Boston
July 10 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
July 11 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
July 11 – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Semifinals
July 14 – AT&T Stadium, Dallas
July 15 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
FIFA WC 2026 Third Place Match
The third place playoff will be held on July 18, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Venue
The FIFA WC 2026 will also take place at MetLife Stadium located in East Rutherford, NJ – this stadium will hold around 82k+ fans who would come to see which two teams compete for the biggest trophy in football.
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