FIFA World Cup 2026™ schedule: USA, Canada, and Mexico

When is the 2026 World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will run from Thursday, June 11, to Sunday, July 19, 2026, lasting 39 exciting days. The opening match is set for June 11 in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa in front of a home crowd. The tournament will wrap up with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, just across the river from New York City, giving fans a huge and memorable stage for the final match.

The World Cup™ tournament is divided into six stages:

• Group stage (June 11-27)

• Round of 32 (June 28-July 3)

• Round of 16 (July 4-July 7)

• Quarterfinals (July 9-11)

• Semifinals (July 14-15)

• Final (July 19) 

2026 World Cup host cities and venues

The 2026 World Cup will be played in 16 cities across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Below is an overview of all the host cities and stadiums you’ll encounter during the tournament.

Host cities in the United States 

The 2026 World Cup schedule includes 11 host cities in the United States:

• New York City/East Rutherford (MetLife Stadium)

• Boston/Foxborough (Gillette Stadium)

• Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field)

• Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)

• Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)

• Kansas City (Arrowhead Stadium)

• Dallas/Arlington (AT&T Stadium)

• Houston (NRG Stadium)

• Seattle (Lumen Field)

• San Francisco/Santa Clara (Levi's Stadium)

• Los Angeles/Inglewood (SoFi Stadium)

If you're planning to travel from abroad, research current entry requirements, visa policies, and travel advisories before booking.

Host cities in Mexico 

Mexico will have three host cities during the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The opening match will take place at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, and other games will be held at Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron, located in Zapopan, and Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.

Host cities in Canada

Two of Canada’s largest cities will also feature on the World Cup™ schedule: Toronto (BMO Field) and Vancouver (BC Place).

The complete 2026 World Cup group stage schedule

We’ve compiled a complete overview of the FIFA World Cup™ schedule for the group stage, when the 48 competing teams will battle it out for a spot in the knockout stage. We’ll share each match’s date and time (in the Eastern Time Zone, ET), along with the group and venue.

Opening day matches

The World Cup™ will kick off with two opening day matches in Mexico on Thursday, June 11:

USA group stage matches

If you’re looking to watch Team USA compete, they’ll play in three group stage matches:

Group stage match schedule

Here’s the complete group stage schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, starting June 12.

Friday, June 12

Saturday, June 13

Sunday, June 14

Monday, June 15

Tuesday, June 16

Wednesday, June 17

Thursday, June 18

Friday, June 19

Saturday, June 20

Sunday, June 21

Monday, June 22

Tuesday, June 23

Wednesday, June 24

Thursday, June 25 

Friday, June 26

Saturday, June 27

2026 World Cup knockout stage schedule

After the group stage, the 2026 World Cup will go into a knockout format, which means that if a team loses, they’re out of the tournament.

Round of 32 (June 28 - July 3)

The Round of 32 is a new addition to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ schedule. This round allows third-place qualifiers from certain groups to compete. The key host cities for this stage of the tournament include Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Mexico City, and Vancouver. 

Sunday, June 28

Monday, June 29

Tuesday, June 30

Wednesday, July 1

Thursday, July 2

Friday, July 3

Round of 16 (July 4-7)

The Round of 16 will consist of eight matches between 16 teams. You’ll also be able to enjoy two special Independence Day games to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the United States in Houston and Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The other host cities for the Round of 16 include New York City, Mexico City, Dallas, Atlanta, Seattle, and Vancouver. 

Saturday, July 4

Sunday, July 5

Monday, July 6

Tuesday, July 7

Quarterfinals (July 9-11)

The quarterfinals is a series of four matches between eight teams that will take place in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, and Kansas City between July 9 and July 11. 

Thursday, July 9

Friday, July 10

Saturday, July 11

Semifinals (July 14-15)

The semifinals will be two matches between the top four teams, taking place in Dallas and Atlanta.

Tuesday, July 14 

Wednesday, July 15

The third place match and final

The World Cup™ schedule will culminate in the third place match on July 18 and the final on July 19.

Saturday, July 18

Sunday, July 19

2026 World Cup groups and teams

​​Because so many teams will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026™, they’re organized into 12 different groups.

These groups were determined by the World Cup™ draw on December 5, 2025.

• Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Winner D

• Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Winner A

• Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

• Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Winner C

• Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

• Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Winner B

• Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

• Group H: Spain, Cape Verde Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

• Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA® Play-Off Winner 2 (Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname)

• Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

• Group K: Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, FIFA® Play-Off Winner 1

• Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama 

Beyond the groups, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will also have six playoff spots that will be decided in matches played in March 2026.

• Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Play-Offs A: Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland

• UEFA Play-Offs B: Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania

• UEFA Play-Offs C: Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, Romania

• UEFA Play-Offs D: Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia

• FIFA® Inter-Confederation Play-Off Tournament winner 1: Democratic Republic of Congo, New Caledonia, Jamaica

• FIFA® Inter-Confederation Play-Off Tournament winner 2: Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname

The top two teams of each group will move on to the knockout stage, and the eight best third-place teams will also advance.

Essential travel tips for FIFA World Cup 2026™ attendees

With over 100 matches across three countries, World Cup™ attendees are going to be doing a lot of traveling! Here are our top tips to help you navigate both international and domestic trips.

Stay connected across multiple countries

For the World Cup™, you might find yourself traveling between the USA, Mexico, and Canada, which means you’ll need to stay connected while hopping between international carriers. You’ll want internet access while traveling to:

• Coordinate your multi-city travel itinerary.

• Present digital tickets at stadiums.

• Navigate unfamiliar host cities.

• Call rideshares.

• Meet up with friends and family. 

• Get real-time schedule updates.

• Share your experiences on social media.

• Make emergency calls.

Simply put, staying connected is a must at the World Cup™, but how can you do so? Data roaming might seem like the easiest solution, but that convenience comes with a hefty price tag. We recommend getting an eSIM for the USA, Mexico, and/or Canada. 

An eSIM is a digital alternative to traditional SIM cards. It helps you avoid expensive roaming fees without having to physically swap out your SIM. For example, if you’re headed to Mexico City on March 4 for the Round of 16, an eSIM for Mexico can offer:

• Reliable high-speed data coverage from the best local carriers.

• Instant activation.

• Affordable, flexible data plans. 

And if you want to head to Vancouver for Match 8, an eSIM for Canada will give you the same benefits! 

Pro tip: Look for international eSIM providers like Saily so you only need to download one app for your entire trip, easily switching between countries with just a few clicks. You can also grab Saily’s Fan Pass plan and enjoy a 40% discount for a great deal on data!

Stay connected with the Saily eSIM app

Get your eSIM before the tournament

Download Saily

Multi-city travel planning

To really experience everything the FIFA World Cup 2026™ has to offer, you’ll need to travel to multiple cities over the tournament’s 39 days! That takes some careful planning:

1. Book your flights and accommodations early. The World Cup™ is expected to attract six million spectators, so prices will rise as the tournament gets closer.

2. Download the best travel apps like KAYAK and Vrbo to help you get around and snag deals.

3. Consider travel distances when building your itinerary. For example, if you want to watch USA vs. Paraguay in Los Angeles and Haiti vs. Scotland in Boston the next day, you’ll be traveling about 2,600 miles. It’s doable, but you’ll need to plan carefully.

For more tips, check out our international travel checklist.

Getting around host cities 

Some cities, like Philadelphia, New York City, and Toronto, have excellent public transportation networks, including subways, buses, and commuter rail. In other cities, like Dallas, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, rideshare apps are likely your best option. Plan for extra travel time because host cities will experience higher traffic levels on match days, especially around the FIFA World Cup 2026™ stadiums.

No matter how you’re planning to get around, you’ll need reliable internet access to navigate the World Cup™ host cities. From using Google Maps to researching transit schedules, you’re going to need data on the go.

What to pack for World Cup™ travel

Try to pack light, but make sure you cover the essentials.

• Matches will be outdoors in the summer, so be sure to pack light, comfortable clothing as well as hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and rain gear. Don’t forget merch for your favorite teams!

• Check the stadium’s bag policies. Most only allow clear bags into the venue, and they’ll likely have size limitations.

• A phone charger is absolutely necessary, and a portable battery can help make sure your phone doesn’t die mid-match. The USA, Canada, and Mexico all use Type A/Type B outlets, so pack a travel adapter if you’re traveling from Europe, Africa, or Asia.

• Bring a small first aid kit so that you’ll be prepared for small scrapes, blisters, or a headache.

• Stadium food is expensive, so consider packing snacks like granola bars and trail mix as well as a water bottle. 

• Have some form of official identification. For US citizens, a REAL ID or passport is required for domestic flights without incurring a fee, and a passport will be necessary for Canada or Mexico.

• Depending on where you’re traveling from and how long you plan to stay, you may need a visa. 

How to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches

While you want to experience the World Cup™ in person, no one will be able to make all 104 matches! But US viewers can catch every match on FOX and FS1, and you can also stream matches on Hulu, YouTube TV, or Sling TV.

Ticket information for the FIFA World Cup 2026™

To buy tickets for the World Cup™, use FIFA’s® official ticketing platform. You can buy both tickets to individual matches and hospitality packages, but each household is limited to four tickets per game.

The next World Cup™ ticket drop will be the Last-Minute Sales Phase, which opens in April and is first-come, first-serve. Demand for these historic matches will be high no matter the venue, so buy early.

If you’re not able to secure tickets, you can check the official resale platform, which will open on April 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET. The official ticket transfer system is the best way to avoid pricy scalpers who may not even give you a legitimate ticket!

Witness history at the FIFA World Cup 2026™

The World Cup™ will be a historic event, and now, you’re ready to experience it firsthand! With some careful planning, packing, and uninterrupted connectivity, you can make the most of your World Cup™ travel. Download an eSIM app so that you don’t miss a single moment!

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