The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup — the biggest ever — will see 48 nations compete for the prize in a 39-day tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Sixteen venues across the three nations will host 104 matches as the tournament returns to North America after 32 years.
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Argentina will look to defend the trophy they lifted under their iconic captain, Lionel Messi, at Qatar 2022, while Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan will make their debut at the finals.
The tournament will begin in Mexico and conclude in the US.
Here’s everything you need to know about its teams, groups, format and schedule.
What are the groups and teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
⚽ Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Czechia
⚽ Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
⚽ Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
⚽ Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye
⚽ Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
⚽ Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
⚽ Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
⚽ Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
⚽ Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
⚽ Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
⚽ Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
⚽ Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
When and where is the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The tournament will open on June 11 at 3pm (21:00 GMT) at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico.
When and where is the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The MetLife Stadium, which will be called the New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament, will host the final on July 19 at 3pm (20:00 GMT).
Why has FIFA changed the names of the stadiums hosting World Cup matches?
In a move to restrict ambush marketing for brands not associated with FIFA, the governing body has changed stadium names for all venues to match the host city.
Therefore, the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey has been rebranded as the New York New Jersey Stadium, and the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles has been renamed the Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament.
What’s the format of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The tournament will consist of one group-stage round and four knockout rounds before the final.
Unlike previous editions, the knockouts will begin with the round of 32, followed by the round of 16, the four quarterfinals and two semifinals.
The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s schedule is:
- Group stage: June 11 June 27
- Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
- Round of 16: July 4-7
- Quarterfinals: July 9-11
- Semifinals: July 14-15
- Bronze medal match: July 18
- Final: July 19
What’s the full match schedule of the World Cup?
Group stage
Thursday, June 11
Mexico vs South Africa at 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
South Korea vs Czechia at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Friday, June 12
Canada vs Bosnia at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
USA vs Paraguay at 9pm (05:00 GMT on Saturday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Saturday, June 13
Qatar vs Switzerland at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Brazil vs Morocco at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Haiti vs Scotland at 9pm (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Australia vs Turkiye at midnight (08:00 GMT on Sunday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Sunday, June 14
Germany vs Curacao at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Netherlands vs Japan at 4pm (22:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Monday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Sweden vs Tunisia at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Monday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Monday, June 15
Spain vs Cape Verde at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Belgium vs Egypt at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Iran vs New Zealand at 9pm (05:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Tuesday, June 16
France vs Senegal at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Iraq vs Norway at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Argentina vs Algeria at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Austria vs Jordan at midnight (08:00 GMT on Wednesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Wednesday, June 17
Portugal vs DRC at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
England vs Croatia at 4pm (22:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Ghana vs Panama at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Thursday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Uzbekistan vs Colombia at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
Thursday, June 18
Czechia vs South Africa at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Switzerland vs Bosnia at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Canada vs Qatar at 6pm (02:00 GMT on Friday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Mexico vs South Korea at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Friday, June 19
Scotland vs Morocco at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
USA vs Australia at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Brazil vs Haiti at 9pm (02:00 GMT on Saturday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Turkiye vs Paraguay at midnight (08:00 GMT on Saturday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Saturday, June 20
Netherlands vs Sweden at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Germany vs Ivory Coast at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Ecuador vs Curacao at 8pm (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Tunisia vs Japan at midnight (06:00 GMT on Sunday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Sunday, June 21
Spain vs Saudi Arabia at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Belgium vs Iran at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Uruguay vs Cape Verde at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
New Zealand vs Egypt at 9pm (05:00 GMT on Monday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Monday, June 22
Argentina vs Austria at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
France vs Iraq at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Norway vs Senegal at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Tuesday) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Jordan vs Algeria at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Tuesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs Uzbekistan at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
England vs Ghana at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Panama vs Croatia at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Colombia vs DRC at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs Canada at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Bosnia vs Qatar at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Scotland vs Brazil at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Morocco vs Haiti at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Czechia vs Mexico at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
South Africa vs South Korea at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Thursday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs Germany at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Curacao vs Ivory Coast at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Japan vs Sweden at 7pm (01:00 GMT on Friday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Tunisia vs Netherlands at 7pm (01:00 GMT on Friday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,
Turkiye vs USA at 10pm (06:00 GMT on Friday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Paraguay vs Australia at 10pm (06:00 GMT on Friday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Friday, June 26
Norway vs France at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Senegal vs Iraq at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at 8pm (02:00 GMT on Saturday) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Uruguay vs Spain at 8pm (02:00 GMT on Saturday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Egypt vs Iran at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Saturday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
New Zealand vs Belgium at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Saturday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Saturday, June 27
Panama vs England at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Croatia vs Ghana at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Colombia vs Portugal at 7:30pm (02:30 GMT on Sunday) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
DRC vs Uzbekistan at 7:30pm (02:30 GMT on Sunday) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Algeria vs Austria at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Jordan vs Argentina at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Knockout stage
Sunday, June 28
Round of 32 match at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Monday, June 29
Round of 32 match at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Round of 32 match at 4:30pm (22:30 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Round of 32 match at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Tuesday, June 30
Round of 32 match at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Round of 32 match at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Round of 32 match at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
Wednesday, July 1
Round of 32 match at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Round of 32 match at 4pm (00:00 GMT on Thursday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Round of 32 match at 8pm (04:00 GMT on Thursday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, US
Thursday, July 2
Round of 32 match at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Round of 32 match at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Friday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Round of 32 match at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Friday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Friday, July 3
Round of 32 match at 2pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Round of 32 match at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Round of 32 match at 9:30pm (03:30 GMT on Saturday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Saturday, July 4
Round of 16 match at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, US
Round of 16 match at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, US
Sunday, July 5
Round of 16 match at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US
Round of 16 match at 8pm (02:00 GMT on Monday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
Monday, July 6
Round of 16 match at 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Round of 16 match at 8pm (04:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, US
Tuesday, July 7
Round of 16 match at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Round of 16 match at 4pm (00:00 GMT on Wednesday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Thursday, 9 July
First quarterfinal at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, US
Friday, 10 July
Second quarterfinal at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, US
Saturday, July 11
Third quarterfinal at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Fourth quarterfinal at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US
Tuesday, July 14
First semifinal at 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, US
Wednesday, July 15
Second semifinal at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, US
Saturday, July 18
Bronze medal match at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, US
Sunday, July 19
Final at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US.