Here’s the latest on the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule.
Key points
- The tournament will feature 48 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 104 matches played in 16 cities, culminating in the final in New York/New Jersey on July 19, 2026. This expanded format and host list are confirmed by FIFA and major outlets.[5]
- The official match schedule with dates, kickoff times, and venues was released in late 2025. Early reports and outlets have published city-by-city breakdowns and group allocations, including kickoff times in local and EST equivalents, and venue assignments across the host cities. For example, schedules and venues coverage appeared from outlets such as CBS Sports and MLSsoccer, detailing games by city and stadiums.[3][7]
- The worldwide schedule reveal was accompanied by the group stage announcements and the bracket once the Final Draw determined groups of four teams per group, followed by the knockout rounds. Coverage from major sports media notes the sequence of events: schedule reveal, Final Draw, then match-by-match details.[6][3]
What to expect next
- If you’re planning to attend, you’ll want a stadium-by-stadium guide and city calendar to map travel and ticket windows, which several outlets provide, including city-by-city schedules and local kickoff times.[7][9]
- For fans watching from home, broadcasters and streaming options are typically announced alongside the schedule, with each match assigned to a specific channel or streaming service per country. Expect updated broadcast details closer to kickoff.
Illustration: example of how a match slate is presented
- Example groups and venues: Group E games in Houston and Philadelphia; Group F games in Dallas and Monterrey; group progression to knockout rounds across venues like SoFi Stadium and MetLife. This mirrors the pattern used in early schedule disclosures and subsequent city-by-city coverage.[3][7]
Citations
- FIFA World Cup 26™ overview and hosting countries: Canada, Mexico, USA.[5]
- 2026 World Cup schedule coverage and match times by city and stadium: CBS Sports and MLSsoccer summaries.[7][3]
- Schedule reveal and group/bracket context: Sky Sports and Sporting News summaries.[8][9]
If you’d like, I can pull a concise, city-by-city calendar with exact kickoff times for your preferred dates or help you plan travel around specific matches.
Sources
2026 World Cup takes place across United States, Canada and Mexico; 48 teams will compete in expanded tournament with final in New York-New Jersey
www.skysports.comHere's what to know about the schedule release for the 2026 World Cup.
www.sportingnews.comThe full schedule with dates, times and stadiums have been confirmed for all 104 games at the 2026 World Cup.
www.nbcsports.comThe FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the 23rd edition of the tournament but the first to feature 48 teams and three host countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States.
www.fifa.comThe 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams and 104 matches to be played in 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
www.mlssoccer.comFull World Cup 2026 fixture schedule in Mexico, USA and Canada with UK kick-off times; Mexico host South Africa in June 11 opener; 104-game tournament ends at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday July 19; England and Scotland are part of the 48-team tournament
www.skysports.com2026 World Cup Schedule and location information to help you get started planning your trip to the World Cup in USA, Mexico, Canada. Get your custom trip quote now!
www.roadtrips.comThe full schedule of the 2026 World Cup is locked in as the world prepares for the United States, Canada and Mexico to host the tournament
www.cbssports.com