The Complete World Cup 2026 Timeline
World Cup 2026 is the largest tournament in FIFA history — 48 teams, 104 matches, 16 stadiums, and 39 days of football across three nations.
| Phase | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | June 11 – July 2 | 72 |
| Round of 32 | July 4 – 7 | 16 |
| Round of 16 | July 9 – 12 | 8 |
| Quarter-Finals | July 16 – 19 | 4 |
| Semi-Finals | July 23 – 24 | 2 |
| THE FINAL | July 19, 2026 | 1 |
The Opening Match — June 11
The tournament begins at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the most iconic stadium in World Cup history. The opening match kicks off at altitude (2,240 metres) in front of 87,500 fans.
Most Anticipated Group Stage Fixtures
Brazil vs France — Group E, Los Angeles
The Death Group match of the tournament. Two of the three pre-tournament favourites in the same group. A match of this magnitude has not been seen in the group stage for decades.
USA vs England — Group B, Dallas
A rematch of the iconic 2010 1-1 draw. With the USA playing at home and England bringing their strongest squad in decades, this will be one of the most-watched matches in tournament history.
Key Date
July 2 is the last day of the group stage — multiple groups decided simultaneously. The classic last-day chaos that produces the tournament most memorable moments.
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