FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Schedule: Fixtures, Dates, Groups and Venues

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament has 48 teams and 104 matches, and FIFA’s official schedule hub should be treated as the source of record for fixtures, venues, results, and match-status updates.

Last checked: 5 June 2026
Primary source: FIFA official schedule and scores pages
Time note: Match dates can shift by timezone. A fixture played at night in North America may appear on the next calendar day in Nepal Standard Time.

Answer Summary:

The FIFA World Cup 2026 opens with Mexico vs South Africa in Mexico City on 11 June 2026. The group stage is followed by a Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match, and final. The final is scheduled for 19 July 2026 in New York/New Jersey. Readers should recheck FIFA during the tournament for kickoff-time, venue, and result updates.

Table of Content

1. FIFA World Cup 2026 key dates
2. Opening match and final
3. FIFA World Cup 2026 groups
4. Full FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule
5. How the knockout format works
6. Schedule by host country
7. Time-zone notes for Nepal and South Asia
8. How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026
9. How to verify fixture updates
10. Related reading
11. Conclusion

Key Takeaways

• The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026.

• Canada, Mexico, and the United States are the host countries.

• The competition has 48 teams, 12 groups, and 104 matches.

• Mexico vs South Africa is the opening match.

• The final is scheduled for New York/New Jersey on 19 July.

• The knockout stage begins with a Round of 32.

• Nepal readers should check date shifts when converting match times.

FIFA World Cup 2026 key dates

The tournament schedule is organized into the group stage and knockout rounds. FIFA’s updated schedule release says the venues and kickoff times for all 104 matches were confirmed after the Final Draw, with Mexico opening the tournament against South Africa in Mexico City.

Opening match and final

The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa on Thursday, 11 June 2026, in Mexico City. FIFA states that Mexico will kick off the first 48-team men’s World Cup at 13:00 local time in the Mexican capital.

The final is scheduled for Sunday, 19 July 2026, in New York/New Jersey. Before publishing live updates, recheck FIFA’s scores and fixtures page for kickoff time, match status, and result fields.

FIFA World Cup 2026 groups

The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams advance to the Round of 32. FIFA confirms the advancement format, while Reuters lists the confirmed group lineups.

Full FIFA World Cup 2026 match schedule

The table below lists the 104 scheduled matches by stage. It follows FIFA’s official schedule framework and has been cross-checked against Sky Sports’ published 104-match fixture list. Use FIFA’s live scores and fixtures page for final confirmation before updating kickoff times, results, or match status.

Group stage fixtures

Round of 32 fixtures

Round of 16 fixtures

Quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place match and final

How the knockout format works

The group stage produces 32 knockout teams. The first-place and second-place teams from all 12 groups qualify, and the eight best third-place teams also advance.

This format makes third-place standings important. A team can finish third in its group and still reach the knockout stage, but only if its record ranks among the eight best third-place records. Do not replace knockout placeholders with team names until FIFA confirms the final group standings.

Schedule by host country

The tournament is spread across 16 host areas in three countries.

Time-zone notes for Nepal and South Asia

Nepal readers should check both the host-city date and the Nepal date. A North American evening match can fall after midnight in Nepal.

For Nepal, the clearest schedule format is:

If converting from UK summer time to Nepal Standard Time, add 4 hours and 45 minutes. For example, 8:00 PM UK time converts to 12:45 AM NPT the next day.

How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026

Broadcast rights vary by country. Do not assume a TV channel, streaming platform, or app has rights in Nepal or any other country unless the broadcaster, FIFA, or a rights holder has published current information.

Before naming a broadcaster, verify:

• Country-specific rights

• TV and streaming availability

• Free-to-air or paid access

• Language options

• Mobile app access

• Any official FIFA viewing guidance

Until those details are confirmed, keep the article focused on fixtures and official schedule verification.

How to verify fixture updates

Use FIFA’s official scores and fixtures page before updating the article. Check these fields each time the schedule is edited:

• Match date

• Kickoff time

• Team names

• Group or knockout path

• Stadium and host city

• Match number

• Result or status

• Time-zone conversion

• Any postponement or venue change

For live publication, place an update log near the top of the page.

Related reading

For a wider sports context in Nepal, Collegenp readers may also find this related article useful: sports and recreation scene in Nepal.

Conclusion

The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is larger than previous editions because the tournament has 48 teams, 12 groups, 104 matches, three host countries, and a Round of 32. The confirmed core details are clear: Mexico vs South Africa opens the tournament on 11 June, the knockout stage begins after the group phase, and the final is scheduled for 19 July in New York/New Jersey.

For readers, the most important step is checking the date, venue, and time zone before each match. For publishers, the safest approach is to keep FIFA as the primary source, update the schedule during the tournament, and avoid unverified broadcaster or ticket claims.