The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with 48 teams playing 104 matches over 39 days at 16 stadiums. As of today, July 12, 2026, the group stage, Round of 32, Round of 16, and quarterfinals are complete. The semifinals are set for July 14 (France vs. Spain in Dallas) and July 15 (England vs. Argentina in Atlanta), the third-place match is July 18 in Miami, and the Final kicks off July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
If you only remember four dates, remember these: July 14, July 15, July 18, and July 19. Everything else in this guide fills in the picture around them.
Tournament at a Glance
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 stadiums spread across North America — 40 more games than the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Three countries host it together for the first time: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
It takes eight wins to lift the trophy this year — one more than any previous World Cup required.Four nations are making their World Cup debut in 2026: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
How the New 48-Team Format Works
This is the first World Cup with a 48-team field, and it changes the shape of the schedule in one big way: there’s now a Round of 32 that never existed before.
A record 48 teams competed at World Cup 2026, up from 32 at Qatar 2022, split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advanced to a new Round of 32, bringing the total to 32 teams in the knockout stage.
Once the knockout rounds begin, there are no draws. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played. If the match is still tied after extra time, it goes to a penalty shootout to decide which team advances.
One more structural note worth knowing if you’re planning travel or watch parties: from the Round of 16 onward, all matches are played in the United States only.Mexico and Canada’s stadiums were only used for the group stage and Round of 32.
Full Schedule, Stage by Stage
Here’s every phase of the tournament, in order, with the dates that defined it.
Group Stage (June 11 – June 27)
The tournament opened with Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11, 2026, at Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca), which Mexico won 2-0, with the opening ceremony taking place at the same venue before the match. All 48 teams were split into 12 groups (A through L) and played three matches each.
Round of 32 (June 28 – July 3) — brand new for 2026
For the first time in World Cup history, a dedicated Round of 32 determined half of the tournament’s Round of 16 participants, featuring 16 matches showcasing the tournament’s top performers. This round introduced fans to sudden-death football six weeks earlier than in any previous edition.
Round of 16 (July 4 – July 7)
The Round of 16 finished on July 7, 2026, with the last eight teams confirmed as France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina, and Switzerland. Along the way, Morocco beat Canada 3-0, France beat Paraguay 1-0, Norway beat Brazil 2-1, England beat Mexico 3-2, Spain beat Portugal 1-0, Belgium beat the USA 4-1, Argentina beat Egypt 3-2, and Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties after a 0-0 draw.
Quarterfinals (July 9 – July 11)
The quarterfinals ran France vs. Morocco on July 9 in Boston, Spain vs. Belgium on July 10 in Los Angeles, and Norway vs. England plus Argentina vs. Switzerland on July 11 in Miami and Kansas City. France beat Morocco 2-0, Spain beat Belgium 2-1, England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time, and Argentina beat Switzerland 3-1.
Where the Tournament Stands Today (July 12, 2026)
Forty-eight teams began the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Now only four remain: France, Spain, England, and defending champion Argentina. Each is two wins away from the trophy.
The remaining fixtures are now fully locked in:
– Semifinal 1: France vs Spain, Tuesday, July 14, at Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) in Arlington, Texas, 3:00 PM ET.
– Semifinal 2: England vs Argentina, Wednesday, July 15, at Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 3:00 PM ET. Both venues have retractable roofs to shield the pitch from summer heat.
– Third-place match: The two semifinal losers meet on Saturday, July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the day before the Final.
– Final: Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which FIFA calls New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament, with kickoff at 3:00 PM ET.
Remaining Match Dates You Need to Know
A 3:00 PM ET kickoff puts the Final at 8:00 PM in London and 9:00 PM across Central Europe.
Host Cities and Stadiums Guide
The tournament used 16 cities across three countries: 11 in the USA (Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle), plus Mexico and Canada hosting the rest. Mexico hosted matches in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey, while Canada hosted games in Toronto and Vancouver.
| Country | Host Cities | Matches Hosted |
|—|—|—|
| United States | Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle | Group stage through the Final |
| Mexico | Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey | Group stage & Round of 32 only |
| Canada | Toronto, Vancouver | Group stage & Round of 32 only |
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas hosts the most matches of any single venue with nine games, including a semifinal. At the same time, MetLife Stadium seats 82,500 fans for the tournament and is officially called “New York New Jersey Stadium” during the event due to sponsorship rules.
How to Watch Every Remaining Match
In the US, FOX carries 70 matches and FS1 carries 34 in English, while Telemundo carries 92 matches and Universo 12 in Spanish, with Peacock streaming every match in Spanish. From the Round of 16 through the Final, every match airs on FOX.
What Tickets Cost for the Final Stretch
If you’re still hoping to attend in person, prices climb fast as the bracket narrows. Quarterfinal tickets ran from about $275 for upper-tier seats to around $1,775 for premium seats, plus a 15% service fee, with FIFA’s dynamic pricing moving prices with demand. For the Final itself, after FIFA raised premium pricing in May 2026, Front Category 1 seats reached up to $32,970, with all prices adding a 15% service fee. Semifinal and third-place tickets typically fall between those two brackets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the World Cup 2026 Final?
The Final is Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with kickoff at 3:00 PM ET.
Who is in the World Cup 2026 semifinals?
Only four teams remain: France, Spain, England, and defending champion Argentina, after a quarterfinal round that saw France oust Morocco, Spain edge Belgium, England eliminate Norway, and Argentina defeat Switzerland.
When are the World Cup 2026 semifinals?
The semifinals are Tuesday, July 14 in Dallas and Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta, both kicking off at 3:00 PM ET.
Where is the third-place match played?
The two semifinal losers meet in the third-place match on Saturday, July 18, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the day before the Final.
Why was there a Round of 32 this year?
For the first time in World Cup history, the expanded 48-team format required a dedicated Round of 32 to determine half of the tournament’s Round of 16 participants.
How many matches are in the entire 2026 World Cup?
The tournament features 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 stadiums spread across North America.
Is there extra time and penalties in the knockout rounds?
If the score is tied after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time are played, and if the match is still tied after extra time, it goes to a penalty shootout to decide which team advances.
Do all knockout matches happen in the United States?
From the Round of 16 onward, all matches are played in the United States only.
