FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
France, Brazil, Norway, Germany, and England all will contest group-play games in the New York area during the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the official schedule was released Saturday for the 48 nations participating in the global event next summer throughout North America.
The schedule release came a day after each team was placed into its groups during a ceremony at Washington, D.C., where U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney joined FIFA president Gianni Infantino to represent the three countries co-hosting the expanded tournament.
The schedule, complete with venues and kickoff times, is now official for the forty-two nations that have already qualified. The full schedule will be finalized after the other six participants are determined through UEFA and inter-confederation playoffs being held in March.
Mexico will play the first match of the tournament on June 11 against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The United States men's national team, which is in Group D, will face Paraguay on June 12 (Inglewood, Calif.), Australia on June 19 (Seattle), and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff team (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo) on June 25 (Inglewood, Calif.).
Canada will open group play by facing a yet-to-be-determined European playoff team (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Bosnia-Herzegovina) in Toronto on June 12.
The top two finishers from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the final 32 for the knockout stage, culminating in the championship match on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Matches are taking place in 16 cities across North America, including two cities in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) and three in Mexico (Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara). Locations across the U.S. include Atlanta, Boston (Foxborough, Mass.), Dallas (Arlington, Texas), Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles (Inglewood, Calif.), Miami (Miami Gardens, Fla.), New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford, N.J.), Philadelphia, San Francisco (Santa Clara, Calif.), and Seattle.
Opening Match and Host Nations’ Key Fixtures
Mexico vs South Africa — June 11, Mexico City
USA Schedule (Group D)
June 12 — vs Paraguay, Inglewood
June 19 — vs Australia, Seattle
June 25 — vs UEFA Playoff Winner, Inglewood
Canada Schedule (Group B)
June 12 — vs UEFA Playoff Team, Toronto
Group Stage Overview
The group stage will feature 16 host cities across North America. To simplify the schedule for readers, key host-nation fixtures are highlighted.
Group A Highlights
Mexico vs South Africa — June 11, Mexico City
South Korea vs UEFA Playoff D — June 11, Guadalajara
Group B Highlights
Canada vs UEFA Playoff A — June 12, Toronto
Qatar vs Switzerland — June 13, San Francisco
Group D Highlights
USA vs Paraguay — June 12, Inglewood
USA vs Australia — June 19, Seattle
Knockout Stage: From Round of 32 to the Final
Round of 32: June 28–July 3
Round of 16: July 4–7
Quarterfinals: July 9–11
Semifinals: July 14–15
Third Place Match: July 18, Miami
Final: July 19, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Host Cities Across North America
United States (11): Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles (Inglewood), Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco (Santa Clara), Seattle
Mexico (3): Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara
Canada (2): Toronto, Vancouver
Full Match Schedule
Collapsible sections by group and date
Tips for Fans
Check local kickoff times — listed in Eastern Time
Mark host-nation games in your viewing plans
Follow key knockout matches from Round of 32 through the final
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At least 11 people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed when gunfire erupted at an illegal bar in Pretoria, with police launching a manhunt for three unidentified suspects.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has finalized the group stage for the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, setting the schedule and matchups for next summer’s expanded 48-team event.
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Iran’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for its support of the claims by United Arab Emirates on three Iranian islands.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron to Chengdu on Friday, a rare gesture seemingly reserved for the head of Europe's second-largest economy that highlights Beijing's focus on Paris in its ties with the European Union.
The United States plans to extend its travel ban to over 30 countries, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Thursday.
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‘We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that the peace plan for Gaza is put into action as soon as possible and that this humanitarian tragedy comes to an end,’ Turkish top diplomat Fidan tells Anadolu
At least 11 people, including a three-year-old boy, were killed when gunfire erupted at an illegal bar in Pretoria, with police launching a manhunt for three unidentified suspects.
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