2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule Revealed: Dates, Cities, and Team USA’s Path to Glory
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The stage is set for the largest FIFA World Cup in history, with the full schedule of 104 matches now released. Soccer fans across North America and beyond can begin planning their journeys as the tournament expands to 16 host cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
FIFA unveiled the detailed schedule on Saturday, factoring in crucial considerations like travel logistics and optimal broadcast times. “Let’s just say it’s been a long night — or a short night,” a senior tournament official stated, emphasizing the complexity of balancing team preparation, recovery, and the unique challenges presented by the expansive geographic footprint. The tournament, boasting 48 participating teams, will be a logistical undertaking unlike any seen before.
A North American Showcase
The United States will host the majority of the matches, with 78 games taking place across 11 cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, and Seattle. Canada will host 13 matches, and Mexico will also host 13.
The highly anticipated final is slated for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, kicking off at 3 p.m. EDT. This timing is strategically designed to maximize viewership in Europe, with a 9 p.m. kickoff in the UK and 8 p.m. in Britain.
Key Dates and Opening Matches
The tournament will officially kick off on June 11, 2026, with a match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City. The following day, both the USA – playing in Los Angeles – and Canada – hosting in Toronto – will begin their campaigns. The group stage will conclude on June 27.
The draw for the World Cup groups took place on Friday, attracting a star-studded audience including President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Team USA’s Group Stage Schedule
The United States national team will face a challenging group stage, with matches scheduled against Australia, Paraguay, and the winner of UEFA playoff C. The playoff spot is currently contested by Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo, with the decisive matches set for March 2026.
Here’s a breakdown of the U.S. first-round games:
- June 12: USA vs. Paraguay at Inglewood, California (6 p.m. local / 9 p.m. EDT)
- June 19: USA vs. Australia at Seattle (Noon local / 3 p.m. EDT)
- June 25: USA vs. UEFA playoff C winner at SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (7 p.m. local)
Full Group Stage Schedule
Here is a comprehensive look at the full group stage schedule:
June 11, 2026
- Mexico vs. South Africa (Group A) – Mexico City
- South Korea vs. UEFA playoff D (Group A) – Guadalajara
June 12
- Canada vs. UEFA playoff A (Group B) – Toronto
- USA vs. Paraguay (Group D) – Los Angeles
June 13
- Brazil vs. Morocco (Group C) – New York/New Jersey
- Australia vs. UEFA playoff C (Group D) – Vancouver
- Haiti vs. Scotland (Group C) – Boston
- Qatar vs. Switzerland (Group B) – San Francisco Bay Area
June 14
- Germany vs. Curaçao (Group E) – Houston
- Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador (Group E) – Philadelphia
- Netherlands vs. Japan (Group F) – Dallas
- UEFA playoff B vs. Tunisia (Group F) – Monterrey
June 15
- Spain vs. Cape Verde (Group H) – Atlanta
- Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (Group H) – Miami
- Belgium vs. Egypt (Group G) – Seattle
- Iran vs. New Zealand (Group G) – Los Angeles
June 16
- France vs. Senegal (Group I) – New York/New Jersey
- FIFA playoff 2 vs. Norway (Group I) – Boston
- Argentina vs. Algeria (Group J) – Kansas City
- Austria vs. Jordan (Group J) – San Francisco Bay Area
June 17
- England vs. Croatia (Group L) – Toronto or Dallas
- Ghana vs. Panama (Group L) – Toronto or Dallas
- Portugal vs. FIFA playoff 1 (Group K) – Houston or Mexico City
- Uzbekistan vs. Colombia (Group K) – Houston or Mexico City
June 18
- UEFA playoff D vs. South Africa (Group A) – Atlanta
- Switzerland vs. UEFA playoff A (Group A) – Los Angeles
- Canada vs. Qatar (Group B) – Vancouver
- Mexico vs. South Korea (Group A) – Guadalajara
June 19
- Brazil vs. Haiti (Group C) – Philadelphia
- Scotland vs. Morocco (Group C) – Boston
- UEFA playoff C vs. Paraguay (Group D) – San Francisco Bay Area
- USA vs. Australia (Group D) – Seattle
June 20
- Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Group E) – Toronto
- Ecuador vs. Curaçao (Group E) – Kansas City
- Netherlands vs. UEFA playoff B (Group F) – Houston
- Tunisia vs. Japan (Group F) – Monterrey
June 21
- Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H) – Atlanta
- Uruguay vs. Cape Verde (Group H) – Miami
- Belgium vs. Iran (Group G) – Los Angeles
- New Zealand vs. Egypt (Group G) – Vancouver
June 22
- France vs. FIFA playoff 2 (Group I) – Philadelphia
- Norway vs. Senegal (Group I) – New York/New Jersey
- Argentina vs. Austria (Group J) – Dallas
- Jordan vs. Algeria (Group J) – San Francisco Bay Area
June 23
- England vs. Ghana (Group L) – Boston
- Panama vs. Croatia (Group L) – Toronto
- Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (Group K) – Houston
- Colombia vs. FIFA playoff 1 (Group K) – Guadalajara
June 24
- Scotland vs. Brazil (Group C) – Miami
- Morocco vs. Haiti (Group C) – Atlanta
- Canada vs. Switzerland (Group B) – Vancouver
- UEFA playoff A vs. Qatar (Group B) – Seattle
- Mexico vs. UEFA playoff D (Group A) – Mexico City
- South Korea vs. South Africa (Group A) – Monterrey
June 25
- Ecuador vs. Germany (Group E) – New York/New Jersey
- Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast (Group E) – Philadelphia
- Tunisia vs. Netherlands (Group F) – Kansas City
- Japan vs. UEFA playoff B (Group F) – Dallas
- USA vs. UEFA playoff C (Group D) – Los Angeles
- Paraguay vs. Australia (Group D) – San Francisco Bay Area
June 26
- Norway vs. France (Group I) – Boston
- Senegal vs. FIFA playoff 2 (Group I) – Toronto
- New Zealand vs. Belgium (Group G) – Vancouver
- Egypt vs. Iran (Group G) – Seattle
- Uruguay vs. Spain (Group H) – Guadalajara
- Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia (Group H) – Houston
June 27
- Panama vs. England (Group L) – New York/New Jersey
- Croatia vs. Ghana (Group L) – Philadelphia
- Jordan vs. Argentina (Group J) – Dallas
- Algeria vs. Austria (Group J) – Kansas City
- Colombia vs. Portugal (Group K) – Miami
- FIFA playoff 1 vs. Uzbekistan (Group K) – Atlanta
The knockout stage schedule, beginning June 28, promises a thrilling conclusion to the tournament, culminating in the final match on July 19 in New Jersey. The 2026 World Cup is poised to be a landmark event, showcasing the beautiful game to a wider audience than ever before.
