The , or at the very least its foundational “shell,” has arrived. on Sunday. The chosen to host the match can now ramp up towards an unparalleled spectacle.
However the schedule is maddeningly complicated, extra so than every other World Cup schedule ever constructed. A whole bunch of puzzle items are nonetheless lacking, and a few gained’t be in place till after the 2026 World Cup draw, possible in December 2025.
Here’s what we all know and don’t but know in regards to the 2026 schedule, plus the considering and processes behind it.
What do we all know in regards to the 2026 World Cup schedule?
We all know the “when,” “the place” and “what kind” for all 104 video games.
We all know that the match will open June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis and conclude July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
We all know dates and areas for the semifinals (Atlanta and Arlington, Texas), quarterfinals (Miami, Kansas Metropolis, Inglewood, California, and Foxborough, Massachusetts) and so forth. We all know that 78 of the 104 video games shall be held within the U.S., with 13 apiece in Canada and Mexico.
The and beneath.
What don’t we all know?
We don’t know the “who” or the “what, particularly,” or the “what time.”
Aside from the three co-hosts, groups gained’t be positioned in cities till December 2025 — the goal date for the World Cup draw — after most or all have certified.
Kickoff occasions additionally gained’t be set till after the draw.
When and the place will the 2026 World Cup begin?
It begins Thursday, June 11, 2026, with two video games in Mexico.
On Friday, June 12, Canada will play its opener at BMO Subject in Toronto, and the U.S. will play its opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
So we already know the place the USMNT will play?
Yep. The U.S. males’s nationwide group will play:
June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
June 19 at Lumen Subject in Seattle
June 25 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
Canada will play in Toronto, then twice in Vancouver. Mexico will play in Mexico Metropolis, Guadalajara, after which again in Mexico Metropolis.
Why is the USMNT staying on the West Coast?
To mitigate journey. Most groups will keep in considered one of three distinct areas. Extra on that beneath.
When will we be taught their opponents? When is the 2026 World Cup draw?
In December 2025 or thereabouts. FIFA’s official projection is “in direction of the top of 2025.”
What’s the format?
The 48 groups shall be drawn into 12 teams of 4.
The highest two in every group, plus the eight finest third-place groups, will advance to the Spherical of 32 — the primary of 5 single-elimination knockout rounds.
FIFA settled on this plan after .
How will FIFA match 104 video games into 39 days?
That is the primary 48-team World Cup. The 2026 group stage, due to this fact, would be the longest and busiest ever. After host-country openers, the primary two weeks will function 4 video games per day. The ultimate 4 days of group play will every function six.
After the 17-day group part, on June 28, the Spherical of 32 will start instantly — and the Spherical of 16 instantly after that, with no days off. There’ll be 27 straight days of World Cup soccer, which is unprecedented.
Will gamers get sufficient relaxation?
“Sufficient” is a subjective phrase, however they’ll get extra relaxation than they did in Qatar.
On the 2022 World Cup, most groups performed each fourth day, on three days’ relaxation. Within the Spherical of 16, Argentina and Australia truly performed on two days’ relaxation. On the 2026 World Cup, every group ought to have at the very least 4 days between its first and second sport and both three or 4 between its second and third.
Past that, particulars are hazy, however organizers have promised that each one groups could have at the very least three relaxation days between all video games — apart from the second semifinal loser, who’ll have a Wednesday-Saturday turnaround for the third-place sport.
North America is huge, although. What about journey?
, all eight stadiums had been inside a 22-mile radius. Even at Russia 2018, the longest attainable flight was roughly half the gap from New York to Los Angeles. Journey — for groups and followers — would be the 2026 World Cup’s greatest inconvenience (and largest greenhouse gas-emitter).
To mitigate it, FIFA has divided the 16 host cities into three distinct areas, additionally known as “clusters”:
East: Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Toronto
Central: Kansas Metropolis, Dallas, Houston, Mexico Metropolis, Guadalajara, Monterrey
West: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver
Most groups and teams — although not all — will keep confined to 1 area by way of the group stage. Come the knockouts, in keeping with a World Cup official concerned in schedule improvement, paths shall be designed to grant groups that high their group favorable journey itineraries.
Do we all know knockout-round pairings? The place is that tidy World Cup schedule grid?
Historically, FIFA releases a color-coded grid that locations every matchup — say, Group G’s high seed (G1) vs. G3 — on a particular date, at a particular stadium and even at a particular time.
The grid contains Spherical of 16 matchups — say, the Group A winner (1A) vs. the Group B runner-up (2B) — and past, permitting groups and followers to plot paths all over the match.
was launched 28 months earlier than the opener in July 2020. However the 2026 equal hasn’t but been revealed. The contained no point out of teams or matchups.
The normal grid will are available in a separate launch later this yr, in keeping with the World Cup official, however with one minor departure from precedent.
What’s that one distinction?
The 2026 schedule grid gained’t put “G1 vs. G3” at a particular stadium. As an alternative, it’ll pair two cities from the identical regional cluster — say, Atlanta and Miami — with two Group G video games, each performed the identical day.
FIFA will then wait till after the draw, as soon as it is aware of the id of all 4 Group G groups, to decide on which sport goes the place. Atlanta, for instance, may get G1 vs. G3 or G2 vs. G4.
Why is FIFA doing this?
This unprecedented “50-50 flexibility,” because the World Cup official known as it, will enable organizers to put well-liked groups in greater markets.
They might largely accomplish this, nonetheless, by merely placing high seeds (“G1,” “H1,” and so forth.) in these massive markets, so it’s unclear why the added flexibility is important.
A number of officers in U.S. host cities have privately speculated that the true motive is to keep up leverage in . By withholding some particulars, FIFA is “protecting the cities hungry, understanding that they are competing for the possibility to have Argentina, or Brazil, of their markets,” one supply accustomed to the negotiations instructed Yahoo Sports activities final month.
What time will all these video games begin?
No person is aware of. Kickoff occasions are a serious query.
At previous Twenty first-century males’s World Cups, lengthy earlier than the draw, FIFA assigned G1 vs. G3 (and each different matchup) to a particular time slot. It will then swap and regulate some kickoff occasions after the draw to accommodate world TV audiences and incompatible time zones — to make sure, for instance, that the USMNT was enjoying at 3 p.m. ET or 9 p.m. ET somewhat than 3 a.m. or 9 a.m., each time attainable.
For 2026, it’s unclear whether or not FIFA will even do the primary half. The World Cup official, who most popular to not be named as a result of he wasn’t licensed to talk publicly on behalf of FIFA, mentioned nothing associated to kickoff occasions had been determined — “that’s one thing we’re nonetheless engaged on” — and none shall be finalized till after the draw.
Why? What makes kickoff occasions so tough to determine?
At each 32-team World Cup from 1998 by way of 2022, every group-stage day featured one-to-four video games, often three, every in its personal time window. In 2018, for instance, a typical day featured video games at 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Moscow time.
In 2026, a typical day will function 4 video games, every lasting two hours, throughout a number of time zones and disparate climates. That, in a nutshell, is what makes this complete scheduling train such a headache.
The perfect schedule for worldwide TV viewers and broadcasters would put every sport in its personal distinctive window, with at the very least a 30-minute buffer in between. However the ideally suited schedule for host cities, ticket-buying followers and different native stakeholders would put every sport someplace between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. wherever it’s being performed.
Tv viewers (and the cash related to them) far outnumber match-goers, so FIFA tends to prioritize them. , organizers scheduled some U.S. video games at 1 p.m. native time in New Zealand; at the very least one didn’t promote out however did entice a file TV viewers on Fox again house.
In 2026, a day by day schedule much like Qatar 2022, with video games at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET — and with the late sport out west at 7 p.m. PT — appears possible. However FIFA is likely to be tempted to push video games even earlier or later, into European or Asian prime time, relying on the members.
So will there be a customary cadence, or will every day of the group stage be completely different? On the 2023 Ladies’s World Cup, begin occasions had been scattered everywhere. In 2026, the solutions are very a lot up within the air.
What about warmth?
That’s one other complication. World Cup officers have studied temperature and humidity indexes going again greater than 20 years to gauge what occasions they will moderately begin video games in every of the 16 cities with out endangering gamers or followers. Afternoon video games at some jap and central stadiums may not be protected.
Though domes and air-conditioning assist — in Atlanta, Houston and Dallas, particularly — officers are nonetheless involved about followers touring to and from the stadiums.
Talking of stadiums and domes … will the World Cup be performed on turf?
No. All 11 U.S. stadiums — even these already blessed with grass — will develop and set up specialised natural-grass enjoying surfaces for the World Cup. The pitch, because it’s known as in soccer parlance, is considered one of FIFA’s main issues.
Will NFL stadiums have to regulate to accommodate soccer?
Sure. NFL fields are 53.3 yards huge. FIFA requires a enjoying subject at the very least 68 meters (74.4 yards) huge, with a complete grass pitch space at the very least 85 meters by 125 (93 yards by 136.7).
That’s an issue for a number of stadiums, particularly SoFi in Southern California. Most, if not all, of the 11 U.S. venues should endure building to take away sideline and nook seats — quickly and particularly for the World Cup.
The “pitch conversion” and “seat kills,” as insiders generally name them, will fluctuate metropolis to metropolis. At SoFi, the renovation challenge will start Monday.
Which cities and stadiums acquired which video games?
Right here’s the total breakdown:
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz Stadium (8): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 Spherical of 16, 1 semifinalBoston — Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts (7): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 quarterfinalDallas — AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (9): 5 group stage, 2 Spherical of 32, 1 Spherical of 16, 1 semifinalHouston — NRG Stadium (7): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 Spherical of 16Kansas Metropolis — Arrowhead Stadium (6): 4 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 quarterfinalLos Angeles — SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (8): 5 group stage, 2 Spherical of 32, 1 quarterfinalMiami — Exhausting Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida (7): 4 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 quarterfinal, third-place matchNew York — MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (8): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 Spherical of 16, finalPhiladelphia — Lincoln Monetary Subject (6): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 16San Francisco — Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (6): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32Seattle — Lumen Subject (6): 4 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 Spherical of 16
Toronto — BMO Subject (6): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32Vancouver — BC Place (7): 5 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 Spherical of 16
Guadalajara — Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico (4): 4 group stageMexico Metropolis — Estadio Azteca (5): 3 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32, 1 Spherical of 16Monterrey — Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico (4): 3 group stage, 1 Spherical of 32
How can I get tickets?
You possibly can’t but. , however FIFA has not launched any details about how or when tickets shall be bought.
The expectation is that they may turn out to be out there someday in 2025, possible within the fall. And there’ll in all probability be a number of gross sales phases, . Excessive-demand video games, comparable to the ultimate, will possible be topic to ticket lotteries. Some group stage tickets, however, ought to hit the open market.
The whole lot shall be costly, particularly for followers touring from international locations with weaker currencies. Again in 2017, whereas bidding to host the match, North American officers proposed the next ticket costs, together with a median of $305 per group-stage ticket:
Full 2026 World Cup schedule, day-to-day
Thursday, June 112 group stage video games
Mexico Metropolis — Estadio AztecaGuadalajara — Estadio Akron (Zapopan, Mexico)
Friday, June 122 group stage video games
Toronto — BMO FieldLos Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
Saturday, June 134 group stage video games
Boston — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)Vancouver — BC PlaceSan Francisco — Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Sunday, June 144 group stage video games
Philadelphia — Lincoln Monetary FieldHouston — NRG StadiumDallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)Monterrey — Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, Mexico)
Monday, June 154 group stage video games
Miami — Exhausting Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumLos Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)Seattle — Lumen Subject
Tuesday, June 164 group stage video games
New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)Boston — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)Kansas Metropolis — Arrowhead StadiumSan Francisco — Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Wednesday, June 174 group stage video games
Toronto — BMO FieldDallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)Houston — NRG StadiumMexico Metropolis — Estadio Azteca
Thursday, June 184 group stage video games
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumGuadalajara — Estadio Akron (Zapopan, Mexico)Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)Vancouver — BC Place
Friday, June 194 group stage video games
Boston — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)Philadelphia — Lincoln Monetary FieldSan Francisco — Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)Seattle — Lumen Subject
Saturday, June 204 group stage video games
Toronto — BMO FieldKansas Metropolis — Arrowhead StadiumHouston — NRG StadiumMonterrey — Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, Mexico)
Sunday, June 214 group stage video games
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumMiami — Exhausting Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)Vancouver — BC Place
Monday, June 224 group stage video games
New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)Philadelphia — Lincoln Monetary FieldDallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)San Francisco — Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Tuesday, June 234 group stage video games
Boston — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)Toronto — BMO FieldHouston — NRG StadiumGuadalajara — Estadio Akron (Zapopan, Mexico)
Wednesday, June 246 group stage video games
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumMiami — Exhausting Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)Mexico Metropolis — Estadio AztecaMonterrey — Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, Mexico)Seattle — Lumen FieldVancouver — BC Place
Thursday, June 256 group stage video games
New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)Philadelphia — Lincoln Monetary FieldDallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)Kansas Metropolis — Arrowhead StadiumLos Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)San Francisco — Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Friday, June 266 group stage video games
Boston — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)Toronto — BMO FieldHouston — NRG StadiumGuadalajara — Estadio Akron (Zapopan, Mexico)Seattle — Lumen FieldVancouver — BC Place
Saturday, June 276 group stage video games
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumMiami — Exhausting Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)Philadelphia — Lincoln Monetary FieldDallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)Kansas Metropolis — Arrowhead Stadium
Sunday, June 281 Spherical of 32 sport
Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
Monday, June 293 Spherical of 32 video games
Boston — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)Houston — NRG StadiumMonterrey — Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, Mexico)
Tuesday, June 303 Spherical of 32 video games
New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)Dallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)Mexico Metropolis — Estadio Azteca
Wednesday, July 13 Spherical of 32 video games
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumSan Francisco — Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, Calif.)Seattle — Lumen Subject
Thursday, July 23 Spherical of 32 video games
Toronto — BMO FieldLos Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)Vancouver — BC Place
Friday, July 33 Spherical of 32 video games
Miami — Exhausting Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)Dallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)Kansas Metropolis — Arrowhead Stadium
Saturday, July 42 Spherical of 16 video games
Philadelphia — Lincoln Monetary FieldHouston — NRG Stadium
Sunday, July 52 Spherical of 16 video games
New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)Mexico Metropolis — Estadio Azteca
Monday, July 62 Spherical of 16 video games
Dallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)Seattle — Lumen Subject
Tuesday, July 72 Spherical of 16 video games
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz StadiumVancouver — BC Place
Wednesday, July 8
None
Thursday, July 91 quarterfinal
Boston — Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
Friday, July 101 quarterfinal
Los Angeles — SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, Calif.)
Saturday, July 112 quarterfinals
Miami — Exhausting Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)Kansas Metropolis — Arrowhead Stadium
Sunday, July 12
None
Monday, July 13
None
Tuesday, July 14Semifinal
Dallas — AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Tex.)
Wednesday, July 15Semifinal
Atlanta — Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Saturday, July 18Third-place sport
Miami — Exhausting Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
Sunday, July 19Final
New York — MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.)