The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule is officially set — every group, every fixture, every knockout tie, right down to the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19. For the first time in history, 48 teams will compete across three nations, 16 cities, and 104 matches in the most expansive World Cup ever staged.
Everything you need is right here — every match listed by date, venue, group, and approximate IST kick-off time. Bookmark this page, set those alarms, and get ready for six weeks of football that the sport won’t forget for a long time.
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Tournament Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament Start | Thursday, June 11, 2026 |
| Tournament Final | Sunday, July 19, 2026 |
| Opening Match | Mexico v South Africa — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Final Venue | MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey |
| Total Teams | 48 (expanded from 32) |
| Total Matches | 104 |
| Groups | 12 groups of 4 teams (Groups A–L) |
| Host Countries | USA, Canada, Mexico |
| Host Cities | 16 (11 USA · 3 Mexico · 2 Canada) |
| New Round | Round of 32 — first ever in World Cup history |
| Semifinals | Dallas (July 14) & Atlanta (July 15) |
| Bronze Final | Miami, July 18 |
With Groups A through L, a brand-new Round of 32, and matches spread across three time zones, the 2026 edition is a scheduling achievement as much as it is a footballing spectacle. Every fixture below is listed in order — date by date, group by group — so you never miss a kick-off.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule — All Group Stage Fixtures
The group stage runs from June 11 to June 27, 2026. Forty-eight matches across 12 groups determine who progresses. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-place finishers across all groups, advance to the Round of 32.
Below is the complete FIFA 2026 group stage fixture list, with approximate IST timings. For exact timings, always cross-check ESPN India as broadcast schedules may be updated.
Thursday, 11 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico v South Africa | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | ~12:30 AM IST (Jun 12) |
| Group A | Korea Republic v Czechia | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | ~3:00 AM IST (Jun 12) |
Friday, 12 June 2026
| Group | Match | 🏟️ Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group B | Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina | BMO Field, Toronto | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 13) |
| Group D | USA v Paraguay | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 13) |
Saturday, 13 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group C | Haiti v Scotland | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 13) |
| Group D | Australia v Türkiye | BC Place, Vancouver | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 14) |
| Group C | Brazil v Morocco | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 14) |
| Group B | Qatar v Switzerland | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 14) |
Sunday, 14 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group E | Côte d’Ivoire v Ecuador | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 14) |
| Group E | Germany v Curaçao | NRG Stadium, Houston | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 15) |
| Group F | Netherlands v Japan | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 15) |
| Group F | Sweden v Tunisia | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 15) |
Monday, 15 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group H | Saudi Arabia v Uruguay | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 15) |
| Group H | Spain v Cabo Verde | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 16) |
| Group G | IR Iran v New Zealand | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 16) |
| Group G | Belgium v Egypt | Lumen Field, Seattle | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 16) |
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I | France v Senegal | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 16) |
| Group I | Iraq v Norway | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 17) |
| Group J | Argentina v Algeria | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 17) |
| Group J | Austria v Jordan | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 17) |
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group L | Ghana v Panama | BMO Field, Toronto | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 17) |
| Group L | England v Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 18) |
| Group K | Portugal v Congo DR | NRG Stadium, Houston | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 18) |
| Group K | Uzbekistan v Colombia | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 18) |
Thursday, 18 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | Czechia v South Africa | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 18) |
| Group B | Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 18) |
| Group B | Canada v Qatar | BC Place, Vancouver | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 19) |
| Group A | Mexico v Korea Republic | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 19) |
Friday, 19 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group C | Brazil v Haiti | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 19) |
| Group C | Scotland v Morocco | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 20) |
| Group D | Türkiye v Paraguay | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 20) |
| Group D | USA v Australia | Lumen Field, Seattle | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 20) |
Saturday, 20 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group E | Germany v Côte d’Ivoire | BMO Field, Toronto | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 20) |
| Group E | Ecuador v Curaçao | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 21) |
| Group F | Netherlands v Sweden | NRG Stadium, Houston | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 21) |
| Group F | Tunisia v Japan | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 21) |
Sunday, 21 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group H | Uruguay v Cabo Verde | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 21) |
| Group H | Spain v Saudi Arabia | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 22) |
| Group G | Belgium v IR Iran | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 22) |
| Group G | New Zealand v Egypt | BC Place, Vancouver | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 22) |
Monday, 22 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I | Norway v Senegal | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 22) |
| Group I | France v Iraq | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 23) |
| Group J | Argentina v Austria | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 23) |
| Group J | Jordan v Algeria | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 23) |
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group L | England v Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 23) |
| Group L | Panama v Croatia | BMO Field, Toronto | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 24) |
| Group K | Portugal v Uzbekistan | NRG Stadium, Houston | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 24) |
| Group K | Colombia v Congo DR | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 24) |
Wednesday, 24 June 2026 — Final Matchday: Groups A & B & C
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group C | Scotland v Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 24) |
| Group C | Morocco v Haiti | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 24) |
| Group B | Switzerland v Canada | BC Place, Vancouver | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 25) |
| Group B | Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar | Lumen Field, Seattle | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 25) |
| Group A | Czechia v Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 25) |
| Group A | South Africa v Korea Republic | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 25) |
Thursday, 25 June 2026 — Final Matchday: Groups D, E & F
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group E | Curaçao v Côte d’Ivoire | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 25) |
| Group E | Ecuador v Germany | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 25) |
| Group F | Japan v Sweden | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 26) |
| Group F | Tunisia v Netherlands | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 26) |
| Group D | Türkiye v USA | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 26) |
| Group D | Paraguay v Australia | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 26) |
Friday, 26 June 2026 — Final Matchday: Groups G, H & I
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I | Norway v France | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 26) |
| Group I | Senegal v Iraq | BMO Field, Toronto | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 26) |
| Group G | Egypt v IR Iran | Lumen Field, Seattle | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 27) |
| Group G | New Zealand v Belgium | BC Place, Vancouver | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 27) |
| Group H | Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia | NRG Stadium, Houston | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 27) |
| Group H | Uruguay v Spain | Estadio Akron, Guadalajara | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 27) |
Saturday, 27 June 2026 — Final Matchday: Groups J, K & L
| Group | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group L | Panama v England | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 27) |
| Group L | Croatia v Ghana | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 27) |
| Group J | Algeria v Austria | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 28) |
| Group J | Jordan v Argentina | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 28) |
| Group K | Colombia v Portugal | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 28) |
| Group K | Congo DR v Uzbekistan | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 28) |
With the group stage concluded, 32 teams advance — and the knockout rounds begin immediately.
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Round of 32 Fixtures
The Round of 32 is the most significant structural change in World Cup history. For the first time, 32 teams compete in a dedicated knockout round before the Round of 16. Every match is a final. No second chances.
| Date | # | Fixture | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, 28 Jun | M73 | Group A runners-up v Group B runners-up | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 29) |
| Mon, 29 Jun | M74 | Group E winners v Best 3rd (A/B/C/D/F) | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 29) |
| Mon, 29 Jun | M75 | Group F winners v Group C runners-up | Estadio BBVA, Monterrey | ~1:00 AM IST (Jun 30) |
| Mon, 29 Jun | M76 | Group C winners v Group F runners-up | NRG Stadium, Houston | ~4:30 AM IST (Jun 30) |
| Tue, 30 Jun | M77 | Group I winners v Best 3rd (C/D/F/G/H) | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~10:30 PM IST (Jun 30) |
| Tue, 30 Jun | M78 | Group E runners-up v Group I runners-up | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~1:00 AM IST (Jul 1) |
| Tue, 30 Jun | M79 | Group A winners v Best 3rd (C/E/F/H/I) | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 1) |
| Wed, 1 Jul | M80 | Group L winners v Best 3rd (E/H/I/J/K) | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 1) |
| Wed, 1 Jul | M81 | Group D winners v Best 3rd (B/E/F/I/J) | Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area | ~1:00 AM IST (Jul 2) |
| Wed, 1 Jul | M82 | Group G winners v Best 3rd (A/E/H/I/J) | Lumen Field, Seattle | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 2) |
| Thu, 2 Jul | M83 | Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up | BMO Field, Toronto | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 2) |
| Thu, 2 Jul | M84 | Group H winners v Group J runners-up | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~1:00 AM IST (Jul 3) |
| Thu, 2 Jul | M85 | Group B winners v Best 3rd (E/F/G/I/J) | BC Place, Vancouver | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 3) |
| Fri, 3 Jul | M86 | Group J winners v Group H runners-up | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 3) |
| Fri, 3 Jul | M87 | Group K winners v Best 3rd (D/E/I/J/L) | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | ~1:00 AM IST (Jul 4) |
| Fri, 3 Jul | M88 | Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 4) |
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Round of 16 Fixtures
The Round of 16 reduces the field to eight. Every match from here is a pure knockout — one result, one outcome, no second life.
| Date | # | Fixture | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 4 Jul | M89 | Winner M74 v Winner M77 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 4) |
| Sat, 4 Jul | M90 | Winner M73 v Winner M75 | NRG Stadium, Houston | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 5) |
| Sun, 5 Jul | M91 | Winner M76 v Winner M78 | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 5) |
| Sun, 5 Jul | M92 | Winner M79 v Winner M80 | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 6) |
| Mon, 6 Jul | M93 | Winner M83 v Winner M84 | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 6) |
| Mon, 6 Jul | M94 | Winner M81 v Winner M82 | Lumen Field, Seattle | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 7) |
| Tue, 7 Jul | M95 | Winner M86 v Winner M88 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 7) |
| Tue, 7 Jul | M96 | Winner M85 v Winner M87 | BC Place, Vancouver | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 8) |
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Quarterfinal Fixtures
The last eight. Four matches, four venues, and the path to MetLife Stadium begins to narrow sharply.
| Date | # | Fixture | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 9 Jul | M97 | Winner M89 v Winner M90 | Gillette Stadium, Boston | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 9) |
| Fri, 10 Jul | M98 | Winner M93 v Winner M94 | SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 11) |
| Sat, 11 Jul | M99 | Winner M91 v Winner M92 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ~10:30 PM IST (Jul 11) |
| Sat, 11 Jul | M100 | Winner M95 v Winner M96 | Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City | ~4:30 AM IST (Jul 12) |
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Semifinal Fixtures
Two semifinal venues. Two matches. Four nations left standing. The FIFA 2026 semifinals take place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta — two of the most formidable arenas in North America.
| Date | # | Fixture | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, 14 Jul | M101 | Winner M97 v Winner M98 | AT&T Stadium, Dallas | ~5:30 AM IST (Jul 15) |
| Wed, 15 Jul | M102 | Winner M99 v Winner M100 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta | ~5:30 AM IST (Jul 16) |
FIFA World Cup 2026 — Bronze Final & The Grand Final
The tournament concludes with two matches that bookend its final weekend — the Third Place Play-off in Miami on July 18, followed by the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
| Date | # | Match | Venue | 🇮🇳 IST (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, 18 Jul | M103 | Third Place — Runner-up M101 v Runner-up M102 | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami | ~5:30 AM IST (Jul 19) |
| Sun, 19 Jul | M104 | THE FINAL — Winner M101 v Winner M102 | MetLife Stadium, New York / NJ | ~5:30 AM IST (Jul 20) |
MetLife Stadium. July 19. Eighty-two thousand fans. One team lifts the trophy. This is what every match in the schedule has been building toward — from that opening whistle at Estadio Azteca right through to this moment.
IST Timing Quick Reference for Indian Fans
Most FIFA World Cup 2026 matches take place in US Eastern, Central, or Pacific Time. Here’s the key IST conversion reference to use throughout the tournament:
| US Eastern (ET) | US Pacific (PT) | 🇲🇽 Mexico (CDT) | 🇮🇳 IST | Viewing Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 PM ET | 9:00 AM PT | 11:00 AM CDT | 10:30 PM IST | Prime-time — best slot |
| 3:00 PM ET | 12:00 PM PT | 2:00 PM CDT | 1:30 AM IST | Late-night watch |
| 6:00 PM ET | 3:00 PM PT | 5:00 PM CDT | 4:30 AM IST | Early-morning dedication |
| 9:00 PM ET | 6:00 PM PT | 8:00 PM CDT | 7:30 AM IST | Breakfast football |
For exact timings per match, ESPN India and fifa.com are the most reliable sources. Broadcast schedules are updated regularly, so always cross-check before setting those alarms.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 start?
The tournament opens on Thursday, June 11, 2026 with Mexico v South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — approximately 12:30 AM IST on June 12 for Indian viewers.
Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?
The final takes place on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey — the largest venue in the tournament with a capacity of over 82,000.
How many matches are in FIFA World Cup 2026?
There are 104 total matches — 48 in the group stage, 16 in the Round of 32, 8 in the Round of 16, 4 quarterfinals, 2 semifinals, 1 bronze final, and 1 grand final.
What is the new Round of 32 in FIFA 2026?
The Round of 32 is a brand-new knockout round introduced for the 2026 edition. With 48 teams in the tournament — 32 advancing from the group stage — a full additional knockout round now takes place between the group stage and the traditional Round of 16.
Where can the FIFA 2026 schedule be found in IST?
ESPN India (espn.in/football/fixtures) is the best source for match timings converted to Indian Standard Time. The official fifa.com schedule shows local venue times and is always the authoritative source for fixture updates.
Which cities host the FIFA 2026 semifinals and final?
The Semifinal 1 is in Dallas (AT&T Stadium) on July 14. Semifinal 2 is in Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) on July 15. The Bronze Final is in Miami (Hard Rock Stadium) on July 18. The Grand Final is at MetLife Stadium, New York/NJ on July 19.
The Countdown Is On
From Mexico v South Africa on June 11 at the iconic Estadio Azteca to the grand final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium — the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule maps out six weeks of football that will define a generation of fans.
Every match listed above is a date with history. Whether you’re setting alarms for the 10:30 PM IST prime-time slots or committing to those 4:30 AM early-morning sessions, this is the tournament to make every sacrifice worthwhile.
Save this guide, share it with your group chats, and start planning which matches deserve the full stadium-at-home treatment. The World Cup is coming.
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Which match on this schedule are you most excited about? Drop your pick in the comments below.