📋 Table of Contents

  1. FIFA World Cup 2026 Overview
  2. 16 Host Venues & Stadiums
  3. 3D Stadium Viewer
  4. Group Stage Schedule
  5. Knockout Stage Dates
  6. Live Scores
  7. Frequently Asked Questions

FIFA World Cup 2026 Overview

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of the tournament and the largest in history. For the first time ever, 48 national teams will compete across 104 matches, spread across 16 world-class stadiums in three countries: the United States (11 venues), Canada (2 venues), and Mexico (3 venues).

The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 — a total of 39 days of football. The newly expanded format introduces a group stage of 12 groups of 4 teams, with the top 2 from each group plus 8 best third-place finishers advancing to a Round of 32.

⚡ Key change in 2026: The 48-team format means 16 extra matches compared to 2022 Qatar. Every single nation now plays a minimum of 3 group-stage games before elimination — making upsets more possible than ever.

16 Host Venues & Stadiums

The 2026 World Cup will be played across three countries and 16 iconic stadiums. MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the grand final on July 19, while the opening ceremony takes place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

🇺🇸

MetLife Stadium

East Rutherford, NJ

82,500 seats · Final
🇺🇸

Rose Bowl

Los Angeles, CA

90,888 seats
🇺🇸

AT&T Stadium

Dallas, TX

80,000 seats
🇺🇸

SoFi Stadium

Los Angeles, CA

70,240 seats
🇺🇸

Levi's Stadium

San Francisco, CA

68,500 seats
🇲🇽

Estadio Azteca

Mexico City · Opening

87,523 seats
🇨🇦

BC Place

Vancouver, Canada

54,500 seats
🇺🇸

Arrowhead Stadium

Kansas City, MO

72,330 seats

3D Stadium Viewer

Explore the key World Cup 2026 venues in interactive 3D. Click and drag to rotate, use buttons to switch between stadiums.

🏟️ Interactive 3D Stadium Explorer

WebGL 3D
MetLife Stadium · East Rutherford, NJ · Capacity: 82,500 · Hosts: Round of 32, Semis, Final

Group Stage Schedule — All 12 Groups

The 48 teams are divided into 12 groups of 4. All group-stage matches are played between June 11 – July 2, 2026. The top 2 teams from each group, plus the 8 best third-place finishers, advance to the Round of 32.

Group Match Date Kickoff (ET) Venue

Knockout Stage Schedule

After the group stage concludes on July 2, the tournament enters its knockout phase with the expanded Round of 32 — a first in World Cup history.

RoundDatesMatchesVenue(s)
Round of 32July 4–8, 202616 matchesAll 16 venues
Round of 16July 11–14, 20268 matches8 venues
Quarter-FinalsJuly 17–18, 20264 matchesMetLife, Rose Bowl, AT&T, Azteca
Semi-FinalsJuly 14–15, 20262 matchesMetLife, Rose Bowl
3rd PlaceJuly 18, 20261 matchAT&T Stadium, Dallas
⭐ FINALJuly 19, 20261 matchMetLife Stadium, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

When does FIFA World Cup 2026 start? ▼
FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off on June 11, 2026 with the opening ceremony and first match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The tournament runs until July 19, 2026.
How many matches are in FIFA World Cup 2026? ▼
FIFA World Cup 2026 features 104 total matches — the most in World Cup history. This is due to the expanded 48-team format with 12 groups and the new Round of 32 knockout stage.
Where is FIFA World Cup 2026 being held? ▼
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is hosted across 3 countries and 16 venues: USA (11 stadiums), Mexico (3 stadiums), and Canada (2 stadiums). It is the first World Cup hosted by 3 nations simultaneously.
When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final? ▼
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final is scheduled for July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA — the largest stadium in the tournament with 82,500 seats.
How does the new 48-team format work? ▼
The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. The top 2 from each group (24 teams) plus the 8 best third-placed teams (8 teams) advance to a Round of 32 — a brand-new knockout round introduced in 2026.