2026 World Cup Full Schedule Released as 48-Team Tournament Set for Historic Kick-Off

Posted : 01 April 2026

The list of 48 qualified teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been finalized after months of anticipation, drama, and surprising outcomes. With qualification now complete, the full schedule of the tournament—featuring 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico—has been confirmed. The competition will run from the opening match on June 11 to the grand final on July 19, marking the largest World Cup in history.

The final qualification spots were decided through intense play-offs. Bosnia delivered one of the biggest shocks by eliminating Italy, leaving the four-time champions out of a major tournament for the third consecutive time. They were joined by the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Sweden, who all emerged successfully from the European play-offs. From the intercontinental play-offs, the Democratic Republic of the Congo secured qualification with a 1–0 win over Jamaica, while Iraq completed the lineup, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

This tournament will be historic not only for its scale but also for its new format. For the first time, 48 teams will compete, increasing the number of matches from 64 to 104. The action begins on Thursday, June 11, at 22:00, when Mexico faces South Africa in Mexico City in the opening match of Group 1.

The group stage then unfolds rapidly across multiple cities and time zones. On Friday, June 12, South Korea will face the Czech Republic in Guadalajara at 05:00, followed later by Canada against Bosnia in Toronto at 22:00. On Saturday, June 13, the United States meets Paraguay in Los Angeles at 04:00, while Qatar plays Switzerland in San Francisco at 22:00.

Sunday, June 14, features a packed schedule: Brazil takes on Morocco in New Jersey at 01:00, Haiti faces Scotland in Boston at 04:00, Australia meets Turkey in Vancouver at 07:00, Germany plays Curaçao in Houston at 20:00, and the Netherlands face Japan in Dallas at 23:00. The following day, Monday, June 15, includes Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador in Philadelphia at 02:00, Sweden vs Tunisia in Monterrey at 05:00, Spain vs Cape Verde in Atlanta at 19:00, and Belgium vs Egypt in Seattle at 22:00.

On Tuesday, June 16, Saudi Arabia plays Uruguay in Miami at 01:00, Iran meets New Zealand in Los Angeles at 04:00, and France faces Senegal in New Jersey at 22:00. Wednesday, June 17, continues with Iraq vs Norway in Boston at 01:00, Argentina vs Algeria in Kansas City at 04:00, Austria vs Jordan in San Francisco at 07:00, Portugal vs the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston at 20:00, and England vs Croatia in Dallas at 23:00.

The second round of group matches begins on Thursday, June 18, with Ghana vs Panama in Toronto at 02:00, Uzbekistan vs Colombia in Mexico City at 05:00, Czech Republic vs South Africa in Atlanta at 19:00, and Switzerland vs Bosnia in Los Angeles at 22:00. On Friday, June 19, Canada faces Qatar in Vancouver at 01:00, Mexico meets South Korea in Guadalajara at 04:00, and the United States plays Australia in Seattle at 22:00.

Saturday, June 20, includes Scotland vs Morocco in Boston at 01:00, Brazil vs Haiti in Philadelphia at 04:00, Turkey vs Paraguay in San Francisco at 07:00, Netherlands vs Sweden in Houston at 22:00, and Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire in Toronto at 23:00. On Sunday, June 21, Curaçao plays Ecuador in Kansas City at 03:00, Tunisia faces Japan in Monterrey at 07:00, Spain meets Saudi Arabia in Atlanta at 19:00, and Belgium plays Iran in Los Angeles at 22:00.

Matches continue on Monday, June 22, with Uruguay vs Cape Verde in Miami at 01:00, New Zealand vs Egypt in Vancouver at 04:00, and Argentina vs Austria in Dallas at 20:00. On Tuesday, June 23, France meets Iraq in Philadelphia at 00:00, Norway plays Senegal in New Jersey at 03:00, Jordan faces Algeria in San Francisco at 06:00, Portugal plays Uzbekistan in Houston at 20:00, and England meets Ghana in Boston at 23:00.

Wednesday, June 24, features Panama vs Croatia in Toronto at 02:00, Colombia vs DR Congo in Guadalajara at 05:00, Switzerland vs Canada in Vancouver at 22:00, and Bosnia vs Qatar in Seattle at 22:00. The final round of group matches begins on Thursday, June 25, with Scotland vs Brazil in Miami at 01:00, Morocco vs Haiti in Atlanta at 01:00, Mexico vs Czech Republic in Mexico City at 04:00, South Africa vs South Korea in Monterrey at 04:00, Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire in Philadelphia at 23:00, and Ecuador vs Germany in New Jersey at 23:00.

On Friday, June 26, Tunisia plays the Netherlands in Kansas City at 02:00, Japan faces Sweden in Dallas at 02:00, Turkey meets the United States in Los Angeles at 05:00, Paraguay plays Australia in San Francisco at 05:00, Norway faces France in Boston at 22:00, and Senegal meets Iraq in Toronto at 22:00. Saturday, June 27, includes Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia in Houston at 03:00, Uruguay vs Spain in Guadalajara at 03:00, New Zealand vs Belgium in Vancouver at 06:00, and Egypt vs Iran in Seattle at 06:00.

The final group matches take place on Sunday, June 28, with Panama vs England and Croatia vs Ghana both kicking off at 00:00 in New Jersey and Philadelphia respectively, followed by Colombia vs Portugal and DR Congo vs Uzbekistan at 02:30, and Jordan vs Argentina alongside Algeria vs Austria at 05:00.

The knockout stage begins later that day, June 28, with the Round of 32. Matches will be played across cities including Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, Monterrey, New Jersey, Dallas, Mexico City, Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, Toronto, Miami, and Kansas City, running through July 4.

The Round of 16 will take place from July 4 to July 7 in cities such as Philadelphia, Houston, New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, and Vancouver. The quarter-finals follow on July 9 in Boston, July 10 in Los Angeles, and July 12 in Miami and Kansas City.

The semi-finals are scheduled for July 14 in Dallas and July 15 in Atlanta. The third-place match will be held in Miami on July 19 at 00:00. Finally, the tournament concludes with the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19 at 22:00, where the champions of the first-ever 48-team World Cup will be crowned.

2026 World Cup Full Schedule Released as 48-Team Tournament Set for Historic Kick-Off

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