FIFA has finally dropped the complete schedule for the 2026 World Cup, and football fans are already buzzing. The mega tournament — co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada — will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring a record-breaking 48 teams, 104 matches, and 16 world-class venues across North America.
The opening match will see Mexico take on South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium, while defending champions Argentina open their campaign on June 16 against Algeria. With more teams, more matches, and more drama, this is officially the biggest World Cup in history.
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World Cup 2026: Groups Announced
FIFA has unveiled all 12 groups for the expanded format. Here’s the full list:
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Denmark/Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DRC/Jamaica/New Caledonia
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Full Group Stage Schedule (June 11–27)
The action begins on June 11, with two opening-day fixtures in Mexico:
- Mexico vs South Africa – 3pm (21:00 GMT), Mexico City
- South Korea vs TBD – 10pm (04:00 GMT), Guadalajara
Over the next two weeks, fans will see global heavyweights like Brazil, Germany, France, Portugal, and Argentina take the field across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Some key early fixtures include:
- Brazil vs Morocco – June 13, New Jersey
- Germany vs Curacao – June 14, Houston
- Spain vs Cape Verde – June 15, Atlanta
- Argentina vs Algeria – June 16, Kansas City
- England vs Croatia – June 17, Dallas
- USA vs Australia – June 19, Seattle
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan – June 23, Houston
The group stage wraps up on June 27, followed immediately by the knockout phase.
Read more :- IND vs SA 3rd ODI Today: How to Watch Live on DD Sports & JioHostar
Knockout Stage: Round of 32 to Final
The expanded format introduces a Round of 32, starting June 28. Matches will be spread across iconic venues like Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, and Mexico City.
Key Knockout Dates
- Round of 32: June 28 – July 3
- Round of 16: July 4 – July 7
- Quarterfinals: July 9 – July 11
- Semifinals: July 14 & July 15
- Bronze Match: July 18
- FIFA World Cup Final: July 19, 2026 (venue confirmed: New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium)
The US will host the final in front of what is expected to be one of the largest World Cup audiences ever.
Tournament Overview
- Edition: FIFA World Cup 2026
- Hosts: USA, Mexico, Canada
- Duration: June 11 – July 19, 2026
- Teams: 48
- Matches: 104
- Venues: 16
- Format: 12 groups of 4 → Round of 32
With major upsets, dream fixtures, and global rivalries on the cards, fans worldwide are in for a historic edition
