📺 Broadcast Information
In the United States, World Cup matches will be broadcast on Fox, FS1, and Telemundo/Peacock. The Final will air on Fox. Every match is expected to stream live.
Opening Day — Thursday, June 11
3:00 PM ET
⚽ Opening Match — Group A
Mexico vs. TBD · Estadio Azteca, Mexico City · Capacity: 87,523
6:00 PM ET
Group Stage Match
TBD vs. TBD · Rose Bowl, Los Angeles · Capacity: 90,888
June 12–30 — Group Stage Continues
Daily
3–4 Matches Per Day
Group stage matches spread across all 16 host stadiums. Matches typically kick off at noon, 3 PM, or 6 PM ET to maximize global TV audiences.
Rest Days
Occasional Rest Days
A small number of rest days are built into the schedule to allow travel time for teams crossing between Mexico, USA, and Canada.
Final Group Stage Matches — June 28 – July 2
Simultaneous
Matchday 3 — Both Matches in Each Group Kick Off Together
To prevent collusion, the final two matches in every group are played simultaneously. This is standard FIFA practice and produces some of the most dramatic moments in tournament soccer.
Saturday, July 4 – Thursday, July 10
July 4
Round of 32 Opens — Independence Day
The knockout stage begins on July 4th — an added dimension for American fans watching USMNT potentially face elimination on Independence Day.
2–3 matches/day
16 Knockout Matches Over 7 Days
Losers go home immediately. No second chances. The highest-stakes week of the tournament.
Quarterfinals — July 11 & 12
2 matches/day
8 Teams → 4 Teams
AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and MetLife Stadium (New York) host the quarterfinals. The biggest venues for the biggest remaining matches.
Semifinals — July 14 & 15
1 match/day
4 Teams → 2 Finalists
SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) hosts one semifinal; MetLife Stadium (New York) hosts the other. Winners advance to the Final.
Saturday, July 18 — Third-Place Match
3:00 PM ET
Third-Place Match
The two Semifinal losers compete for bronze. AT&T Stadium, Dallas. Teams still compete hard — third at a World Cup is a career highlight.
Sunday, July 19 — THE FINAL
3:00 PM ET
🏆 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FINAL
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey · Capacity: ~82,500 · Live on Fox · ~1.5 billion viewers worldwide
| Phase |
Dates |
Teams |
Matches |
| Group Stage |
June 11 – July 2 |
48 |
72 |
| Round of 32 |
July 4 – 10 |
32 |
16 |
| Round of 16 |
July 11 – 12 |
16 |
8 |
| Quarterfinals |
July 13 – 14 |
8 |
4 |
| Semifinals |
July 15 – 16 |
4 |
2 |
| Third-Place Match |
July 18 |
2 |
1 |
| 🏆 THE FINAL |
July 19 |
2 |
1 |