2026 World Cup dates, venues, host cities, format and schedule for USA ...
2026 World Cup takes place across United States, Canada and Mexico; 48 teams will compete in expanded tournament with final in New York-New Jersey
www.skysports.comHere are the latest observed dates for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
- Tournament window: June 11 to July 19, 2026. The event runs across the summer in North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico) with a final on July 19, 2026. This framing has been consistently reported by multiple outlets as the standard window for the tournament.[1][3][4][5]
- Opening matches: The opening ceremonies and first group-stage matches are slated for June 11, 2026, with kickoff events in host venues including Mexico City and Toronto, as part of the three-host-country format.[3][7][1]
- Final venue: The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, in the New York-New Jersey area at MetLife Stadium, per FIFA/major outlets confirming the championship date and location.[6][1][3]
Notes and caveats:
- The official schedule (kick-off times, match-by-match fixtures, and group allocations) is typically confirmed after the final draw, which determines the group-stage matchups but remains aligned with the June 11–July 19 window.[2][5]
- The 2026 edition expands to 48 teams and is hosted across three countries, which influences venue selection and travel logistics, but the overarching dates remain June–July 2026 and the final on July 19.[8][3]
Illustration
- A simplified timeline:
- June 11, 2026: Opening matches begin in multiple host cities
- June 11–27, 2026: Group stage
- June 28–July 3, 2026: Round of 32
- July 4–7, 2026: Round of 16
- July 9–11, 2026: Quarter-finals
- July 14–15, 2026: Semi-finals
- July 18, 2026: Third-place playoff
- July 19, 2026: Final
If you’d like, I can pull the most current official schedule details (specific match days/times, and host cities) from FIFA and major sports outlets and present them in a clean, editable calendar format. Please tell me your preferred format (ICS, Google Calendar, or a simple table), and I’ll compile it with citations.