FIFA World Cup 2026: Complete Schedule, Groups, Venues & Time Zones Guide

1. Tournament Overview

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the largest in history. For the first time, 48 teams compete across 104 matches over 39 days in three countries — the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

It's also the first World Cup held in the US since 1994, and the first ever co-hosted across three nations. The expanded format means 12 groups of 4 (up from 8 groups), plus a new Round of 32 in the knockout stage.

2. All 12 Groups & 48 Teams

The draw was held on December 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Here are all 12 groups. Four UEFA playoff spots and two intercontinental playoff spots will be filled by March 31, 2026.

Groups of Death

With 48 teams and 12 groups, there's more variety than ever. Several groups stand out:

• Group C — Brazil and Morocco are both recent semifinalists. Scotland adds a strong European presence, while Haiti represent a historic first.
• Group H — Spain (defending champions) face Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, two teams that relish underdog upsets.
• Group L — England and Croatia renew their 2018 semifinal rivalry. Ghana and Panama round out a competitive group.
• Group K — Portugal and Colombia in the same group, with Uzbekistan as a dangerous dark horse.

How Advancement Works

The top 2 teams from each group automatically advance (24 teams). Then the 8 best third-placed teams also qualify, bringing the knockout round to 32 teams. This means finishing third doesn't necessarily eliminate you — unlike the 2022 format where only the top 2 advanced.

Third-place ranking is determined by: points, goal difference, goals scored, fair play points, and FIFA ranking (in that order).

3. All 16 Venues & Host Cities

Matches are spread across 16 stadiums in 3 countries. The United States hosts 78 of 104 matches (including every knockout match from the quarterfinals onward). Mexico and Canada each host 13 matches.

United States (11 venues, 78 matches)

Mexico (3 venues, 13 matches)

Canada (2 venues, 13 matches)

Knockout Round Venues

All matches from the quarterfinals onward are in the United States:

• Quarterfinals: Boston (Gillette), Miami (Hard Rock), Los Angeles (SoFi), Kansas City (Arrowhead)
• Semifinals: Dallas (AT&T Stadium), Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz)
• Third-place match: Miami (Hard Rock Stadium) — July 18
• Final: New York/New Jersey (MetLife Stadium) — July 19

4. Time Zone Guide

With 16 venues across four time zones, keeping track of kickoff times is one of the biggest challenges for fans. Here's how the venues break down:

Quick Reference: 3:00 PM ET Kickoff

A common US primetime slot. Here's what it looks like worldwide:

5. Complete Schedule & Key Dates

Here's the full tournament structure with dates for every phase:

Group Stage Structure

Each group plays three matchdays, with all teams playing once per matchday. With 12 groups and 2 matches per group per matchday, that's 24 matches per matchday round, spread across 5-6 days:

• Matchday 1 (June 11–16): All groups play their first match
• Matchday 2 (June 17–22): All groups play their second match
• Matchday 3 (June 23–27): Final group matches (simultaneous kickoffs per group)

Expect 4-5 matches per day during the group stage, with staggered kickoff times throughout the day — typically morning (Pacific), afternoon, and evening (Eastern) slots.

6. Knockout Stage & Bracket

The expanded 48-team format adds a Round of 32 that didn't exist in previous World Cups. Here's the full knockout path:

All knockout matches that go to extra time will also feature a penalty shootout if needed. There is no away goals rule — UEFA abolished it in 2021, and FIFA does not use it for the World Cup.

7. Remaining Playoff Spots

Six spots remain unfilled heading into the playoffs on March 26 and 31, 2026. Here's who's competing:

UEFA Playoffs (4 spots)

Four two-legged playoff paths, each with four teams competing for one World Cup spot:

Intercontinental Playoffs (2 spots)

Two mini-tournaments held in Mexico:

8. How to Watch

Broadcasting rights vary by country. In the United States, the 2026 World Cup will be available on:

• Fox Sports — English-language broadcast rights (Fox, FS1, FS2)
• Telemundo / Peacock — Spanish-language broadcast rights
• Streaming — Fox Sports app and Peacock for full coverage

For international viewers, check your local FIFA broadcast partner. Major carriers include BBC/ITV (UK), ARD/ZDF (Germany), TF1/M6 (France), and beIN Sports (Middle East/Asia).

With matches spanning morning-to-evening across US time zones, expect full-day coverage on broadcast and streaming platforms.

9. Watch Party Planning Tips

Planning watch parties across different time zones? Here are some tips: