Updated 5 June 2026 · Tournament kicks off in 6 days
FIFA World Cup 2026 live: schedule, groups, stadiums, and where to watch
Mexico vs South Africa opens the tournament on Thursday 11 June 2026 at Estadio Azteca (Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City. The final is on Sunday 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 48 teams across 12 groups, 104 matches, 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States — this page is the tournament-wide reference for kickoff context, then route you into the football section for live match pages.
Mexico vs South Africa
The host nation opens the tournament on Thursday 11 June 2026. Kickoff is at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT, and the match is broadcast in the US on FOX (English) and Telemundo / Peacock (Spanish). This is the third time Estadio Azteca has hosted a World Cup opener.
- Thursday, 11 June 2026 · 20:00 UTC
- Estadio Azteca (Estadio Banorte), Mexico City
- FOX / Telemundo / Peacock (US)
Final · 19 July 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. FOX coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with kickoff at 3:00 PM ET. The winner takes home the original FIFA World Cup Trophy.
- Sunday, 19 July 2026 · 19:00 UTC
- MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
- FOX (US, English) · Telemundo (Spanish)
Key dates
The tournament runs 39 days from 11 June to 19 July 2026, five days longer than the 32-team format used from 1998 to 2022. The group stage closes 27 June 2026, with the round of 32 starting 28 June 2026 and the round of 16 in early July.
- Group stage: 11 – 27 June 2026
- Round of 32: 28 June – 3 July 2026
- Round of 16: 4 – 7 July 2026
- Quarterfinals: 11 – 12 July 2026
- Semifinals: 14 – 15 July 2026
- Third-place playoff: 18 July 2026
- Final: 19 July 2026
How to use this page
Keep this page for tournament-wide context — groups, stadiums, broadcast information, key dates. When you want a specific fixture, go to the football section and open the exact match page.
Once tournament fixtures appear in the schedule feed, the same match-page experience you use for club football applies — kickoff time, broadcast, stream links when available, and a notify-me option to get a reminder 15, 30, or 60 minutes before kickoff.
Tournament groups
48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. The top two plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to a 32-team knockout round.
Group A
- Mexico
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Czech Republic
Group B
- Canada
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Qatar
- Switzerland
Group C
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Haiti
- Scotland
Group D
- United States
- Paraguay
- Australia
- Türkiye
Group E
- Germany
- Curaçao
- Ivory Coast
- Ecuador
Group F
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Sweden
- Tunisia
Group G
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
- New Zealand
Group H
- Spain
- Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia
- Uruguay
Group I
- France
- Senegal
- Iraq
- Norway
Group J
- Argentina
- Algeria
- Austria
- Jordan
Group K
- Portugal
- DR Congo
- Uzbekistan
- Colombia
Group L
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
Host stadiums and cities
16 stadiums across Canada (2), Mexico (3), and the United States (11). The opening match is at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City; the final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Canada
- Toronto
- Vancouver
Mexico
- Guadalajara
- Mexico City
- Monterrey
United States
- Arlington, TX
- Atlanta, GA
- East Rutherford, NJ
- Foxborough, MA
- Houston, TX
- Inglewood, CA
- Kansas City, MO
- Miami Gardens, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Santa Clara, CA
- Seattle, WA
| Stadium | City | Country | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estadio Azteca (Estadio Banorte) | Mexico City | Mexico | Opening match |
| Estadio Akron | Guadalajara | Mexico | Group / knockout |
| Estadio BBVA | Monterrey | Mexico | Group / knockout |
| BMO Field | Toronto | Canada | Group / knockout |
| BC Place | Vancouver | Canada | Group / knockout |
| MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ | United States | Final |
| SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA | United States | Group / knockout |
| AT&T Stadium | Arlington, TX | United States | Group / knockout |
| NRG Stadium | Houston, TX | United States | Group / knockout |
| GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium | Kansas City, MO | United States | Group / knockout |
| Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens, FL | United States | Group / knockout |
| Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta, GA | United States | Group / knockout |
| Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA | United States | Group / knockout |
| Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, MA | United States | Group / knockout |
| Lumen Field | Seattle, WA | United States | Group / knockout |
| Levi's Stadium | Santa Clara, CA | United States | Group / knockout |
Where to watch World Cup 2026 live
Broadcast availability varies by country. In the US, FOX (English) and Telemundo / Peacock (Spanish) carry every match. In the UK, BBC and ITV split coverage. In India, Sony Sports Network is the rights holder. Match-by-match broadcast details appear on each match page when fixtures are in play.
| Country | Broadcast partner(s) |
|---|---|
| United States | FOX (English) · Telemundo / Peacock (Spanish) |
| Mexico | TUDN · TV Azteca · Televisa |
| Canada | CBC · Sportsnet · TLN |
| United Kingdom | BBC · ITV |
| India | Sony Sports Network |
| Australia | Optus Sport |
| Germany | ARD · ZDF · MagentaTV |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports · ARY Digital |
Live coverage path
When the tournament kicks off on 11 June 2026, match-day fixtures will appear in the YosinTV football feed with the same match pages you already use.
Open football sectionBest path into live coverage
The tournament page is the factual entry point. The football section is the live navigation layer. Once tournament fixtures appear in the schedule, the match page becomes the most precise destination, with stream links when they are available and broadcast information for the country you are watching from.
Frequently asked questions
When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens on Thursday, 11 June 2026 with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca (Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City, kicking off at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup final?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. FOX broadcast coverage begins at 12:00 PM ET with kickoff at 3:00 PM ET.
How many teams and matches are at the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams (expanded from 32) playing 104 matches (expanded from 64) over 39 days, the largest FIFA World Cup to date.
Which countries are hosting the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the first tri-nation tournament, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States in 16 host cities.
Where can I watch 2026 World Cup matches live?
Live broadcast availability varies by country. In the US, FOX (English) and Telemundo/Peacock (Spanish) carry every match. In the UK, BBC and ITV split coverage. In India, Sony Sports Network is the rights holder. Match-by-match links are available on the YosinTV football section when fixtures are in play.
What is the 2026 World Cup format?
48 teams are split into 12 groups of 4. The top two plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to a 32-team knockout round (round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place playoff, and final).
How long does the 2026 World Cup last?
The tournament runs 39 days from 11 June to 19 July 2026, five days longer than the previous 32-team format used from 1998 to 2022.
What are the 12 groups for the 2026 World Cup?
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic. Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland. Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland. Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye. Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador. Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia. Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand. Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay. Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway. Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan. Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia. Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.