The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a historic event in men's soccer, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time, the tournament will be co‑hosted by three countries – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – and will feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches. Mexico's Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will stage the opening match on June 11 (with Mexico vs. a group opponent), and the final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The expanded 12‑group format yields a longer event than ever before.

Match Schedule

The match schedule spans three geographic "regions" (Western, Central, Eastern) across North America, with group games June 11–27 and knockout rounds to follow. The group stage runs from June 11–27 (72 matches in total: 52 in the USA, 10 in Mexico, 10 in Canada). Notably, the opening match is on June 11 (Mexico hosts at Estadio Azteca), and each host nation's team plays all three group games on home soil (Canada opening June 12 in Toronto, USA also June 12 in Los Angeles). The knockout phase begins with the Round of 32 (June 28–July 3), followed by Round of 16 (July 4–7), quarterfinals (July 9–11), semifinals (July 14–15) and the third-place match (July 18). The final is on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. (All match dates and venues are fully detailed on FIFA's official schedule.)

The basic schedule is as follows (dates and venues; teams TBD until qualifying and draw):

• Group Stage (June 11–27): Groups A–L, each with 4 teams, 3 matches each. Example: June 11, 2026 – Group A Match 1: Mexico vs TBD at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (Mexico's first match), as well as a second June 11 match at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. On June 12, Canada opens at BMO Field (Toronto) and USA opens at SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), etc.
• Round of 32 (June 28 – July 3): 32 teams, 16 single‑elimination games. Hosts share these matches (USA 12, Canada 2, Mexico 2).
• Round of 16 (July 4–7): 16 teams, 8 games (USA 6, Mexico 1, Canada 1).
• Quarterfinals (July 9–11): 8 teams, 4 games (all in USA).
• Semifinals (July 14–15): 4 teams, 2 games at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium (Atlanta) and AT&T Stadium (Dallas).
• Third Place (July 18): at Hard Rock Stadium (Miami).
• Final (July 19): at MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ).

Stadiums and Host Cities

The tournament will use 16 stadiums in 16 host cities (11 in the USA, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Canada). Below are the venues with their locations, capacities, and assigned matches:

• Estadio Azteca – Mexico City (Mexico) – Capacity ~87,523. Hosts the opening match (Mexico vs. TBD on June 11) and a total of five games: three group matches plus a Round of 32 and a Round of 16 match.
• Estadio Akron – Guadalajara (Mexico) – Capacity ~49,850. Hosts four group-stage matches.
• Estadio BBVA – Monterrey (Mexico) – Capacity ~53,500. Hosts three group matches and one Round of 32 match.
• Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, GA (USA) – Capacity ~71,000. Hosts five group matches, one Round of 32, one Round of 16, and one semifinal.
• Gillette Stadium – Foxborough/Boston, MA (USA) – Capacity ~65,878. Hosts five group matches, one Round of 32, and one quarter-final.
• AT&T Stadium – Arlington/Dallas, TX (USA) – Capacity ~80,000. Hosts five group matches, two Round of 32 matches, one Round of 16, and one semifinal.
• NRG Stadium – Houston, TX (USA) – Capacity ~72,220. Hosts five group matches and one Round of 16 match.
• Arrowhead Stadium – Kansas City, MO (USA) – Capacity ~76,416. Hosts four group matches, one Round of 32, and one quarter-final.
• SoFi Stadium – Inglewood/Los Angeles, CA (USA) – Capacity ~70,240. Hosts five group matches, one Round of 32, and one Round of 16.
• Hard Rock Stadium – Miami Gardens, FL (USA) – Capacity ~64,767. Hosts four group matches, one Round of 32, one quarter-final, and the third-place play-off.
• MetLife Stadium – East Rutherford, NJ (USA) – Capacity ~82,500. Hosts five group matches, one Round of 32, one Round of 16, and the Final.
• Lincoln Financial Field – Philadelphia, PA (USA) – Capacity ~69,796. Hosts five group matches and one Round of 16.
• Levi's Stadium – Santa Clara/San Francisco, CA (USA) – Capacity ~68,500. Hosts five group matches and one Round of 32.
• Lumen Field – Seattle, WA (USA) – Capacity ~69,000. Hosts five group matches, one Round of 32, and one Round of 16.
• BC Place – Vancouver (Canada) – Capacity ~54,500. Hosts five group matches, one Round of 32, and one Round of 16.
• BMO Field – Toronto (Canada) – Capacity ~30,000. Hosts five group matches and one Round of 32.

All venues are top-tier, existing stadiums from recent international events. Each host city will see multiple games, and fans can consult the match schedule for specific fixtures at each stadium. (For example, AT&T Stadium will see the most games of any venue – nine total.)

How to Buy Tickets

Tickets for World Cup 2026 are available only through FIFA's official channels. Fans should register on FIFA's official ticketing portal (via fifa.com/tickets) and purchase through that website. (Fans may also sign up to register interest in tickets on FIFA's site.) No other vendor is legitimate for official tickets. FIFA has confirmed there will be no public sale of tickets outside the official portal. (As of mid-2025, general ticket sales have not yet begun in most countries, though some host-nation hospitality packages are already on sale.) Pricing details have not been announced; when tickets go on sale, information will be posted on FIFA's website. For now, supporters should create a FIFA account and wait for sale announcements from FIFA.

Conclusion

The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be a landmark event. With 48 nations competing across 16 modern venues, the tournament will truly be continental in scale. Match schedules and ticket sales will be coordinated by FIFA; fans are encouraged to follow official FIFA communications for the latest updates. This article has compiled all officially verified details – dates, venues, and ticket links – so supporters can plan their World Cup 2026 experience with confidence and enthusiasm.