The anticipation for the 2026 World Cup is building, as FIFA recently revealed key details, locations, and dates for the tournament. With 16 North American cities and stadiums selected to host the games, soccer fans can look forward to an unparalleled spectacle. However, the schedule for the tournament is more complex than ever before, with hundreds of puzzle pieces still missing. Let’s take a closer look at what we know and don’t know about the 2026 World Cup schedule.
What We Know
We know the “when,” “where,” and “what type” for all 104 games of the tournament. The World Cup will kick off on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and conclude on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The semifinals will be held in Atlanta and Arlington, Texas, while the quarterfinals will take place in Miami, Kansas City, Inglewood, California, and Foxborough, Massachusetts. The United States will host the majority of the games, with 78 out of 104 matches, while Canada and Mexico will each host 13 games.
What We Don’t Know
While we know the dates and locations of the games, there are still many unknowns. The teams participating in the tournament won’t be placed in cities until December 2025 after most or all have qualified. Kickoff times for the matches also won’t be set until after the draw. The World Cup draw is scheduled for December 2025, where teams will be placed into groups. Until then, we will have to wait to learn more about the specific matchups and game times.
Reducing Travel
To reduce travel for teams, most will stay within one of three distinct regions during the group stage. The East region includes cities like Miami, Atlanta, and New York. The Central region includes Kansas City, Dallas, and Houston. The West region includes Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. This regional approach aims to minimize travel time and ensure that teams have enough rest between games.
The Format
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the Round of 32. From there, it will be a single-elimination knockout format, with five rounds leading up to the final.
A Busy Schedule
The 2026 World Cup will be the first 48-team tournament, making the group stage the longest and busiest ever. The first two weeks will feature four games per day, with the final four days of group play featuring six games each. After the group stage, the Round of 32 will begin immediately on June 28, followed by the Round of 16 with no days off. This means there will be 27 straight days of World Cup soccer, which is unprecedented.
Rest and Travel Concerns
Organizers have promised that all teams will have at least three rest days between games, except for the second semifinal loser who will have a shorter turnaround for the third-place game. While players will get more rest than they did in Qatar in 2022, travel remains a concern. With the tournament being hosted across North America, travel for teams and fans will be the biggest inconvenience. To mitigate this, FIFA has divided the host cities into three regions, allowing teams to stay within their respective regions during the group stage.
Kickoff Times and Heat
One of the biggest challenges in scheduling the 2026 World Cup is determining kickoff times. With games spread across multiple time zones and climates, finding a balance between global TV audiences and local stakeholders is crucial. FIFA has yet to decide on kickoff times and will finalize them after the draw. Another consideration is the heat in certain cities, which may limit the scheduling of afternoon games.
Stadiums and Turf
All 11 U.S. stadiums hosting World Cup matches will develop and install specialized natural-grass playing surfaces for the tournament. This ensures that players have the best conditions to showcase their skills. Additionally, NFL stadiums will have to adjust to accommodate soccer, with some undergoing construction to remove sideline and corner seats temporarily.
Ticket Information
While tickets for the 2026 World Cup are not yet available, fans can register their interest on the official FIFA website. Tickets are expected to go on sale in 2025, with multiple sales phases. High-demand games, like the final, may be subject to ticket lotteries, while some group stage tickets should be available for purchase.
As we eagerly await the 2026 World Cup, there is still much to learn about the schedule, matchups, and kickoff times. The complexity of organizing a tournament of this scale is evident, but FIFA is working diligently to ensure a memorable and exciting event for soccer fans around the world. Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the tournament.