The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has begun following the confirmation of the group-stage fixtures, venues and match schedules for the tournament to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The expanded tournament, featuring 48 teams for the first time, will kick off on June 11, 2026, with hosts Mexico facing South Africa at the Mexico City Stadium. A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 host cities before the final takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19.
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Historic Tournament Across Three Nations
The 2026 edition will be the first FIFA World Cup co-hosted by three countries and the largest in the competition’s history.
FIFA has also introduced three-minute water breaks during matches as part of enhanced player welfare measures amid concerns over high temperatures at several venues.
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