The FIFA World Cup 2026, set to be the largest edition in the tournament’s history, is now less than six months away, with FIFA having already unveiled the full match schedule, tournament format, venues and key details for the 39-day global spectacle.Co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, the 39-day mega event will run from June 11 to July 19 and feature an expanded field of 48 teams, up from the traditional 32.A total of 104 matches will be played across 16 venues spread over the three host nations, making the 2026 World Cup the most extensive and logistically ambitious edition ever staged.Reigning champions Argentina will arrive aiming to defend the title they lifted at Qatar 2022 under the leadership of Lionel Messi.The 38-year-old will be chasing a historic achievement, as a successful title defence would see Argentina become only the third nation, after Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962), to win back-to-back World Cups.Notably, both Italy and Brazil achieved the feat while lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy, meaning Argentina could become the first team to retain the current FIFA World Cup Trophy, in use since 1974.The 2026 edition will also mark World Cup debuts for Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan, underlining FIFA’s push towards greater global representation as the tournament enters a new era.Opening match and final venuesThe tournament will get underway on June 11 at the Mexico City Stadium, where hosts Mexico will play the opening match against South Africa.The World Cup will conclude on July 19, with the final scheduled to be played at the New York New Jersey Stadium, formerly known as MetLife Stadium.Groups confirmedThe 48 teams have been divided into 12 groups of four. The group lineup includes several heavyweight clashes and intriguing matchups:Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic/IrelandGroup B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/BosniaGroup C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, HaitiGroup D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/KosovoGroup E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, CuracaoGroup F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/AlbaniaGroup G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New ZealandGroup H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape VerdeGroup I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq/Bolivia/SurinameGroup J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, JordanGroup K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo/Jamaica/New CaledoniaGroup L: England, Croatia, Panama, GhanaNew format explainedThe 2026 World Cup will feature a revamped competition structure. After the group stage, the knockout rounds will begin with a Round of 32, a first in World Cup history.This will be followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, a bronze medal match and the final.Tournament phases:Group stage: June 11–27Round of 32: June 28–July 3Round of 16: July 4–7Quarterfinals: July 9–11Semifinals: July 14–15Bronze medal match: July 18Final: July 19Full schedule of World Cup 2026Group stageThursday, June 11Mexico vs South Africa at 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, MexicoSouth Korea vs TDB at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, MexicoFriday, June 12Canada vs TBD at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, CanadaUSA vs Paraguay at 9pm (05:00 GMT on Saturday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USSaturday, June 13Qatar vs Switzerland at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USBrazil vs Morocco at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, USHaiti vs Scotland at 9pm (02:00 GMT on Sunday) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USAustralia vs TBD at midnight (08:00 GMT on Sunday) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaSunday, June 14Germany vs Curacao at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USNetherlands vs Japan at 4pm (22:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USIvory Coast vs Ecuador at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Monday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USTBD vs Tunisia at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Monday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, MexicoMonday, June 15Spain vs Cape Verde at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USBelgium vs Egypt at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaSaudi Arabia vs Uruguay at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USIran vs New Zealand at 9pm (05:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USTuesday, June 16France vs Senegal at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, USTBD vs Norway at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USArgentina vs Algeria at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, USAustria vs Jordan at midnight (08:00 GMT on Wednesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USWednesday, June 17Portugal vs TBD at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USEngland vs Croatia at 4pm (22:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USGhana vs Panama at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Thursday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, CanadaUzbekistan vs Colombia at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, MexicoThursday, June 18TBD vs South Africa at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USSwitzerland vs TBD at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USCanada vs Qatar at 6pm (02:00 GMT on Friday) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaMexico vs South Korea at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Friday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, MexicoFriday, June 19Scotland vs Morocco at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USUSA vs Australia at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USBrazil vs Haiti at 9pm (02:00 GMT on Saturday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USTBD vs Paraguay at midnight (08:00 GMT on Saturday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USSaturday, June 20Netherlands vs TBD at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USGermany vs Ivory Coast at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, CanadaEcuador vs Curacao at 8pm (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,Tunisia vs Japan at midnight (06:00 GMT on Sunday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, MexicoSunday, June 21Spain vs Saudi Arabia at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USBelgium vs Iran at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USUruguay vs Cape Verde at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USNew Zealand vs Egypt at 9pm (05:00 GMT on Monday) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaMonday, June 22Argentina vs Austria at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USFrance vs TBD at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USNorway vs Senegal at 8pm (01:00 GMT on Tuesday) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, USJordan vs Algeria at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Tuesday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USTuesday, June 23Portugal vs Uzbekistan at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USEngland vs Ghana at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USPanama vs Croatia at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, CanadaColombia vs TBD at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, MexicoWednesday, June 24Switzerland vs Canada at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaTBD vs Qatar at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USScotland vs Brazil at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USMorocco vs Haiti at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USTBD vs Mexico at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Thursday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, MexicoSouth Africa vs South Korea at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Thursday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, MexicoThursday, June 25Ecuador vs Germany at 4pm (21:00 GMT)– New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, USCuracao vs Ivory Coast at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USJapan vs TBD at 7pm (01:00 GMT on Friday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USTunisia vs Netherlands at 7pm (01:00 GMT on Friday – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,TBD vs USA at 10pm (06:00 GMT on Friday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USParaguay vs Australia at 10pm (06:00 GMT on Friday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USFriday, June 26Norway vs France at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USSenegal vs TDB 3pm at (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, CanadaCape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at 8pm (02:00 GMT on Saturday) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USUruguay vs Spain at 8pm (02:00 GMT on Saturday) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, MexicoEgypt vs Iran at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Saturday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USNew Zealand vs Belgium at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Saturday) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaSaturday, June 27Panama vs England at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, USCroatia vs Ghana at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USColombia vs Portugal at 7:30pm (02:30 GMT on Sunday) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USTBD vs Uzbekistan at 7:30pm (02:30 GMT on Sunday) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USAlgeria vs Austria at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,Jordan vs Argentina at 10pm (04:00 GMT on Sunday) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USKnockout stageSunday, June 28Round of 32 match at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USMonday, June 29Round of 32 match at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USRound of 32 match at 4:30pm (22:30 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USRound of 32 match at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, MexicoTuesday, June 30Round of 32 match at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USRound of 32 match at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, USRound of 32 match at 9pm (03:00 GMT on Wednesday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, MexicoWednesday, July 1Round of 32 match at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USRound of 32 match at 4pm (00:00 GMT on Thursday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USRound of 32 match at 8pm (04:00 GMT on Thursday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USThursday, July 2Round of 32 match at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USRound of 32 match at 7pm (00:00 GMT on Friday) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, CanadaRound of 32 match at 11pm (07:00 GMT on Friday) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaFriday, July 3Round of 32 match at 2pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USRound of 32 match at 6pm (23:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USRound of 32 match at 9:30pm (03:30 GMT on Saturday) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, US,Saturday, July 4Round of 16 match at 1pm (19:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USRound of 16 match at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USSunday, July 5Round of 16 match at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, USRound of 16 match at 8pm (02:00 GMT on Monday) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, MexicoMonday, July 6Round of 16 match at 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USRound of 16 match at 8pm (04:00 GMT on Tuesday) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USTuesday, July 7Round of 16 match at 12pm (17:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USRound of 16 match at 4pm (00:00 GMT on Wednesday) – BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaThursday, 9 July: First quarterfinal at 4pm (21:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USFriday, 10 July: Second quarterfinal at 3pm (23:00 GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USSaturday, July 11: Third quarterfinal at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USSunday, July 12: Fourth quarterfinal at 9pm (03:00 GMT) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, USTuesday, July 14: First semifinal at 3pm (21:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USWednesday, July 15: Second semifinal at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USSaturday, July 18: Bronze medal match at 5pm (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USSunday, July 19: Final at 3pm (20:00 GMT) – New York New Jersey Stadium, New Jersey, US