The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially kicks off on June 11 and runs through July 19 across three North American host nations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. Featuring global superstars such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane, alongside rising talents Lamine Yamal, Arda Guler and Yan Diomande, the tournament promises top-tier football.
Key dates:
- June 11: Opening match — Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City.
- June 12: Co-host openers — Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA vs. Paraguay.
- June 14: Germany vs. Curacao — Curacao becomes the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup.
- June 15: Spain vs. Cape Verde — Cape Verde makes its World Cup debut.
- June 16: Argentina (defending champions) vs. Algeria — Lionel Messi begins his sixth World Cup campaign; Jordan debuts against Austria.
- June 17: Portugal vs. DR Congo — Cristiano Ronaldo appears at his sixth World Cup; Uzbekistan makes its first appearance against Colombia.
- June 27: Group stage concludes.
- June 28 – July 3: Round of 32.
- July 4 – July 7: Round of 16.
- July 9 – July 11: Quarter-finals.
- July 14 – July 15: Semi-finals.
- July 18: Third-place match.
- July 19: 2026 World Cup final.
Notable group-stage matches:
- June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco (Group C)
- June 14: Netherlands vs. Japan (Group F)
- June 16: France vs. Senegal (Group I)
- June 17: England vs. Croatia (Group L)
- June 18: Mexico vs. South Korea (Group A)
- June 20: Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Group E)
- June 20: Netherlands vs. Sweden (Group F)
- June 22: Norway vs. Senegal (Group I)
- June 22: Argentina vs. Austria (Group J)
- June 24: South Africa vs. South Korea (Group A)
- June 25: Japan vs. Sweden (Group F)
- June 26: Norway vs. France (Group I)
- June 26: Uruguay vs. Spain (Group H)
- June 27: Colombia vs. Portugal (Group K)
The 39-day tournament features a total of 104 matches, promising explosive and dramatic moments for football fans worldwide.
