World Cup 2026 Schedule: Key Dates from Group Stage to Final

The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June to mid-July 2026. With 104 matches across three countries, it is by far the longest and most demanding World Cup ever staged. Here’s an overview of the key dates.

Group stage

The group stage begins in early June 2026 and runs for approximately three weeks. Each group plays its six matches over roughly two weeks, with the final round of games in each group played simultaneously to prevent tactical manipulation.

All 12 groups are active during the same period, meaning fans can follow multiple groups simultaneously across the three host nations.

Round of 32

The Round of 32 — a new addition to the World Cup — begins as soon as the group stage concludes. Sixteen matches are played over five to six days, producing the 16 teams that advance to the Round of 16.

Round of 16

Eight matches over four days trim the field to eight quarter-finalists.

Quarter-finals

Four matches over two days. At this stage, every match is a heavyweight clash between genuinely elite sides.

Semi-finals

Two matches, with the winners meeting in the Final approximately four days later.

Third-place play-off

Played the day before the Final, the two beaten semi-finalists compete for bronze.

The Final

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final is scheduled for mid-July 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey — the largest stadium in the tournament with a capacity of 82,500.

Use our World Cup 2026 prediction game to predict every result from the opening group match to the Final whistle.