FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: Full Match Dates & Venues

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The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the biggest tournament in football history, spanning three countries, 16 host cities, and a new 48-team format. Running from June 11 to July 19, 2026, the competition features 104 matches, a brand-new Round of 32, and region-based scheduling across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

This page breaks down the full World Cup 2026 schedule, including match dates, host cities, regional clusters, and how the expanded knockout bracket works. Whether you’re planning travel, tracking fixtures, or following the road to the final in New Jersey, everything you need is laid out below.

Key Takeaways

  • Dates: June 11 to July 19, 2026 (39 days).
  • Format: 48 teams, 12 groups of four, and 104 total matches.
  • Knockout change: A new Round of 32 means teams must win eight matches to lift the trophy.
  • Group stage window: June 11–27; Round of 32 starts June 28 (no long gap).
  • Hosts & travel: 16 host cities across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, grouped into West/Central/East clusters to reduce travel.
  • Key dates: Opening match in Mexico City (June 11); Final in New York/New Jersey (July 19); Bronze Final in Miami (July 18).
  • Progression: Top two in each group + eight best third-place teams advance; four third-place teams are eliminated.
  • Planning tip: Cross-border entry is the biggest variable—passport + visa/ESTA/eTA need to be sorted well ahead of time.

Full Group Stage Schedule & Fixtures

The tables below show the complete FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule for the group stage, running from June 11 to June 27, plus a separate table of knockout fixtures from June 28 through to the final on July 19.

Locations for stadiums and matches are shown across three regions: Western, Central, and Eastern, along with the match number and kick-off times in local time of the host city.

Full Group Stage Schedule & Fixtures (June 11–27)

Here is the full list of group stage fixtures for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. You can find the dates and locations for the knockout rounds in the following section. You can jump to a specific day for either stage by clicking the links below.

Group stage:
Jun 11 | Jun 12 | Jun 13 | Jun 14 | Jun 15 | Jun 16 | Jun 17 | Jun 18 | Jun 19 | Jun 20 | Jun 21 | Jun 22 | Jun 23 | Jun 24 | Jun 25 | Jun 26 | Jun 27

Knockout stage:
Jun 28 | Jun 29 | Jun 30 | Jul 1 | Jul 2 | Jul 3 | Jul 4 | Jul 5 | Jul 6 | Jul 7 | Jul 9 | Jul 10 | Jul 11 | Jul 14 | Jul 15 | Jul 18 | Jul 19

Thursday, 11 June 2026

  • Mexico vs South Africa — Group A — Mexico City Stadium
  • Korea Republic vs Czechia / Denmark / North Macedonia / Republic of Ireland — Group A — Estadio Guadalajara

Friday, 12 June 2026

  • Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina / Italy / Northern Ireland / Wales — Group B — Toronto Stadium
  • USA vs Paraguay — Group D — Los Angeles Stadium

Saturday, 13 June 2026

  • Haiti vs Scotland — Group C — Boston Stadium
  • Australia vs Kosovo / Romania / Slovakia / Türkiye — Group D — BC Place Vancouver
  • Brazil vs Morocco — Group C — New York New Jersey Stadium
  • Qatar vs Switzerland — Group B — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Sunday, 14 June 2026

  • Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador — Group E — Philadelphia Stadium
  • Germany vs Curaçao — Group E — Houston Stadium
  • Netherlands vs Japan — Group F — Dallas Stadium
  • Albania / Poland / Sweden / Ukraine vs Tunisia — Group F — Estadio Monterrey

Monday, 15 June 2026

  • Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — Group H — Miami Stadium
  • Spain vs Cabo Verde — Group H — Atlanta Stadium
  • IR Iran vs New Zealand — Group G — Los Angeles Stadium
  • Belgium vs Egypt — Group G — Seattle Stadium

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

  • France vs Senegal — Group I — New York New Jersey Stadium
  • Bolivia / Iraq / Suriname vs Norway — Group I — Boston Stadium
  • Argentina vs Algeria — Group J — Kansas City Stadium
  • Austria vs Jordan — Group J — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

  • Ghana vs Panama — Group L — Toronto Stadium
  • England vs Croatia — Group L — Dallas Stadium
  • Portugal vs Congo DR / Jamaica / New Caledonia — Group K — Houston Stadium
  • Uzbekistan vs Colombia — Group K — Mexico City Stadium

Thursday, 18 June 2026

  • Czechia / Denmark / North Macedonia / Republic of Ireland vs South Africa — Group A — Atlanta Stadium
  • Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina / Italy / Northern Ireland / Wales — Group B — Los Angeles Stadium
  • Canada vs Qatar — Group B — BC Place, Vancouver
  • Mexico vs Korea Republic — Group A — Estadio Guadalajara

Friday, 19 June 2026

  • Brazil vs Haiti — Group C — Philadelphia Stadium
  • Scotland vs Morocco — Group C — Boston Stadium
  • Kosovo / Romania / Slovakia / Türkiye vs Paraguay — Group D — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
  • USA vs Australia — Group D — Seattle Stadium

Saturday, 20 June 2026

  • Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire — Group E — Toronto Stadium
  • Ecuador vs Curaçao — Group E — Kansas City Stadium
  • Netherlands vs Albania / Poland / Sweden / Ukraine — Group F — Houston Stadium
  • Tunisia vs Japan — Group F — Estadio Monterrey

Sunday, 21 June 2026

  • Uruguay vs Cabo Verde — Group H — Miami Stadium
  • Spain vs Saudi Arabia — Group H — Atlanta Stadium
  • Belgium vs IR Iran — Group G — Los Angeles Stadium
  • New Zealand vs Egypt — Group G — BC Place, Vancouver

Monday, 22 June 2026

  • Norway vs Senegal — Group I — New York New Jersey Stadium
  • France vs Bolivia / Iraq / Suriname — Group I — Philadelphia Stadium
  • Argentina vs Austria — Group J — Dallas Stadium
  • Jordan vs Algeria — Group J — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

  • England vs Ghana — Group L — Boston Stadium
  • Panama vs Croatia — Group L — Toronto Stadium
  • Portugal vs Uzbekistan — Group K — Houston Stadium
  • Colombia vs Congo DR / Jamaica / New Caledonia — Group K — Estadio Guadalajara

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

  • Scotland vs Brazil — Group C — Miami Stadium
  • Morocco vs Haiti — Group C — Atlanta Stadium
  • Switzerland vs Canada — Group B — BC Place, Vancouver
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina / Italy / Northern Ireland / Wales vs Qatar — Group B — Seattle Stadium
  • Czechia / Denmark / North Macedonia / Republic of Ireland vs Mexico — Group A — Mexico City Stadium
  • South Africa vs Korea Republic — Group A — Estadio Monterrey

Thursday, 25 June 2026

  • Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire — Group E — Philadelphia Stadium
  • Ecuador vs Germany — Group E — New York New Jersey Stadium
  • Japan vs Albania / Poland / Sweden / Ukraine — Group F — Dallas Stadium
  • Tunisia vs Netherlands — Group F — Kansas City Stadium
  • Kosovo / Romania / Slovakia / Türkiye vs USA — Group D — Los Angeles Stadium
  • Paraguay vs Australia — Group D — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium

Friday, 26 June 2026

  • Norway vs France — Group I — Boston Stadium
  • Senegal vs Bolivia / Iraq / Suriname — Group I — Toronto Stadium
  • Egypt vs IR Iran — Group G — Seattle Stadium
  • New Zealand vs Belgium — Group G — BC Place, Vancouver
  • Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia — Group H — Houston Stadium
  • Uruguay vs Spain — Group H — Estadio Guadalajara

Saturday, 27 June 2026

  • Panama vs England — Group L — New York New Jersey Stadium
  • Croatia vs Ghana — Group L — Philadelphia Stadium
  • Algeria vs Austria — Group J — Kansas City Stadium
  • Jordan vs Argentina — Group J — Dallas Stadium
  • Colombia vs Portugal — Group K — Miami Stadium
  • Congo DR / Jamaica / New Caledonia vs Uzbekistan — Group K — Atlanta Stadium

FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Fixtures

And here is the complete list of knockout round fixtures for the World Cup:

Sunday, 28 June 2026

  • Match 73 (Round of 32) — Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up — Los Angeles Stadium

Monday, 29 June 2026

  • Match 74 (Round of 32) — Group E winners vs Group A / B / C / D / F third place — Boston Stadium
  • Match 75 (Round of 32) — Group F winners vs Group C runners-up — Estadio Monterrey
  • Match 76 (Round of 32) — Group C winners vs Group F runners-up — Houston Stadium

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

  • Match 77 (Round of 32) — Group I winners vs Group C / D / F / G / H third place — New York New Jersey Stadium
  • Match 78 (Round of 32) — Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up — Dallas Stadium
  • Match 79 (Round of 32) — Group A winners vs Group C / E / F / H / I third place — Mexico City Stadium

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

  • Match 80 (Round of 32) — Group L winners vs Group E / H / I / J / K third place — Atlanta Stadium
  • Match 81 (Round of 32) — Group D winners vs Group B / E / F / I / J third place — San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
  • Match 82 (Round of 32) — Group G winners vs Group A / E / H / I / J third place — Seattle Stadium

Thursday, 2 July 2026

  • Match 83 (Round of 32) — Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up — Toronto Stadium
  • Match 84 (Round of 32) — Group H winners vs Group J runners-up — Los Angeles Stadium
  • Match 85 (Round of 32) — Group B winners vs Group E / F / G / I / J third place — BC Place, Vancouver

Friday, 3 July 2026

  • Match 86 (Round of 32) — Group J winners vs Group H runners-up — Miami Stadium
  • Match 87 (Round of 32) — Group K winners vs Group D / E / I / J / L third place — Kansas City Stadium
  • Match 88 (Round of 32) — Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up — Dallas Stadium

Saturday, 4 July 2026

  • Match 89 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 — Philadelphia Stadium
  • Match 90 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 — Houston Stadium

Sunday, 5 July 2026

  • Match 91 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 — New York New Jersey Stadium
  • Match 92 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 — Mexico City Stadium

Monday, 6 July 2026

  • Match 93 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84 — Dallas Stadium
  • Match 94 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 — Seattle Stadium

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

  • Match 95 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 — Atlanta Stadium
  • Match 96 (Round of 16) — Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 — BC Place, Vancouver

Thursday, 9 July 2026

  • Match 97 (Quarter-final) — Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 — Boston Stadium

Friday, 10 July 2026

  • Match 98 (Quarter-final) — Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 — Los Angeles Stadium

Saturday, 11 July 2026

  • Match 99 (Quarter-final) — Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 — Miami Stadium
  • Match 100 (Quarter-final) — Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 — Kansas City Stadium

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

  • Match 101 (Semi-final) — Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 — Dallas Stadium

Wednesday, 15 July 2026

  • Match 102 (Semi-final) — Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 — Atlanta Stadium

Saturday, 18 July 2026

  • Match 103 (Third-place playoff) — Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 — Miami Stadium

Sunday, 19 July 2026

  • Match 104 (Final) — Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 — New York New Jersey Stadium

Opening Match & Host Debuts

The 2026 World Cup fixtures begin with Mexico versus South Africa on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico.

On June 12, first-time host nation Canada takes on TBC at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and the USA faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, USA.

These host-nation matches, along with South Korea vs TBC at the Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Guadalajara, Mexico, kick off the largest World Cup in history, with 104 games played across 16 cities in three countries.

The timeline below outlines the key phases of the competition for the 48 participating teams, expanded from the traditional 32-team format.

The 2026 World Cup Timeline: Key Phases

The key phases of the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule start with group stage matches running from June 11 to June 27, followed by knockout rounds from June 28 to July 15, a third-place playoff (aka the Bronze Final) on July 18, and the tournament is concluded with the Grand Final on July 19.

This is the largest and longest World Cup to date, with 48 teams (up from 32), competing over 39 days, with a total of 104 matches. It’s also the first World Cup co-hosted by multiple nations, with Mexico hosting for the third time, the USA for the second, and Canada hosting for the first time.

There are 16 additional teams joining the competition this time around, with Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan all making their World Cup debuts.

Group Stage (June 11 – June 27):

The group stage of the 2026 World Cup runs from June 11-27 and features 12 groups of four teams, A through L.

Each nation plays the other teams in their group once, with the top 2 teams from each group progressing to the knockout rounds, along with the eight best third-placed teams. The remaining four third-placed teams, plus the bottom team from each group, are eliminated.

Third-place ranking tiebreakers are determined by the following criteria in order:

  • Total Points: Teams with more points rank higher.
  • Best Goal Difference: Number of goals scored minus goals conceded.
  • Most Goals Scored: If the goal difference is equal, teams rank higher for scoring more goals.
  • Best Fair-Play Record: Teams with the best disciplinary record (yellow/red cards) rank higher. Points are calculated based on -1 point for a yellow card, -3 points for an indirect red card (2 yellow cards), -4 points for a straight red card, and -5 points for a yellow card + red card.
  • Highest FIFA World Ranking: The Latest official world ranking position of tied teams.

The 12-group format is the first time it has been used in the tournament’s history. Previously, there were 8 groups from 1998-2022, 6 groups from 1982, and 4 groups when the World Cup began in 1930.

Below, we’ve explained how the knockout rounds work, including the new Round of 32.

Knockout Rounds (June 28 – July 19):

The knockout rounds of the 2026 World Cup run from June 28 to July 19 and feature a brand-new Round of 32 due to the expanded format, followed by the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, and Semi-finals.

It kicks off just one day after the group stage concludes. Here’s the full knockout round schedule:

  • Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
  • Round of 16: July 4 to July 7
  • Quarter-finals: July 9 to July 11
  • Semi-finals: July 14 to July 15

The first Round of the 32-match will see the runner-up of Group A face the runner-up of Group B in Los Angeles, California.

The tournament knockout round wraps up with the third-place playoff (Bronze Final) on July 18 to decide third and fourth place, and the World Cup Final is on July 19, where the two finalists compete for the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

Regional Clusters: Navigating the 16 Host Cities

FIFA has grouped cities for the tri-nation 2026 World Cup into three regional clusters: Western, Central, and Eastern. This is to reduce travel time and distance for teams and fans during the tournament.

Below is a breakdown of each cluster, including details on the cities and stadiums hosting matches.

Western Region:

The Western Region of the World Cup schedule includes Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

  • Vancouver hosts 5 group / 2 knockout matches.
  • Seattle is hosting 4 group / 2 knockout matches.
  • San Francisco is hosting 5 group matches and 1 knockout match.
  • Los Angeles will host 5 group / 3 knockout matches, including one quarter-final.

View city and stadium details for the Western Region in the table below.

City State / Province Country Stadium Capacity
Vancouver British Columbia Canada BC Place 54,000
Seattle Washington State USA Lumen Field 69,000
San Francisco California USA Levi’s Stadium 71,000
Los Angeles California USA SoFi Stadium 70,000

Central Region

The Central Region includes Guadalajara, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Monterrey, and Mexico City.

  • Guadalajara hosts 4 group matches.
  • Kansas City hosts 4 group matches / 2 knockout matches, including 1 quarter-final.
  • Dallas hosts 5 group matches / 4 knockout matches, including 1 quarter-final.
  • Houston hosts 5 group matches / 2 knockout matches.
  • Monterrey hosts 3 group matches and 1 Round of 32 match.
  • Mexico City hosts 3 group matches, including the World Cup opener and 2 knockout matches.

View more details on each Central Region stadium in the table below.

City State / Province Country Stadium Capacity
Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico Estadio Akron 48,000
Kansas City Missouri USA Arrowhead Stadium 73,000
Dallas Texas USA AT&T Stadium 94,000
Houston Texas USA NRG Stadium 72,000
Monterrey Nuevo León Mexico Estadio BBVA 53,500
Mexico City Mexico City Mexico Estadio Azteca 83,000

Eastern Region

FIFA’s Eastern Region World Cup segment includes Toronto, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, and New York/New Jersey.

  • Toronto hosts 5 group matches and 1 Round of 32 match.
  • Atlanta hosts 5 group matches / 3 knockout matches, including one semi-final.
  • Boston hosts 5 group matches / 2 knockout matches.
  • Philadelphia hosts 5 group matches and 1 Round of 16 match.
  • Miami hosts 4 group matches / 2 knockout matches, including a quarter-final and the Bronze Final.
  • New York/New Jersey hosts 5 group matches / 2 knockout matches along with the World Cup Final.

The table below provides an overview of cities and stadiums in the Eastern Region.

City State / Province Country Stadium Capacity
Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico Estadio Akron 48,000
Kansas City Missouri USA Arrowhead Stadium 73,000
Dallas Texas USA AT&T Stadium 94,000
Houston Texas USA NRG Stadium 72,000
Monterrey Nuevo León Mexico Estadio BBVA 53,500
Mexico City Mexico City Mexico Estadio Azteca 83,000

Travel & Logistics: Planning Your Trip

Plan your trip with our essential tips and guidance, from crossing borders and obtaining visas for each host country to the best ways to travel between cities on land and in the air.

The World Cup 2026 dates and locations have been organized with easier travel in mind, with the majority of teams playing their group matches within the same regional cluster.

Whether you’ve got a ticket to a match or are looking to soak up the atmosphere at a fan festival, this section of our guide breaks down the travel information and logistics for your trip to the world’s first continent-wide competition.

Whatever country, city, or match you’re attending, keep these three points in mind:

  1. You will need a valid passport to enter Canada, Mexico, or the USA.
  2. You will need a valid visa or travel authorization.
  3. Having a FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket does not guarantee entry to any of the host countries.

Cross-Border Entry & Visas

When travelling across the USA, Mexico, and Canada for the World Cup, you will need either a visa or travel authorization, depending on the country you’re entering. You will need separate visas or authorizations if you’re crossing borders between these countries.

If you reside in a country with a visa waiver agreement, you only need to apply for travel authorization that allows short stays, such as 3-6 months.

Below is an overview of the visa and travel authorization process for each host country: the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

USA

To visit the USA for the 2026 World Cup, you’ll need to apply for a tourist visa (B1/B2) by completing the online DS-160 form: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

Alternatively, if you’re eligible under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you can apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) online or via the mobile app at least 72 hours before departing.

You can find the application here: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

Below is a list of Visa Waiver Program countries:

Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom.

If you’re a ticket holder, you can access faster visa interviews using the FIFA PASS by logging into your FIFA.com account to submit the opt-in form.

Canada

To visit Canada, you’ll need either a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). You can apply for a visitor visa here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/apply-visitor-visa.html

If you’re from a visa-exempt country and traveling by air, an eTA is required, and you can apply for it on this link: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html

Mexico

If some of your preferred games on the World Cup 2026 schedule are in Mexico, you can apply for a visa at the Mexican consular office on this link: https://www.gob.mx/gobierno/mexico-en-el-mundo

However, you won’t need a visa if you’re a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, the USA, Japan, the UK, a Schengen Area country, or a Pacific Alliance member country.

If you’re a national of Ukraine, Turkey, or Russia traveling to Mexico by air, you can apply for a single-entry Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) here: https://www.inm.gob.mx/sae/publico/ru/solicitud.html

Transportation Between Cities

There are plenty of options when it comes to traveling between cities during the 2026 World Cup, including domestic/international flights, train, bus, and boat, depending on the regional cluster you’re visiting.

If you’re staying within the same country, domestic flights are the fastest and most convenient direct option, while international flights are for crossing between countries, such as Canada to the USA or Mexico to Canada.

Top domestic airlines in the USA include Delta Air Lines and JetBlue Airways, in Canada, Air Canada and WestJet, and in Mexico, Aeromexico, Volaris, and Viva Aerobus.

There are train and bus options for land travel, with companies such as FlixBus and Greyhound serving the USA, Orléans Express and FlixBus in Canada, and ETN Turistar, Primera Plus, and ADO Platino in Mexico.

Fan Festivals

The World Cup is well-known for its fan festivals held in the host country. This time around, these events will be set up across cities in all three countries as major hubs for fans to gather, soak in the match atmosphere, and party during licensed events that blend culture, music, and football.

These festivals let you watch matches live, celebrate with other fans, and experience the true buzz of the World Cup outside the stadiums.

Some of the standout fan festivals to watch out for include:

  • The US Tennis Association’s Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens from June 17-28, and Manhattan’s Rockefeller Center from July 4-19, following the cancellation of Liberty State Park in NJ.
  • Boston’s City Hall Plaza hosts 25,000 fans over its seven-acre space from June 11 to July 19.
  • PNE Grounds at Hastings Park in Vancouver, with its mountainous backdrop and new 10,000-seat outdoor arena, will run from June 11 to July 19.
  • Zócalo Fan Festival in Mexico City is the largest fan festival in Mexico, with a capacity of 50,000 and running from June 11 to July 19.

The Knockout Stage: Road to the Final

The knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup is the longest ever, with 15 days of football from June 28 to July 15, with one rest day between the Round of 16 and the quarter-finals, and two rest days before the semi-finals.

With the expanded format, the knockout stage kicks off straight after the group stage with a brand-new Round of 32.

The road to the final fixtures has already been mapped out, with teams now having to play eight matches to win the trophy, up from seven previously. It starts with the runner-up of Group A taking on the runner-up of Group B in the first match, and from there, it narrows down through the Round of 16, the quarter-finals, and the semi-finals.

Semi-Finals & Third-Place Playoff

The two semi-finals will take place on July 14 in Dallas and July 15 in Atlanta, with the winners advancing to the grand final. The losing teams from each game will play in the third-place playoff, aka the Bronze Final, on July 18 in Miami to determine who finishes third and fourth in the tournament overall.

The Grand Final: MetLife Stadium

The 2026 World Cup final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, located in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The stadium holds 82,500 fans who will get to see the championship match live in person. As one of the most-watched finals in global sports, and if the previous World Cup (Qatar 2022) figures are anything to go by, around 1.5 billion people worldwide are expected to tune in to watch the action on TV.

Betting on the FIFA World Cup 2026

If you’re planning to bet on World Cup matches, timing and coverage matter just as much as odds. Below are our recommended World Cup crypto sportsbooks, offering full FIFA World Cup markets, competitive prices, and reliable payouts throughout the tournament.

FAQ

  1. 01.

    When is the first match of the World Cup 2026?

    The opening game of the 2026 World Cup takes place on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City between Mexico and South Africa.

  2. 02.

    How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup?

    There will be 104 matches, significantly more than the 64 played in 2022.

  3. 03.

    Where is the final being played?

    The final takes place on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

  4. 04.

    What is the new tournament format?

    The tournament features 48 teams in 12 groups of four. The top 2 from each group and the 8 best 3rd-place teams enter a new Round of 32.

  5. 05.

    Can I bet on the 2026 World Cup matches using crypto?

    Yes, many top-tier platforms allow you to wager on every fixture. For an expert breakdown of the best odds and platforms, check out our guide to World Cup crypto betting.

Alan Kendall @ CryptoManiaks
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