Latest News About World Cup Fixtures 2026

Here are the latest publicly reported details on the 2026 FIFA World Cup fixture schedule and key milestones.

Overview

• The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, expanding to 48 teams and a 104-match schedule, with the final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This marks the first 48-team edition of the tournament.[3][4]

Key fixtures and schedule highlights

• Kickoff: The tournament is set to begin in June 2026, with the opening match in Mexico on June 11, 2026 (Mexico vs South Africa) and a global rollout across multiple North American venues.[2][3]
• Group stage: 72 group-stage matches across 12 groups (A–L), followed by the knockout rounds beginning with the Round of 32. The exact group pairings and matchdays were released in the official draw and are widely reported by major outlets.[4][3]
• Knockout rounds: After the group stage, the 16-team knockout phase features the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, a Third Place Play-off, and the Final on July 19, 2026. Various outlets have published day-by-day breakdowns and full match lists for these rounds.[6][3][4]

Where to find the fixtures

• Comprehensive fixture lists with dates, local times, and venues are available from major sports outlets, including FourFourTwo’s full fixtures and schedules, Sky Sports’ day-by-day breakdown, and Sporting News’ schedule summaries. These sources also note kickoff times in local and UK times, and list all 104 matches across venues in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.[1][3][4]
• The official World Cup draw and fixture reveal were anticipated in late 2025, with subsequent coverage confirming kick-off times and matchups for the group stage and beyond. For example, Sky Sports and Sporting News provide updated schedules post-draw, including the introduction of UK kick-off times.[3][4]

What this means for fans in New Jersey and the US East Coast

• The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.[3]
• Numerous matches will be hosted across U.S. venues (including New Jersey, Texas, California, and other states), with additional games in Canada and Mexico depending on group placements and progression.[4][3]
• Organizers and broadcasters have released day-by-day guides and time zones to help fans plan attendance or viewing, including dedicated schedules by date and venue.[2][4]

Illustrative example

• Example: Group K fixtures include matches such as Portugal vs DR Congo and Uzbekistan vs Colombia on dates in Houston and Mexico City, illustrating the cross-border, multi-venue format of the group stage.[3]

Would you like a concise table of all Group-stage fixtures by date, or a day-by-day calendar for the first two weeks of play? I can assemble a compact, editable schedule for your time zone (New Jersey/ET) and mark England-friendly kick-off times if you’d like. For source credibility, these details align with published schedules from FourFourTwo, Sky Sports, and Sporting News.[1][4][3]