World Cup 2026 schedule: key dates from kickoff to the final

The 2026 World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 — at roughly 39 days and 104 matches, the longest and largest in the tournament's history.

Group stage

The group stage kicks off on 11 June with the host nations among the headline acts. Each of the 48 teams plays three group games over the opening two and a half weeks, with the final round of group matches kicking off simultaneously to keep things fair.

Knockouts

Then it's straight knockout football through these rounds:

• Round of 32
• Round of 16
• Quarter-finals
• Semi-finals
• Third-place play-off
• Final — 19 July 2026, MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey

Times for every match, in your local timezone, are on the scores page. Lock in your picks before kickoff on the predictor.