Last checked: May 14, 2026.
This guide organizes the verified 2026 World Cup schedule framework into a practical planning page. It covers opening day through the final, every host city’s confirmed match windows, every tournament phase, and the planning pages you need after checking the latest official schedule.
Last checked: May 14, 2026.
Tournament phase timeline
| Phase | Dates | Matches | Key host cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening match | June 11 | 1 | Mexico City |
| Group stage | June 11�?6 | 72 | All 16 cities |
| Round of 32 | June 28 �?July 3 | 16 | Multiple host cities by bracket path |
| Round of 16 | July 4�? | 8 | Philadelphia (July 4), plus others |
| Quarter-finals | July 9�?1 | 4 | Kansas City (July 11), plus others |
| Semi-finals | July 14�?5 | 2 | Dallas (July 14), Atlanta (July 15) |
| Bronze final | July 18 | 1 | Miami |
| Final | July 19 | 1 | New York New Jersey |
Key confirmed match windows
These dates and venues are confirmed by FIFA. Team-vs-team pairings are listed where confirmed; otherwise, they remain tied to official sources.
| Date | Event | City | Planning link |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 11 | Opening match | Mexico City | Mexico City opener guide |
| June 12 | Canada opener | Toronto | Canada opener guide |
| June 12 | USA opener | Los Angeles | USA opener guide |
| June 19 | USA vs Australia | Seattle | Seattle match guide |
| July 4 | Round of 16 | Philadelphia | Philadelphia July 4 guide |
| July 11 | Quarter-final | Kansas City | Kansas City guide |
| July 14 | Semi-final | Dallas | Dallas semi-final guide |
| July 15 | Semi-final | Atlanta | Atlanta semi-final guide |
| July 18 | Bronze final | Miami | Miami bronze final guide |
| July 19 | Final | New York New Jersey | Final location guide |
City-by-city match count
Each host city has a confirmed number of matches. Use the city links to plan tickets, hotels, transport, and matchday logistics.
| City | Country | Matches | Key match stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | USA | 8 | Semi-final |
| Boston | USA | 7 | Group + knockout |
| Dallas | USA | 9 | Semi-final |
| Guadalajara | Mexico | 6 | Group + knockout |
| Houston | USA | 7 | Group + knockout |
| Kansas City | USA | 6 | Quarter-final |
| Los Angeles | USA | 8 | USA opener + knockout |
| Mexico City | Mexico | 5 | Opening match |
| Miami | USA | 7 | Bronze final |
| Monterrey | Mexico | 6 | Group + knockout |
| New York New Jersey | USA | 8 | Final |
| Philadelphia | USA | 6 | Round of 16 (July 4) |
| San Francisco Bay Area | USA | 6 | Round of 32 + knockout |
| Seattle | USA | 6 | USA vs Australia + knockout |
| Toronto | Canada | 6 | Canada opener |
| Vancouver | Canada | 7 | Canada fixtures + knockout |
How to plan with this schedule
- Pick your match type. The single highest-demand tickets are the opening match, USA group matches, semi-finals, and the final.
- Choose a host city. Start from the city, not the match, if you want to keep travel costs manageable. See the host cities hub.
- Understand knockout uncertainty. Round of 32 and beyond: you will not know the teams until the group stage ends. Book refundable hotels.
- Use the official ticket path. Start at FIFA.com/tickets. Then read the ticket safety guide.
What to recheck before booking
- Team-vs-team match pairings are still being confirmed for most group-stage slots.
- Local kickoff times have not been announced for many matches.
- Stadium entry policies, transport plans, and fan-zone details may change.
- Hotel pricing and availability will shift as match details are confirmed.
Best next pages
- Schedule center �?interactive match planning hub
- Ticket hub �?buying, prices, safety
- Host cities �?all 16 city guides
- How the Round of 32 works �?new format explained
- When the World Cup starts �?opening date deep-dive
- Where is the final �?final location guide
How to use this page safely
This page is designed as a planning layer, not a replacement for official tournament information. Use it to understand the shape of the tournament, compare host-city options, and choose which pages to read next. Before buying tickets, booking hotels, arranging flights, or making business commitments, recheck FIFA’s official schedule, local host-city guidance, and provider terms.
| Planning decision | Use this guide for | Recheck before spending money |
|---|---|---|
| Picking a city | Match windows, host-city count, tournament phase | Official schedule, local transport plan, hotel cancellation policy |
| Buying tickets | Which dates and stages are high demand | FIFA ticketing, resale rules, fees, transfer process |
| Booking travel | City sequence and likely congestion periods | Airport routing, visa or entry rules, matchday transport updates |
| Sponsorship planning | Which periods create attention spikes | Inventory, disclosure rules, official-rights restrictions |
Editorial independence
Sports Pulse Media is an independent publication. We are not FIFA, a host committee, a venue, a broadcaster, a travel seller, or a ticketing provider. We do not sell tickets, guarantee availability, or provide official tournament instructions. This article is built from cited sources and should be updated when official information changes.