When Is the World Cup 2026 and What Are the Fixtures?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across the USA, Canada and Mexico — 48 teams, 104 matches, and the first 39-day World Cup. The tournament opens with Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June (8pm UK time) and ends with the final at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey on 19 July. Every match is free-to-air in the UK on BBC and ITV.
This page has the full World Cup 2026 fixture schedule: all 12 groups, every group-stage match with UK kick-off times, the knockout bracket through to the final, the 16 host venues, and England and Scotland’s fixtures. All kick-off times are in British Summer Time (BST).
For how to watch every match free in the UK, see our World Cup 2026 TV guide. For betting, see our World Cup 2026 odds, tips and predictions hub.
World Cup 2026 Key Dates and Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
| Hosts | USA, Canada, Mexico |
| Dates | 11 June – 19 July 2026 (39 days) |
| Teams | 48 (12 groups of 4) |
| Matches | 104 across 16 venues |
| Opening match | Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City — 11 June, 8pm UK |
| Final | Sunday 19 July 2026, MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey |
| UK broadcasters | BBC and ITV (every match free-to-air) |
World Cup 2026 Groups
All 12 groups were confirmed after the qualifying play-offs concluded. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to the Round of 32.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia |
| B | Canada, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland |
| C | Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland |
| D | USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey |
| E | Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador |
| F | Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia |
| G | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand |
| H | Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay |
| I | France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway |
| J | Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan |
| K | Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia |
| L | England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama |
England are in Group L; Scotland are in Group C. For a full Group L breakdown, see our Group L preview.
England World Cup 2026 Fixtures
England play all three Group L games at UK-friendly evening kick-off times:
| Match | Date | UK Kick-Off | Venue | Channel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England vs Croatia | Wednesday 17 June | 9pm | Dallas | ITV |
| England vs Ghana | Tuesday 23 June | 9pm | Boston | BBC |
| Panama vs England | Saturday 27 June | 10pm | New York/New Jersey | ITV |
England vs Croatia is the standout opener — a repeat of the 2018 semi-final. For full England betting analysis, see our England World Cup 2026 odds page.
Scotland World Cup 2026 Fixtures
Scotland are in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti:
| Match | Date | UK Kick-Off | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haiti vs Scotland | Saturday 13 June | 2am (Sun 14 June) | Boston |
| Scotland vs Morocco | Friday 19 June | 11pm | Boston |
| Scotland vs Brazil | Wednesday 24 June | 11pm | Miami |
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Fixtures — Full Schedule (UK Times)
Every group-stage match from 11 to 26 June, with UK kick-off times. Matches marked with an asterisk (*) kick off after midnight UK time and roll into the early hours of the following morning.
Thursday 11 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico vs South Africa | A | Mexico City | 8pm |
| South Korea vs Czechia | A | Guadalajara | 3am* |
Friday 12 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | B | Toronto | 8pm |
| USA vs Paraguay | D | Los Angeles | 2am* |
Saturday 13 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar vs Switzerland | B | San Francisco | 8pm |
| Brazil vs Morocco | C | New York/New Jersey | 11pm |
| Haiti vs Scotland | C | Boston | 2am* |
| Australia vs Turkey | D | Vancouver | 5am* |
Sunday 14 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany vs Curacao | E | Houston | 6pm |
| Netherlands vs Japan | F | Dallas | 9pm |
| Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | E | Philadelphia | 12am* |
| Sweden vs Tunisia | F | Monterrey | 3am* |
Monday 15 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain vs Cape Verde | H | Atlanta | 5pm |
| Belgium vs Egypt | G | Seattle | 8pm |
| Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | H | Miami | 11pm |
| Iran vs New Zealand | G | Los Angeles | 2am* |
Tuesday 16 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| France vs Senegal | I | New York/New Jersey | 8pm |
| Iraq vs Norway | I | Boston | 11pm |
| Argentina vs Algeria | J | Kansas City | 2am* |
| Austria vs Jordan | J | San Francisco | 5am* |
Wednesday 17 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal vs DR Congo | K | Houston | 6pm |
| England vs Croatia | L | Dallas | 9pm |
| Ghana vs Panama | L | Toronto | 12am* |
| Uzbekistan vs Colombia | K | Mexico City | 3am* |
Thursday 18 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Czechia vs South Africa | A | Atlanta | 5pm |
| Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina | B | Los Angeles | 8pm |
| Canada vs Qatar | B | Vancouver | 11pm |
| Mexico vs South Korea | A | Guadalajara | 2am* |
Friday 19 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA vs Australia | D | Seattle | 8pm |
| Scotland vs Morocco | C | Boston | 11pm |
| Brazil vs Haiti | C | Philadelphia | 2am* |
| Turkey vs Paraguay | D | San Francisco | 5am* |
Saturday 20 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands vs Sweden | F | Houston | 6pm |
| Germany vs Ivory Coast | E | Toronto | 9pm |
| Ecuador vs Curacao | E | Kansas City | 1am* |
| Tunisia vs Japan | F | Monterrey | 5am* |
Sunday 21 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain vs Saudi Arabia | H | Atlanta | 5pm |
| Belgium vs Iran | G | Los Angeles | 8pm |
| Uruguay vs Cape Verde | H | Miami | 11pm |
| New Zealand vs Egypt | G | Vancouver | 2am* |
Monday 22 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina vs Austria | J | Dallas | 6pm |
| France vs Iraq | I | Philadelphia | 10pm |
| Norway vs Senegal | I | New York/New Jersey | 1am* |
| Jordan vs Algeria | J | San Francisco | 4am* |
Tuesday 23 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal vs Uzbekistan | K | Houston | 6pm |
| England vs Ghana | L | Boston | 9pm |
| Panama vs Croatia | L | Toronto | 12am* |
| Colombia vs DR Congo | K | Guadalajara | 3am* |
Wednesday 24 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland vs Canada | B | Vancouver | 8pm |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar | B | Seattle | 8pm |
| Scotland vs Brazil | C | Miami | 11pm |
| Morocco vs Haiti | C | Atlanta | 11pm |
| Czechia vs Mexico | A | Mexico City | 2am* |
| South Africa vs South Korea | A | Monterrey | 2am* |
Thursday 25 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecuador vs Germany | E | New York/New Jersey | 9pm |
| Curacao vs Ivory Coast | E | Philadelphia | 9pm |
| Japan vs Sweden | F | Dallas | 12am* |
| Tunisia vs Netherlands | F | Kansas City | 12am* |
| Turkey vs USA | D | Los Angeles | 3am* |
| Paraguay vs Australia | D | San Francisco | 3am* |
Friday 26 June
| Match | Group | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway vs France | I | Boston | 8pm |
| Senegal vs Iraq | I | Toronto | 8pm |
| Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | H | Houston | 1am* |
| Uruguay vs Spain | H | Guadalajara | 1am* |
| Egypt vs Iran | G | Seattle | 4am* |
| New Zealand vs Belgium | G | Vancouver | 4am* |
World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Fixtures
The knockout rounds begin on 28 June with a new Round of 32 — the first time the World Cup has featured this stage. 32 teams advance: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed sides. From the Round of 16 onwards, all matches are played in the USA.
Round of 32 (28 June – 3 July)
| Date | Tie | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 June | Runner-up A vs Runner-up B | Los Angeles | 8pm |
| 29 June | Winner C vs Runner-up F | Houston | 6pm |
| 29 June | Winner E vs best 3rd | Boston | 9:30pm |
| 29 June | Winner F vs Runner-up C | Monterrey | 2am* |
| 30 June | Runner-up E vs Runner-up I | Dallas | 6pm |
| 30 June | Winner I vs best 3rd | New York/New Jersey | 10pm |
| 30 June | Winner A vs best 3rd | Mexico City | 2am* |
| 1 July | Winner L vs best 3rd | Atlanta | 5pm |
| 1 July | Winner G vs best 3rd | Seattle | 9pm |
| 1 July | Winner D vs best 3rd | San Francisco | 1am* |
| 2 July | Winner H vs Runner-up J | Los Angeles | 8pm |
| 2 July | Runner-up K vs Runner-up L | Toronto | 12am* |
| 2 July | Winner B vs best 3rd | Vancouver | 4am* |
| 3 July | Runner-up D vs Runner-up G | Dallas | 7pm |
| 3 July | Winner J vs Runner-up H | Miami | 11pm |
| 3 July | Winner K vs best 3rd | Kansas City | 2:30am* |
England, as a likely Group L winner, would play their Round of 32 tie on 1 July in Atlanta if they top the group.
Round of 16 (4 July – 7 July)
| Date | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|
| 4 July | Houston | 6pm |
| 4 July | Philadelphia | 10pm |
| 5 July | New York/New Jersey | 9pm |
| 5 July | Mexico City | 1am* |
| 6 July | Dallas | 8pm |
| 6 July | Seattle | 1am* |
| 7 July | Atlanta | 5pm |
| 7 July | Vancouver | 9pm |
Quarter-Finals (9 July – 11 July)
| Date | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|
| 9 July | Boston | 9pm |
| 10 July | Los Angeles | 8pm |
| 11 July | Miami | 10pm |
| 11 July | Kansas City | 2am* |
Semi-Finals, Third Place and Final
| Stage | Date | Venue | UK Kick-Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Final 1 | Tuesday 14 July | Dallas | 8pm |
| Semi-Final 2 | Wednesday 15 July | Atlanta | 8pm |
| Third-Place Play-Off | Saturday 18 July | Miami | 10pm |
| Final | Sunday 19 July | New York/New Jersey | 8pm |
Specific knockout matchups depend on group-stage results and will be confirmed as the bracket fills.
World Cup 2026 Venues and Host Cities
The 2026 World Cup is played across 16 venues in 16 cities — 11 in the USA, three in Mexico and two in Canada. It is the most geographically expansive World Cup ever. FIFA uses tournament-specific names for some venues to avoid sponsor conflicts; common names are shown below.
| City | Country | Stadium | Hosts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Mexico | Estadio Azteca | Group, opening match |
| Guadalajara | Mexico | Estadio Akron | Group |
| Monterrey | Mexico | Estadio BBVA | Group, R32 |
| Toronto | Canada | BMO Field | Group, R32 |
| Vancouver | Canada | BC Place | Group, R32, R16 |
| Atlanta | USA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Group, R32, R16, Semi-Final |
| Boston | USA | Gillette Stadium | Group, R32, Quarter-Final |
| Dallas | USA | AT&T Stadium | Group, R32, R16, Semi-Final |
| Houston | USA | NRG Stadium | Group, R32, R16 |
| Kansas City | USA | Arrowhead Stadium | Group, R32, Quarter-Final |
| Los Angeles | USA | SoFi Stadium | Group, R32, R16, Quarter-Final |
| Miami | USA | Hard Rock Stadium | Group, R32, Quarter-Final, Third Place |
| New York/New Jersey | USA | MetLife Stadium | Group, R32, R16, Final |
| Philadelphia | USA | Lincoln Financial Field | Group, R16 |
| San Francisco Bay Area | USA | Levi’s Stadium | Group, R32 |
| Seattle | USA | Lumen Field | Group, R32, R16 |
The final is at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on 19 July, with the two semi-finals in Dallas and Atlanta.
How to Follow World Cup 2026 Fixtures in the UK
Every one of the 104 matches is free-to-air in the UK on BBC and ITV, with no subscription required. Because of the North American time zones, UK kick-off times range from around 5pm BST for the earliest matches to as late as 5am BST for West Coast late games.
A quick guide to the time difference: East Coast venues (New York, Boston, Philadelphia) are five hours behind the UK; Central venues (Dallas, Houston, Kansas City) six hours; West Coast venues (Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco) eight hours. That means West Coast late kick-offs roll into the early hours of the UK morning.
For the full UK TV guide including which channel shows each match, see our How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in the UK guide.
World Cup 2026 Fixtures FAQs
When does the World Cup 2026 start?
The 2026 World Cup starts on Thursday 11 June 2026 with Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, kicking off at 8pm UK time.
When is the World Cup 2026 final?
The final is on Sunday 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, kicking off at approximately 8pm UK time.
How many matches are at the World Cup 2026?
There are 104 matches at the 2026 World Cup — up from 64 in 2022 — played across 16 venues over 39 days. The expanded 48-team format introduces a new Round of 32.
Who are England playing in the World Cup 2026 group stage?
England face Croatia (17 June, Dallas), Ghana (23 June, Boston) and Panama (27 June, New York/New Jersey) in Group L. All three kick off in the UK evening.
What time do World Cup 2026 matches kick off in the UK?
UK kick-off times range from around 5pm BST for the earliest matches to as late as 5am BST for West Coast late games. Most prime fixtures fall between 5pm and 11pm UK time.
Where is the World Cup 2026 final being held?
The 2026 World Cup final is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — referred to by FIFA as New York New Jersey Stadium — on 19 July 2026.
How many teams are in the World Cup 2026?
48 teams, the most in World Cup history, in 12 groups of four. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance to the Round of 32.
Which channel shows the World Cup 2026 in the UK?
Every match is free-to-air on BBC and ITV, across BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 and ITV4, plus BBC iPlayer and ITVX. See our UK TV guide for the channel for each match.
When do the World Cup 2026 knockout rounds start?
The Round of 32 begins on 28 June 2026, the Round of 16 on 4 July, quarter-finals from 9 July, semi-finals on 14 and 15 July, and the final on 19 July.
More World Cup 2026 Content
- How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in the UK — free TV and live stream guide
- World Cup 2026 Odds, Tips and Predictions Hub — the complete betting guide
- England World Cup 2026 Odds — every England market analysed
- World Cup 2026 Group L Preview — England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
- World Cup 2026 Top Goalscorer Tips — Jake Gray’s Golden Boot picks
- World Cup 2026 Free Bets Hub — all UK welcome offers compared
Fixtures, kick-off times and venues are correct at the time of writing and should be confirmed against official FIFA, BBC Sport and ITV listings closer to each match. Kick-off times are in British Summer Time (BST).
