World Cup 2026: Schedule, groups, host cities and more
World Cup 2026: Schedule, Groups, Host Cities and More
World Cup 2026 - The 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring 48 national soccer teams from across the globe, is set to begin on Thursday, June 11, with matches taking place in cities spanning the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As Argentina aims to retain their title, fans worldwide are gearing up for the expanded 48-team edition of the tournament. Here’s a breakdown of essential details.
Host Cities
Host cities for the 2026 World Cup include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Texas, Kansas City, Missouri, Los Angeles, Miami, the "New York New Jersey" region (East Rutherford, New Jersey), Philadelphia, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area. These locations will host a variety of matches, including group stages and knockout rounds.
Group Stage Format
During the group phase, each team will compete in three matches, one against every other team in their group. The top two finishers from each group will advance, along with the eight best third-place teams, while the remaining squads will be eliminated. This structure ensures 32 teams progress to the single-elimination knockout round.
Opening Match and Tournament Timeline
The group stage begins on Thursday, June 11, with Mexico hosting South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for the tournament’s opening match. An opening ceremony is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. local time, followed by the first game at 3:00 p.m. The U.S. Men's National Team will open their campaign against Paraguay on June 12, starting at 6:00 p.m. at SoFi Stadium in California.
Knockout Round Schedule
Quarterfinal matches will commence on July 9 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with subsequent games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on July 10. July 11 will see quarterfinals at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, and Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Semifinal games are scheduled for July 14 at AT & T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and July 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The final showdown will occur on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which is known as the New York New Jersey Stadium for this event.
Draw and Group Assignments
At the World Cup draw in December, teams were divided into 12 groups labeled A through L. The U.S. was placed in Group D, alongside Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey, which secured their spot after a March victory over Kosovo in the UEFA playoffs. The group stage will conclude with 104 games spread over 39 days.
“According to FIFA, Argentina, led by star forward Lionel Messi, is currently ranked No. 1.”
Tiebreakers and Match Format
In case of a draw after regular time, matches will have 30 minutes of extra time divided into two 15-minute halves, followed by a penalty shootout to determine the winner. This format adds intensity to the knockout rounds, which begin on July 4 and run through July 19.
Additional Highlights
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