World Cup 2026 | Complete schedule for the first week. What time the matches are played (Romania time)

The 2026 edition will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, from June 11 to July 19, and will include 48 teams for the first time. Also for the first time in the tournament's history, the knockout stages will begin with the round of 32, featuring all 24 teams that finish in first and second place, as well as the eight best teams that finish in third place.

104 matches will take place at the final tournament, the largest number ever recorded at the World Cup.  5 days will be free during the period from June 11 to July 19: July 8, 12, 13, 16, and 17.

The opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will take place at the famous Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with the ball set to be kicked off by Mexico and South Africa on Thursday at 10:00 PM.

Photo: Macbeth_GP / Shutterstock.com / Estadio Azteca in Mexico City

Key dates for the World Cup:

Group stage: June 11-27

Round of 32: June 28 - July 3

Round of 16: July 4-7

Quarter-finals: July 9-11

Semi-finals: July 14-15

Third place play-off: July 18

Final: July 19

Matches scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Friday, June 12

Group A: South Korea vs Czech Republic, 05:00 - Guadalajara, Mexico

Group B: Canada vs Bosnia, 22:00 - Toronto, Canada

Saturday, June 13

Group D: USA vs Paraguay, 04:00 - Los Angeles, USA

Group B: Qatar vs Switzerland, 22:00 - Santa Clara (San Francisco), USA

Sunday, June 14

Group C: Brazil vs Morocco, 01:00 - New Jersey, USA

Group C: Haiti vs Scotland, 04:00 - Foxborough (Boston), USA

Group D: Australia vs Turkey, 07:00 - Vancouver, Canada

Group E: Germany vs Curaçao, 20:00 - Houston, USA

Group F: Netherlands vs Japan, 23:00 - Arlington (Dallas), USA

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