The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be a historic event, marking the first time 48 teams will compete for the coveted trophy. The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with matches spread across 16 host cities. The opening match will take place on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa. The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Tournament Format and Key Dates
The expanded format includes 104 matches over 38 days of competition. The group stage will be followed by a Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Final.
Here are the key dates: * Round of 32: June 28 to July 3 * Round of 16: July 4 to July 7 * Quarterfinals: July 9 to July 11 * Semifinals: July 14 and 15 at AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) * Third-place match: July 18 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens * World Cup Final: July 19 at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Groups and Key Matchups
The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been completed, revealing the groups and some exciting early matchups.
Some notable group stage matches include:
- Group A: Mexico vs. South Africa
- Group C: Brazil vs. Morocco
- Group E: Germany vs. Curacao
- Group F: Netherlands vs. Japan
- Group D: England vs. Croatia
- Group J: Argentina vs. Algeria
Other potentially exciting matches include Norway vs France (Group I), Senegal vs FIFA Playoff 2 (Group I), New Zealand vs Belgium (Group G), Egypt vs Iran (Group G), Uruguay vs Spain (Group H), and Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia (Group H).
Host Cities and Venues
Matches will be held in 16 cities across the three host countries. These include:
- United States: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle
- Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey
- Canada: Toronto, Vancouver
Implications for Indian Viewers
While specific match timings in Indian Standard Time (IST) are not detailed in the provided context, fans in India can anticipate matches being broadcast in the late evening and early morning hours due to the time difference between North America and India. Detailed schedules with IST timings will likely be released closer to the tournament. Indian fans can follow the matches on television and through online streaming platforms.
