World Cup Schedule 2026 Fixtures and Kick-Off Times for Every Match

The first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup is spread over one month and across three countries.

Mexico kicks off the event with a home match against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday afternoon.

Canada's opener takes place in Toronto on Friday afternoon, while the United States men's national team plays Friday night at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles.

The group stage takes place from June 11-27. The top teams from each of the 12 groups along with eight third-place teams make up the 32-team knockout-round bracket.

The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The full World Cup match schedule can be found here on FIFA.com.

Mexico Opens Tournament Against South Africa

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Mexico gets the honor of opening the World Cup on Thursday at Estadio Azteca.

The matchup with South Africa is a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener between the two sides. Mexico and South Africa drew that match 1-1.

Host nations were given the honor starting in 2006 to play the first game of a World Cup.

Home sides have three victories, one loss and one draw in that span. South Africa and Qatar, two of the weaker home nations in World Cup history, were the two sides unable to win their openers. Germany, Brazil and Russia all won by multiple goals.

The expectation is for Mexico to beat South Africa by multiple goals on Thursday afternoon. The Bafana Bafana are the lowest-ranked side in Group A.

Mexico's other home games against South Korea and Czechia will be more difficult, but El Tri should at least start out on the front foot.

USMNT Plays Three Group Games on West Coast

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The USMNT plays two of its group-stage games at Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles. The middle group game occurs at Lumen Field in Seattle.

Christian Pulisic and Co. open up against Paraguay on Friday night at the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams.

The June 19 game against Australia will be in Seattle. The group-stage finale versus Turkiye is back in Los Angeles on June 25.

Winning Group D will not be easy, especially with Turkiye in the mix, but the Americans are capable of doing so if Pulisic and Co. are at their best.

If the USMNT wins Group D, it will play in the round of 32 on July 1 at Levi's Stadium. In fact, the Americans wouldn't have to leave the west coast until the semifinal round, if they make it that far.