When Are the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Matches? Full Dates, Fixtures & Venues

The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage runs from 11–27 June 2026, spanning 16 host cities across Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The tournament uses a 12-group (A–L), four-teams-per-group format, delivering 72 group matches before the Round of 32. Below you’ll find a clean, day-by-day schedule with match numbers, venues, cities, and host openers where relevant.

Key Notes

• Opening day (Thu, 11 June 2026): Kickoff at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.
• Early host fixtures: Canada opens in Toronto; USA opens in Los Angeles.
• Balanced spread: Matches rotate across all venues to manage travel and rest days.

Full Group Stage Schedule (Match 1–72)

All times are venue-local. Teams are listed as announced or marked TBD until the final draw.

Match Format & Advancement

• Groups A–L: Four teams each; every team plays three group matches.
• Points system: Win = 3, Draw = 1, Loss = 0.
• Tiebreakers: Goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head, fair play, and drawing of lots as required.
• Who advances: The top two in every group (24 teams) plus the eight best third-placed teams move on to the Round of 32.

Host Cities Snapshot

Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey
Canada: Toronto, Vancouver
USA: New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Boston, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta

Keep this page handy—once the draw is completed and kickoff times are confirmed, you can plug in opponents and times directly into the table without changing its structure.