USA, Canada & Mexico 2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule (By Time Zone)
The FIFA World Cup 2026 runs from June 11 to July 19 across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. 48 teams, 104 matches, 16 stadiums, 39 days. This guide covers every stage, every host country, and every kickoff time converted across ET, CT, PT, BST, CEST, and IST.
FIFA World Cup Schedule
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the biggest football tournament ever staged. Forty-eight teams, 104 matches, 16 stadiums, three countries, one summer. Whether you are watching from your sofa or attending matches across multiple host cities, this guide covers the complete FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule by stage, by host country, and by time zone so you never miss a kickoff.
All kickoff times in this blog are listed in Eastern Time (ET). Use the time zone reference table in the next section to convert to your local time instantly.
How to Find FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Times in Your Time Country?
Before anything else, here is the one table you will use throughout this entire blog. All times in the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule are listed in ET. Find your city or country below and apply (add or subtract the corresponding hours to the mentioned ET time) the offset to every kickoff listed.
๐บ๐ธ Eastern
โญ BASE TIME
ET - UTC-4
Cities
New York, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto
ET Offset
Base
๐บ๐ธ Central
CT
CT - UTC-5
Cities
Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Chicago
ET Offset
ET - 1hr
๐บ๐ธ Mountain
MT
MT - UTC-6
Cities
Denver, Phoenix, Salt Lake City
ET Offset
ET - 2hrs
๐บ๐ธ Pacific
PT
PT - UTC-7
Cities
Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver
ET Offset
ET - 3hrs
๐ฌ๐ง UK Time
BST
BST - UTC+1
Cities
London, Dublin, Edinburgh
ET Offset
ET + 5hrs
๐ช๐บ European
CET / CEST
CEST during tournament - UTC+2
Cities
Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Amsterdam
ET Offset
ET + 6hrs
๐ฎ๐ณ India Standard
IST
IST - UTC+5:30
Cities
Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai
ET Offset
ET + 9.5hrs
โฝ Example - 3:00 PM ET Kickoff
Dallas / CT
2:00 PM
Denver / MT
1:00 PM
Los Angeles / PT
12:00 PM
London / BST
8:00 PM
Europe / CEST
9:00 PM
Mumbai / IST
12:30 AM +1
๐ Note on CET vs CEST
Europe moves to summer time (CEST, UTC+2) during the tournament. The offset from ET remains the same at +6 hours throughout.
๐ Note on Mexico
Mexico abolished DST in 2023. Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey stay at UTC-6 year-round - 2 hours behind ET. A 3:00 PM ET kickoff is 1:00 PM in Mexico City.
๐ Note on Canada
Toronto runs on ET. Vancouver runs on PT, same as Los Angeles. A 3:00 PM ET match in Toronto is 12:00 PM in Vancouver.
When Does the 2026 FIFA World Cup Start and End?
Tournament Start
June 11, 2026
Final
July 19, 2026
Group Stage Ends
June 27, 2026
Knockout Stage Begins
June 28, 2026
Duration
39 days
Total Matches
104
Total Teams
48
Host Stadiums
16 across USA, Canada, Mexico
The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, on June 11 at 3:00 pm ET (1:00 pm local). The World Cup Final is at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19 at 3:00 pm ET.
Tournament Calendar at a Glance
From the opening whistle in Mexico City to the Final in New Jersey - 39 days, 104 matches, 3 nations.
GROUP STAGE
๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฝ
June 11 - June 27
USA, Canada & Mexico ยท All 3 nations host
68
Matches
ROUND OF 32
๐บ๐ธ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฝ
June 28 - July 4
USA, Canada & Mexico
16
Matches
ROUND OF 16
๐บ๐ธ USA only
July 4 - July 7
United States hosts exclusively from here onward
8
Matches
QUARTERFINALS
๐บ๐ธ USA
July 9 - July 11
Boston ยท Los Angeles ยท Miami ยท New York/NJ
5
Matches
๐ SEMIFINALS
๐บ๐ธ USA
July 14 - July 15
Dallas (Jul 14) ยท Atlanta (Jul 15) ยท 3:00 pm ET ยท 8:00 pm BST
2
Matches
๐ฅ THIRD PLACE
๐บ๐ธ Miami
July 18
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami ยท 3:00 pm ET
1
Match
โญ THE FINAL
๐บ๐ธ New Jersey
July 19 ยท 3:00 pm ET ยท 8:00 pm BST
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford ยท Cap. 82,500
1
Match
104
Total Matches
39
Days of Football
16
Host Cities
48
Teams
Confirmed Host Nation Group Stage Fixtures (all times ET)
June
11
Mexico vs South Africa
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
3:00 pm
ET
June
12
Canada vs UEFA Playoff A winner
BMO Field, Toronto
3:00 pm
ET
June
12
USA vs Paraguay
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
9:00 pm
ET
June
17
Canada vs Qatar
BC Place, Vancouver
TBC
ET
June
19
USA vs Australia
Lumen Field, Seattle
3:00 pm
ET
โญFIFA World Cup 1,000th Match Everโญ
June
20
Tunisia vs Japan
Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Historic Milestone
12:00 am
10:00 pm local
June
22
Canada vs Switzerland
Venue TBC
TBC
ET
June
25
USA vs UEFA Playoff C winner
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
10:00 pm
ET
Individual kickoff times for the remaining group stage matches are yet to be confirmed at the match level. The full fixture-by-fixture schedule will be published at fifa.com once confirmed.
Read More
Also read
How to Buy FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets?
If you missed your chance to buy FIFA World Cup tickets, don't worry.
FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets are still available via official resale, with more releases expected in April 2026.
Read our blog to learn everything you need to know.
Round of 32, Round of 16, and Knockout Stage Schedule
One of the biggest changes to the World Cup 2026 match schedule is the brand new Round of 32, which has never existed at any previous World Cup. The expanded 48-team format adds a full extra knockout round between the group stage and the Round of 16.
Round of 32
June 28 - July 4, 2026 ยท 16 matches, 24 group winners and runners-up plus 8 best third-placed teams. Matches are spread across the USA, Canada, and Mexico venues.
Round of 16
July 4 - July 7, 2026 ยท 8 matches All matches hosted in the United States.
Quarterfinals
July 9 - July 11, 2026 ยท 5 matches
July
9
Quarterfinal 1
Gillette Stadium, Boston
4:30 pm
ET
July
10
Quarterfinal 2
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
3:00 pm
ET
July
10
Quarterfinal 3
AT&T Stadium, Dallas
3:00 pm
ET
July
11
Quarterfinal 4
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
5:00 pm
ET
July
11
Quarterfinal 5
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
9:00 pm
ET
FIFA World Cup 2026: Semifinals, Third Place, and Final Matches
July 14 - July 15, 2026 ยท 2 matches
July
14
Semifinal 1
AT&T Stadium, Dallas
3:00 pm
ET
July
15
Semifinal 2
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
3:00 pm
ET
July
18
Third-Place Final
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
3:00 pm
ET
July
19
โญ FINAL
World Cup Final
MetLife Stadium, New York / New Jersey
3:00 pm
ET
The 3:00 pm ET kickoff is designed for prime-time European viewing: 8:00 pm BST in London, 9:00 pm CEST across Europe.
๐
FIFA World Cup 2026โข: Schedule by Host Country
The largest World Cup in history - 48 teams ยท 104 matches ยท 16 cities across 3 nations.
๐ June 11 โ July 19, 2026
๐ 3 Host Nations
๐๏ธ ~7.1M Tickets
๐บ๐ธ
United States
78 Matches ยท 11 Cities
Hosts 78 of 104 matches - including every game from the quarterfinals onward. AT&T Stadium (Dallas) hosts the most matches of any single venue (9 games, incl. SF).
๐๏ธ US Host Cities
Atlanta ยท Boston ยท Dallas ยท Houston ยท Kansas City ยท Los Angeles ยท Miami ยท New York/New Jersey ยท Philadelphia ยท San Francisco Bay Area ยท Seattle
๐ฆ Team USA - Group D (All times ET)
June
12
๐บ๐ธ USA vs Paraguay ๐ต๐พ
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
9:00 pm
ET
June
19
๐บ๐ธ USA vs Australia ๐ฆ๐บ
Lumen Field, Seattle
3:00 pm
ET
June
25
๐บ๐ธ USA vs UEFA Playoff C Winner
SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
10:00 pm
ET
๐จ๐ฆ
Canada
13 Matches ยท 2 Cities
Both venues are compact and highly accessible for international travellers. Toronto runs on ET ยท Vancouver runs on PT (ET โ3 hrs).
๐๏ธ Canadian Host Cities
Toronto (BMO Field) ยท Vancouver (BC Place)
๐ Team Canada - Group B (All times ET)
June
12
๐จ๐ฆ Canada vs UEFA Playoff A Winner
BMO Field, Toronto
3:00 pm
ET
June
17
๐จ๐ฆ Canada vs Qatar ๐ถ๐ฆ
BC Place, Vancouver
TBC
ET
June
22
๐จ๐ฆ Canada vs Switzerland ๐จ๐ญ
Venue TBC
TBC
ET
๐ Timezone note: Toronto runs on ET. Vancouver runs on PT (ET โ3 hrs). A 3:00 pm ET match in Toronto = 12:00 pm in Vancouver.
๐ฒ๐ฝ
Mexico
13 Matches ยท 3 Cities
Mexico becomes the first nation to host or co-host the World Cup 3 times (1970 ยท 1986 ยท 2026). Estadio Azteca is the tournament's largest venue at 87,500+ capacity.
๐ Timezone note: All Mexico City times are ET โ2 hours. A 3:00 pm ET kickoff = 1:00 pm local time in Mexico City.
Key Matches to Watch
The fixtures you cannot miss - from the tournament opener to the Final. All times ET.
Jun
11
๐ TOURNAMENT OPENER
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico vs South Africa ๐ฟ๐ฆ
3:00 pm ET
1:00 pm Local
๐ Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
87,500 fans. The loudest stadium in North America and the most anticipated opening match in World Cup history by attendance.
Jun
12
๐บ๐ธ US HOME OPENER
๐บ๐ธ USA vs Paraguay ๐ต๐พ
9:00 pm ET
๐ SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles ยท Group D
One of the most modern stadiums in the world and a statement venue for US football.
Jun
12
๐ CANADA HOME OPENER
๐จ๐ฆ Canada vs UEFA Playoff A Winner
3:00 pm ET
๐ BMO Field, Toronto ยท Group B
Canada's first World Cup appearance on home soil. A historic moment for Canadian football.
Group
C
๐ฅ REMATCH OF 2022
๐ง๐ท Brazil vs Morocco ๐ฒ๐ฆ
Group C
๐ Group Stage
A rematch of one of 2022's most dramatic moments. Morocco reached the semifinal in Qatar. Both teams are tournament favourites in 2026.
Group
L
โ๏ธ 2018 SF REMATCH
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ England vs Croatia ๐ญ๐ท
Group L
๐ AT&T Stadium, Dallas ยท Group L
A rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal - this time as a group stage fixture at the tournament's biggest venue.
Jun
20
๐ 1,000TH WC MATCH
๐น๐ณ Tunisia vs Japan ๐ฏ๐ต
12:00 am ET
10:00 pm Local
๐ Estadio BBVA, Monterrey ยท Officially confirmed by FIFA
The 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history - officially confirmed by FIFA. A milestone moment for the beautiful game.
Jul
14-15
๐ THE SEMIFINALS
Semifinal 1 + Semifinal 2
3:00 pm ET
8:00 pm BST
Jul 14
AT&T Stadium, Dallas - Kickoff 3:00 pm ET
Jul 15
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta - Kickoff 3:00 pm ET
Jul
19
โญ THE FINAL
FIFA World Cup Final 2026โข
3:00 pm ET
8:00 pm BST
๐ MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey ยท Cap. 82,500
The biggest match in world football. 39 days in the making. From June 11 in Mexico City to July 19 in New Jersey - the greatest show on Earth concludes.
๐ฒ Full Match Fixtures
All 104 match-by-match fixtures available at fifa.com ยท Set alerts on the FIFA app by team or venue.
Everything fans attending across multiple cities need to plan - flights, hotels, transport, and border crossings.
๐ซ
Flights
Book as early as possible
โ ๏ธ HIGH DEMAND
Host city flights for match weekends are already at 2-3x normal fares. Book now to avoid further price increases.
๐ก Tip: The group stage draws the biggest price spikes - multiple matches happen simultaneously across different cities, creating a surge in demand across all host regions at once.
๐จ
Accommodation
Refundable rates only
CAPACITY
Hotels within 10 miles of match venues are at full capacity for game nights in most host cities.
STRATEGY
Pick one base city and factor transport to the venue. Avoid hotel-hopping between match days.
๐ก Book refundable rates only - knockout round fixtures are confirmed progressively. Your team's path through the bracket determines which venues you'll need.
๐
Transport by City
Getting to and from each venue
๐บ๐ธ
LA
Los Angeles - SoFi Stadium
No direct rail access. Book rideshare packages in advance - post-match surge pricing will be significant.
๐บ๐ธ
NYC
New York / New Jersey - MetLife Stadium
NJ Transit from Penn Station to MetLife. Trains fill fast after the final whistle - allow extra time post-match.
๐บ๐ธ
DAL
Dallas - AT&T Stadium
TRE rail from downtown Dallas to AT&T Stadium. Allow 90 minutes each way on match days.
๐จ๐ฆ
TOR
Toronto - BMO Field
Walkable from Union Station. Straightforward for arrivals at Pearson International - take UP Express to Union, then walk.
๐จ๐ฆ
VAN
Vancouver - BC Place
Walking distance from downtown. The Canada Line from YVR airport runs directly into the city centre.
๐
Travel Between USA, Canada and Mexico
Visas, ETAs and border tips
๐บ๐ธ - ๐จ๐ฆ
US to Canada
eTA Required
Electronic Travel Authorisation - CAD 7 at ircc.canada.ca
โ ๏ธ Land border crossings surge on match days - allow 3-4 extra hours.
๐บ๐ธ - ๐ฒ๐ฝ
US to Mexico
Visa-Free
Passport required - visa-free for stays under 60 days
Flights from Dallas, Houston, LA and Miami - multiple times daily
๐ Mexico City = ET -2 hours - factor this into connection planning.
๐ - ๐บ๐ธ
International Visitors to the USA
ESTA Required
Electronic System for Travel Authorisation - USD 21 at esta.cbp.dhs.gov
Valid for 90 days - applies to all visa-waiver programme countries.
Staying Connected - FIFA World Cup 2026
Staying connected - eSIM for North America
Matches span three countries with three separate carrier networks. Roaming charges between the USA, Canada, and Mexico add up quickly - particularly for international travelers attending games across multiple cities and borders. For fans managing navigation, tickets, communication, and transport apps simultaneously, connectivity gaps are not an option.
Jetpac
provides an eSIM for North America that works across the USA, Canada, and Mexico on a single plan. No SIM swapping, no plan switching at each border crossing.
โก
Activates via QR code before departure
Install before you travel. Working data the moment you land - no store visit, no kiosk, no delay at the airport while checking match updates and transport apps.
๐ฌ
Essential apps stay on after data runs out
WhatsApp, Google Maps, Uber, and Grab keep working even after you hit your limit - so you can message, navigate, and get a ride without interruption.
๐
In-app voice calls
Calls start at USD 1.99 for five minutes - useful when coordinating with your group across different stadiums or rebooking flights on the go.
๐ถ
Unlimited hotspot sharing
Share your connection with a laptop or travel partner without extra steps. Useful for downloading boarding passes, accessing FIFA tickets, or rebooking travel on the go.
๐ก
Automatic network switching
Automatically connects to the strongest available local carrier in each country. No manual switching between the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
๐ฐ
70% cheaper than standard roaming
Significantly less than activating your home carrier's international roaming
- often more than 70% cheaper - so you keep more of your travel budget where it belongs.
๐งพ
Prepaid pricing, no bill shock
You pay upfront. No surprise roaming charges if your trip extends unexpectedly or crosses an additional border.
โ
100% money-back guarantee
Buy with confidence. Full money-back guarantee if the eSIM does not work for you.
๐
24/7 support via WhatsApp and email
Help available around the clock in any time zone - when you cannot afford to wait.
To ensure your eSIM works seamlessly, set it up and activate it before your trip. If you are already in a host country, use a VPN to activate your eSIM if local restrictions affect app access.
FAQs
When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start?
The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts on June 11, 2026, with the opening match, Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, at 3:00 pm ET (1:00 pm local time in Mexico City).
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The 2026 World Cup final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Kickoff is 3:00 pm ET, 2:00 pm CT, 12:00 pm PT, 8:00 pm BST, 9:00 pm CEST, and 12:30 am IST on July 20.
How many matches will be played in 2026?
104 matches in total, up from 64 in Qatar 2022. The increase reflects the expanded 48-team format and the new Round of 32.
Where can I see the full 2026 World Cup schedule?
The complete official schedule is at fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/scores-fixtures. The FIFA app also provides personalised alerts by team or venue.
Will match times vary by host country?
Yes. The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule spans three time zones across the host nations. All times in this guide are listed in ET. Use the time zone reference table at the top of this guide to convert to CT, PT, BST, CEST, or IST instantly. Note that Mexico City is 2 hours behind ET, not 1, as Mexico abolished Daylight Saving Time in 2023.
How long does the World Cup last?
39 days, running from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The longest FIFA World Cup in history, reflecting the expanded 48-team, 104-match format.
Can I attend matches in multiple countries?
Yes. Many fans will travel between the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Each country has its own entry requirements. The US requires ESTA (USD 21) for visa-waiver countries. Canada requires an eTA (CAD 7). Mexico is visa-free for most passport holders for stays under 60 days. Allow extra time at land border crossings on match days.
Disclaimer
This blog is based on the official FIFA match schedule confirmed in March 2026, verified sources including NBC Sports, NBC LA, and fifa.com, and publicly available information as of March 18, 2026. Kickoff times marked TBC are subject to confirmation once UEFA and inter-confederation playoffs are finalised. Always verify the latest schedule at fifa.com before making any travel or ticketing decisions. Jetpac is not responsible for schedule changes, network variations, or outcomes related to travel decisions made based on this content.
