Full 2026 FIFA World Cup Fixtures Released: All Match Dates, Venues And Kickoff Times Revealed

The stage is set for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which officially kicks off on Thursday across the Americas, with South Africa facing Mexico in the opening fixture.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The encounter is expected to revive memories of the 2010 tournament, when both nations also met in the opening match of a World Cup hosted by South Africa. That historic clash remains one of the most iconic opening games in World Cup history.

The 2026 edition marks a major milestone in global football, as it will be the first World Cup to feature an expanded 48-team format. The increase from 32 teams is expected to give more nations the opportunity to participate on football’s biggest stage while also significantly increasing the number of matches.

The tournament will feature teams from across the world competing over several weeks of action, drama, and national pride.

Africa will be represented by 10 countries, its highest-ever number of participants at a World Cup, raising hopes of a strong continental performance. South Africa, who feature in the opening match, will carry significant expectations as one of Africa’s representatives.

For both South Africa and Mexico, the opening fixture carries added historical significance and is expected to draw global attention due to the rivalry and the symbolism of the encounter.

2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Fixtures

Below is the full schedule of group stage matches for the tournament hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, starting June 11 (all kickoff times in GMT):

Thursday, June 11

• Mexico City: Group A – Mexico vs South Africa (1900 GMT)
• Guadalajara: Group A – South Korea vs Czech Republic (0200 GMT Friday)

Friday, June 12

• Toronto: Group B – Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (1900 GMT)
• Los Angeles: Group D – USA vs Paraguay (0100 GMT Saturday)

Saturday, June 13

• Santa Clara/San Francisco: Group B – Qatar vs Switzerland (1900 GMT)
• East Rutherford/New Jersey: Group C – Brazil vs Morocco (2200 GMT)
• Foxborough/Boston: Group C – Haiti vs Scotland (0100 GMT Sunday)
• Vancouver: Group D – Australia vs Turkey (0400 GMT Sunday)

Sunday, June 14

• Houston: Group E – Germany vs Curaçao (1700 GMT)
• Dallas/Arlington: Group F – Netherlands vs Japan (2000 GMT)
• Philadelphia: Group E – Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (2300 GMT)
• Monterrey: Group F – Sweden vs Tunisia (0200 GMT Monday)

Monday, June 15

• Atlanta: Group H – Spain vs Cape Verde (1600 GMT)
• Seattle: Group G – Belgium vs Egypt (1900 GMT)
• Miami: Group H – Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (2200 GMT)
• Los Angeles: Group G – Iran vs New Zealand (0100 GMT Tuesday)

Tuesday, June 16

• New Jersey: Group I – France vs Senegal (1900 GMT)
• Boston: Group I – Iraq vs Norway (2200 GMT)
• Kansas City: Group J – Argentina vs Algeria (0100 GMT Wednesday)
• San Francisco: Group J – Austria vs Jordan (0400 GMT Wednesday)

Wednesday, June 17

• Houston: Group K – Portugal vs DR Congo (1700 GMT)
• Dallas: Group L – England vs Croatia (2000 GMT)
• Toronto: Group L – Ghana vs Panama (2300 GMT)
• Mexico City: Group K – Uzbekistan vs Colombia (0200 GMT Thursday)

Thursday, June 18

• Atlanta: Group A – Czech Republic vs South Africa (1600 GMT)
• Los Angeles: Group B – Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina (1900 GMT)
• Vancouver: Group B – Canada vs Qatar (2200 GMT)
• Guadalajara: Group B – Mexico vs South Korea (0100 GMT Friday)

Friday, June 19

• Seattle: Group D – USA vs Australia (1900 GMT)
• Boston: Group C – Scotland vs Morocco (2200 GMT)
• Philadelphia: Group C – Brazil vs Haiti (0030 GMT)
• San Francisco: Group D – Turkey vs Paraguay (0300 GMT Saturday)

Saturday, June 20

• Houston: Group F – Netherlands vs Sweden (1700 GMT)
• Toronto: Group E – Germany vs Ivory Coast (2000 GMT)
• Kansas City: Group E – Ecuador vs Curaçao (0000 GMT)
• Monterrey: Group F – Tunisia vs Japan (0400 GMT Sunday)

Sunday, June 21

• Atlanta: Group H – Spain vs Saudi Arabia (1600 GMT)
• Los Angeles: Group G – Belgium vs Iran (1900 GMT)
• Miami: Group H – Uruguay vs Cape Verde (2200 GMT)
• Vancouver: Group G – New Zealand vs Egypt (0100 GMT Monday)

Monday, June 22

• Dallas: Group J – Argentina vs Austria (1700 GMT)
• Philadelphia: Group I – France vs Iraq (2100 GMT)
• New Jersey: Group I – Norway vs Senegal (0000 GMT Tuesday)
• San Francisco: Group J – Jordan vs Algeria (0300 GMT Tuesday)

Tuesday, June 23

• Houston: Group K – Portugal vs Uzbekistan (1700 GMT)
• Boston: Group L – England vs Ghana (2000 GMT)
• Toronto: Group L – Panama vs Croatia (2300 GMT)
• Guadalajara: Group K – Colombia vs DR Congo (0200 GMT Wednesday)

Wednesday, June 24

• Vancouver: Group B – Switzerland vs Canada (1900 GMT)
• Seattle: Group B – Bosnia vs Qatar (1900 GMT)
• Atlanta: Group C – Morocco vs Haiti (2200 GMT)
• Miami: Group C – Scotland vs Brazil (2200 GMT)
• Mexico City: Group A – Czech Republic vs Mexico (0100 GMT Thursday)
• Monterrey: Group A – South Africa vs South Korea (0100 GMT Thursday)

Thursday, June 25 to Sunday, July 19
The schedule continues through the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Third-place playoff, and the Final, culminating in the championship match in East Rutherford on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

The knockout stages will follow a single-elimination format, with teams progressing through each round based on match victories until the World Cup champion is crowned.