A week-by-week FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule by Week makes it easy to plan your viewing around work, travel and other commitments. Here is the full 2026 World Cup broken down week by week.
WEEK 1: JUNE 11 TO JUNE 17
Stage: Group Stage Matchday 1
All 48 teams play their first match. Twenty-four group games. No team has been eliminated yet. The excitement of the opening week is unmatched.
Dates and key games:
Thursday June 11: Mexico vs. South Africa, 3 PM ET (opener)
Friday June 12: USA vs. Paraguay, 9 PM ET
Saturday June 13: Brazil vs. Morocco, 6 PM ET
Sunday June 14: Germany vs. Curaçao, 1 PM ET
Monday June 15: Spain vs. Cape Verde, Atlanta; Belgium vs. Egypt, Seattle
Tuesday June 16: France vs. Senegal, 3 PM ET; Argentina vs. Algeria, 9 PM ET
Wednesday June 17: England vs. Croatia, 4 PM ET; Portugal vs. IC PO-1 Winner, 1 PM ET
WEEK 2: JUNE 18 TO JUNE 24
Stage: Group Stage Matchday 2
Every team plays their second match. The table starts to take shape. Teams with one win are secure. Teams with one loss need a win. The tension increases.
Key games:
Thursday June 18: Mexico vs. South Korea; Canada vs. UEFA PO-A Winner
Friday June 19: USA vs. Australia, 3 PM ET; Brazil vs. Haiti, 6 PM ET
Saturday June 20: Netherlands vs. Iran; Germany vs. Ivory Coast
Sunday June 21: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, Atlanta; Jordan vs. Algeria
Monday June 22: France vs. IC PO-2 Winner; Argentina vs. Austria
Tuesday June 23: England vs. Ghana; Portugal vs. Uzbekistan
Wednesday June 24: Canada vs. Qatar, Vancouver; Morocco vs. Haiti
WEEK 3: JUNE 25 TO JULY 1
Stage: Group Stage Matchday 3 + Start of Round of 32
The group stage ends June 27. All final matchday games are simultaneous within each group.
Key final matchday dates:
Thursday June 25: Group D final games (USA + Australia/Paraguay)
Friday June 26: Groups G, H, I, J final games
Saturday June 27: Groups A, E, K, L final games
Round of 32 begins June 28:
Sunday June 28: 2 matches
Monday June 29: 2 matches
Tuesday June 30: 2 matches
WEEK 4: JULY 2 TO JULY 8
Stage: Round of 32 completion + Round of 16
Wednesday July 1: 2 Round of 32 matches
Thursday July 2: 2 Round of 32 matches
Friday July 3: Final 2 Round of 32 matches (16 teams eliminated)
Saturday July 4: Round of 16 begins (INDEPENDENCE DAY)
Sunday July 5: 2 Round of 16 matches
Monday July 6: Final Round of 16 matches
WEEK 5: JULY 9 TO JULY 15
Stage: Quarterfinals + Semifinals
Thursday July 9: Rest day after Round of 16
Friday July 10: Quarterfinal 1 (Los Angeles) + Quarterfinal 2 (Boston)
Saturday July 11: Quarterfinal 3 (Miami) + Quarterfinal 4 (Kansas City)
Sunday July 12: Rest
Monday July 13: Rest
Tuesday July 14: Semifinal 1, Dallas
Wednesday July 15: Semifinal 2, Atlanta
WEEK 6: JULY 16 TO JULY 19
Stage: Third-Place Match + Final
Thursday July 16: Rest
Friday July 17: Rest
Saturday July 18: Third-Place Match, Miami, 5 PM ET
Sunday July 19: WORLD CUP FINAL, MetLife Stadium NJ, 3 PM ET
The tournament ends July 19, 2026 at approximately 5:30 PM ET after the Final whistle and trophy ceremony.