FIFA announced the schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup several months ago, with the final to be held on Sunday, July 19, 2026, and begin with the Mexican national team’s match on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Like Mexico, the Canadian and U.S. national teams will also play their three group games at home. Canada will begin its World Cup campaign in Toronto on Friday, June 12, 2026, while the United States will begin the same day in Los Angeles.
“The most comprehensive and impactful FIFA World Cup has gone from dream to reality, with 104 matches played in 16 state-of-the-art stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the United States,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “From the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca to the spectacular final in New York and New Jersey, players and fans have meticulously planned this landmark tournament.”
The most comprehensive and far-reaching FIFA World Cup is no longer a dream but a reality
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The finals will be held on Sunday, July 19th in New York/New Jersey, followed by Toronto (Canada), Mexico City (Mexico) and Los Angeles (USA).
We will host the debut match of each national team.
Canada, Mexico and the United States are guaranteed to play three group stage games in front of their home fans. At this stage, Guadalajara, Vancouver and Seattle have also been selected to host matches, with Miami hosting the bronze final and Dallas and Atlanta hosting the much-anticipated semi-finals. Dallas will host nine games, more than any other host city. The innovative schedule design will ensure teams have three days of rest before 103 of the tournament’s 104 games. Most games will be concentrated in the eastern, central and western regions to save on travel for both teams and fans.
The key to getting through the group stage
Two matches will be played on the first day of the tournament, the opening match in Mexico City and a match in Guadalajara, and two matches will be played on the second day.
: One by the Canadian national team and one by the U.S. team.
The final four matches of the group stage will consist of six matches each. To ensure the integrity of the competition, matches from the same group will be played at the same time. All other matches in the group stage will consist of four matches per day in four different time slots. Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca will go down in FIFA World Cup history as the first to host the opening match three times. Canada hosted its first ever World Cup, complementing its extensive experience as host of major FIFA Women’s and Youth tournaments, including the successful FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015. The United States will host the FIFA World Cup for the second time, following the historic 1994 tournament. Via MARCA.com and Radio MARCA
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