World Cup 2026 by the numbers
- 104 matches total — up from 64 in 2022 (62% increase)
- 48 teams competing — up from 32, the largest field in FIFA history
- 12 groups of 4 — replacing the previous 8 groups of 4 format
- 39 days of football — June 11 through July 19, 2026
- 16 host cities — 11 in the USA, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Canada
- Opening match — Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- Final — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
The 16 host cities and stadiums
| City | Country | Stadium | Capacity | Notable matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | Mexico | Estadio Azteca | 87,000 | Opening match (June 11) |
| New Jersey | USA | MetLife Stadium | 82,500 | Final (July 19) |
| Dallas | USA | AT&T Stadium | 80,000 | Semi-final |
| Los Angeles | USA | SoFi Stadium | 70,000 | Knockout matches |
| Atlanta | USA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 | Knockout matches |
| Kansas City | USA | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,000 | Group + knockout |
| Boston | USA | Gillette Stadium | 65,000 | Group + R32 |
| Houston | USA | NRG Stadium | 72,000 | Group + R16 |
| Miami | USA | Hard Rock Stadium | 65,000 | Group + R16 |
| Philadelphia | USA | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,000 | Group + R32 |
| San Francisco | USA | Levi's Stadium | 68,500 | Group + R32 |
| Seattle | USA | Lumen Field | 68,000 | Group + R16 |
| Toronto | Canada | BMO Field | 45,500 | Group stage |
| Vancouver | Canada | BC Place | 54,500 | Group + R32 |
| Guadalajara | Mexico | Estadio Akron | 48,000 | Group stage |
| Monterrey | Mexico | Estadio BBVA | 53,500 | Group + R32 |
Tournament phases & dates
- 1
Group stage — June 11 to June 27 (17 days, 72 matches)
12 groups × 6 matches each. Top 2 from each group + best 8 third-placed teams advance. Two matches per day rising to 6/day during the final group-stage matchdays.
- 2
Round of 32 — June 28 to July 3 (16 matches)
New round introduced with the 48-team format. Single-elimination — no second chances.
- 3
Round of 16 — July 4 to July 7 (8 matches)
Two matches per day. Traditional knockout intensity begins.
- 4
Quarter-finals — July 9 to July 11 (4 matches)
One match per day. The four QF venues are AT&T (Dallas), MetLife (NJ), SoFi (LA), and Mercedes-Benz (Atlanta).
- 5
Semi-finals — July 14 to July 15 (2 matches)
Both matches at AT&T Stadium, Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Kickoffs 15:00 and 21:00 ET.
- 6
Third-place playoff — July 18 (1 match)
Miami, Hard Rock Stadium. Traditionally one of the most open matches of the tournament.
- 7
Final — July 19, 15:00 ET / 21:00 CET (1 match)
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. Capacity 82,500. The biggest single-event audience in streaming history is projected for this kickoff.
Kickoff times by region (peak windows)
FIFA confirmed kickoff slots optimised for both North American prime-time AND European afternoon viewing. Most matches fall in these windows:
| Slot | ET (US East) | PT (US West) | CET (Europe) | BST (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoon slot | 12:00 / 15:00 | 09:00 / 12:00 | 18:00 / 21:00 | 17:00 / 20:00 |
| Prime-time slot | 18:00 / 21:00 | 15:00 / 18:00 | 00:00 / 03:00 (+1d) | 23:00 / 02:00 (+1d) |
| Final (July 19) | 15:00 | 12:00 | 21:00 | 20:00 |
How to stream every match in your timezone
Two requirements to watch every match: (1) feed access for the 104 games, and (2) an EPG that shows them in your local time.
- 1
Get all-feed access
No single country's broadcaster covers all 104 matches. The most cost-effective way to access every feed is a premium IPTV like Royal IPTV — $14.90 for the 1-month plan covers the entire tournament.
- 2
Install IPTV Smarters Pro or TiviMate
Both have built-in EPG support. Set your timezone in the app preferences so kickoffs display in local time.
- 3
Favourite the World Cup channel group
Pin the World Cup category to the top so you can switch between live matches in 2 taps. Set kickoff alerts 15 min before each match.
- 4
Pre-test 3-5 days before June 11
Open a 4K channel during another live event (Champions League final, NBA Playoffs) to confirm stream stability before the actual tournament kicks off.
Standout matches not to miss
- Opening match — June 11, Mexico City — Mexico vs TBC at the historic Estadio Azteca (the only stadium to host 3 World Cup matches)
- USA's debut as co-host — group-stage opener for Team USA, traditionally a huge ratings draw
- The first Round of 32 matches — June 28-29, single-elimination intensity begins
- Quarter-finals weekend — July 11-12, four matches that will narrow 8 → 4
- Both semi-finals — July 14 and July 15 — historically the most-watched matches after the final
- Final — July 19, MetLife Stadium — kickoff 15:00 ET / 21:00 CET. Largest projected streaming event in history.
