World Cup 2026 Schedule: Full Dates and Results

If your question is when is the World Cup 2026, the short answer is simple: the tournament ran from Thursday, June 11, 2026 to Sunday, July 19, 2026. Between those dates, FIFA scheduled 104 matches across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This page is built for readers who want the calendar shape first, then want the result path. Use it to understand stage order, rest windows, and the biggest date checkpoints before moving to the fixture table, the How to Watch guide, and the Ticket Guide.

If you came here from a German search, see the WM 2026 Spielplan bridge guide for a shorter overview before the full fixture table.

World Cup 2026 stage calendar at a glance

Start here if you want the cleanest stage-by-stage calendar view before opening fixtures, standings, replay, or ticket pages.

Key World Cup 2026 dates and results

If your goal is quick context, these are the World Cup dates that matter most for the tournament record, replay searches and final standings.

Group stage calendar: June 11 to June 27

The group stage lasted 17 days and accounted for 72 of the tournament's 104 matches. Every team played three matches, and those fixtures were spread across 12 groups from Group A to Group L. The tournament opened with Mexico 2-0 South Africa in Mexico City Stadium on June 11, then continued with Canada's opener in Toronto and the United States' opener in Los Angeles.

For fans checking the archive, this is the busiest part of the calendar. It is where you compare kickoff windows, final group tables, and whether a team moved from the group stage into the bracket. Keep the fixture table open alongside the final standings when you are tracing why each knockout path looked the way it did.

Knockout stage calendar: June 28 to July 19

The knockout phase began immediately after the group stage, starting with the new Round of 32 on June 28. That extra round is one of the biggest calendar changes in the 48-team format. From there, the tournament moved into the Round of 16 from July 4 to July 7, quarterfinals from July 9 to July 11, semifinals on July 15 and July 16, the third-place match on July 18, and the final on July 19.

Final weekend closed with England 6-4 France in the third-place match on July 18 and Spain 1-0 Argentina after extra time in the final on July 19.

The practical takeaway is that the calendar now works as a map of the bracket. Use the full match archive for every scoreline, then open the final standings for the group records behind the knockout field.

How to use this calendar after the tournament

A useful schedule archive should not stop at dates. Use the group-stage window to trace each team's starting point, then use the knockout dates to follow the route to Spain's title. If you are looking for replay or broadcast context, open the How to Watch page. If you are checking venue or attendance context, compare match dates and host-city logistics with the Ticket Guide.

• Use the fixture table when you need every match, venue, pairing and final score.
• Use the How to Watch guide when your main question is TV, streaming, replay, or free options.
• Use the Ticket Guide when your main question is sales phases, purchase safety, seat value or venue context.

FAQ

When is the World Cup 2026?

The 2026 World Cup ran from Thursday, June 11, 2026 to Sunday, July 19, 2026.

When does the knockout stage begin?

The knockout stage began on Sunday, June 28, 2026 with the Round of 32.

When is the 2026 World Cup final?

The final was played on Sunday, July 19, 2026 in New York New Jersey Stadium. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time.

Where can I see every World Cup 2026 fixture?

Use the fixture table for the complete list of matches, dates, venues, pairings and final scores.

What is the best way to use the schedule after the tournament?

Start with the stage calendar, then open the full fixture table for exact scorelines, venues, team pages, replay context and final standings. Pair this page with the How to Watch guide for replay context or the Ticket Guide for venue context.