The 2026 World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July, a 39-day stretch packed with 104 matches. Here is how the calendar breaks down so you know what to watch and when.
Group stage
The 12 groups play out across the opening fortnight, with each of the 48 teams playing three matches. That is 72 group-stage games in total, far more than the 48 of previous tournaments, so there is football almost every day from the very start.
The knockout rounds
The knockout phase opens with the new Round of 32 from late June, followed by the Round of 16 in early July. The quarter-finals are played across the second week of July, with the two semi-finals just after. A third-place play-off takes place the day before the showpiece.
The final
It all builds to the final on 19 July. Eight wins separate the champions from the rest, the most ever required to lift the trophy. Use the date selector on our homepage to jump to any matchday and see the fixtures and results for that day.