When does the 2026 World Cup start?

Mexico vs South Africa · Estadio Azteca · kick-off times by city

Kick-off is at 1:00 PM Mexico City time (UTC -6).

Full 2026 World Cup schedule

• Final draw
  Dec 5, 2025
  Kennedy Center, Washington D.C. — 48 teams drawn into 12 groups.
• Opening match
  Jun 11, 2026
  Mexico vs South Africa · Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) · 1:00 PM local.
• End of group stage
  Jun 27, 2026
  Last matchday of Group L (England · Croatia · Ghana · Panama).
• Round of 32 begins
  Jun 29, 2026
  First-ever knockout round of 32 in World Cup history (48-team format).
• Round of 16
  Jul 4-7, 2026
  Eight matches to determine the quarter-finalists.
• Quarter-finals
  Jul 9-11, 2026
  Four matches. AT&T Stadium (Dallas), Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), Gillette Stadium (Boston).
• Semi-finals
  Jul 14-15, 2026
  AT&T Stadium (Dallas) and MetLife Stadium (New Jersey).
• Third-place play-off
  Jul 18, 2026
  Hard Rock Stadium (Miami).
• FINAL
  Jul 19, 2026
  MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) · 3:00 PM ET · 9:00 PM Madrid.

When does Spain play its opener?

Spain debut on Monday, June 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta against Cape Verde at 12:00 PM ET (6:00 PM Madrid). Next come Saudi Arabia (Philadelphia, June 20) and Uruguay (Guadalajara, June 25) to close the group stage. Spain is in Group H.

Quick summary

Start

Jun 11, 2026

Final

Jul 19, 2026

Teams

48 (record)

Matches

104

Duration

39 days

Venues

16 host cities

Countries

USA · Canada · Mexico

Final at

MetLife (NJ)

Source: FIFA · kick-off time zone confirmed by FMF and FIFA. URL: https://mundiales-de-futbol.com/2026/cuando-empieza.