Additionally, it will host four group stage matches (Monday, June 15; Sunday, June 21; Wednesday, June 24; and Saturday, June 27); a Round of 32 match on July 3; and a Quarterfinal match on July 11.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 teams instead of 32, with a total of 104 matches (up from 64), including 78 games in the United States and 13 in Mexico and Canada across 16 venues. The tournament's 16 venues will be distributed as follows: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. The format will consist of 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams and the best eight third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 16. This means that the semi-finalists will play 8 matches, compared to the 7 played under the old system.
Where will the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup be played? The opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, which will become the only venue to have hosted matches in three different World Cups in the nearly 100-year history of the tournament. According to tradition, this match will feature the Mexican national team as the protagonist, awaiting the opponent determined by draw. This first match is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Where will the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup be played? The venue hosting the grand final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on Sunday, July 19, 2026. The stadium, with a capacity of 82,500 people, home to the New York Giants and New York Nets, will host a total of eight matches, including 5 in the group stage, one in the Round of 32, one in the Round of 16, and, of course, the final.
Additional key information (Highlights of the 2026 FIFA World Cup calendar) The first match to be played in Canada, hosting its first World Cup, will take place on June 12 at the BMO Field in Toronto.
Action in the United States, hosting the World Cup for the second time, will kick off at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on the same day. In other words, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will have "three opening matches". Mexico, Canada, and the United States are guaranteed to play their three group stage matches at home.
The semi-finals will be held in Atlanta and Dallas, and the third-place match will be in Miami. Dallas will host the most matches, with 9 including one of the semi-finals.
This is a consolation prize as the AT&T Stadium was initially earmarked to be selected for the final. The innovative schedule design ensures that teams enjoy three days of rest before 103 of the 104 tournament matches. Most matches will be concentrated in the East, Central, and West regions to save travel for both teams and fans.
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