The largest World Cup ever staged has arrived, bringing an unprecedented 48-team field, 104 matches and 38 days of action across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada. By the end of it, a new world champion will be crowned in a tournament unlike any before it.
The expanded competition features every previous World Cup winner except Italy, along with four nations making their tournament debuts: Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
For the United States, hosting the World Cup for a second time comes with enormous pressure. This American squad — long labeled a “golden generation” — has yet to fully deliver on the promise that followed its run to the knockout stage in 2022. Now, on home soil, the challenge is not only to win but to capture the attention of a wider national audience. Similar questions surround fellow co-hosts Mexico and Canada as they prepare for the spotlight.
Among the early favorites are defending champion Argentina, with what is widely expected to be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup appearance. The same sense of farewell surrounds several of the game’s biggest names, including Messi’s longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo. It is difficult to imagine stars such as Neymar, Luka Modric and perhaps even Mohamed Salah still featuring prominently by the time the 2030 tournament arrives.
How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup
France will aim to regain the trophy it lifted in 2018 before falling short in a dramatic final four years later. Spain enters as a popular pick among many observers, while Brazil, Portugal and England are also expected to be firmly in the title conversation.
FIFA World Cup schedule
All told, the tournament appears set to deliver the kind of drama, storylines and spectacle that define the World Cup. Here is how fans can follow the action.
Friday, June 12
Canada 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1
USMNT 4, Paraguay 1
Qatar 1, Switzerland 1
Brazil 1, Morocco 1
Scotland 1, Haiti 0
Australia 2, Turkiye 0
Germany 7, Curacao 1
Netherlands 2, Japan 2
Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0
Sweden 5, Tunisia 1
Monday, June 15
Spain vs. Cabo Verde, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Egypt, 3 p.m.
Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, 6 p.m.
Iran vs. New Zealand, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, June 16
France vs. Senegal, 3 p.m.
Iraq vs. Norway, 6 p.m.
Argentina vs. Algeria, 9 p.m.
Wednesday, June 17
Austria vs. Jordan, 12 a.m.
Portugal vs. DR Congo, 1 p.m.
England vs. Croatia, 4 p.m.
Ghana vs. Panama, 7 p.m.
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, 10 p.m.
Czechia vs. South Africa, 12 p.m.
Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 p.m.
Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m.
Mexico vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.
Friday, June 19
Scotland vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
USA vs. Australia, 3 p.m.
Brazil vs. Haiti, 9 p.m.
Turkiye vs. Paraguay, 12 a.m.
Netherlands vs. Sweden, 1 p.m.
Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Ecuador vs. Curacao, 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 21
Tunisia vs. Japan, 12 a.m.
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12 p.m.
Belgium vs. Iran, 3 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Cabo Verde, 6 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 22
Argentina vs. Austria, 1 p.m.
France vs. Iraq, 5 p.m.
Norway vs. Senegal, 8 p.m.
Jordan vs. Algeria, 11 p.m.
Tuesday, June 23
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, 1 p.m.
England vs. Ghana, 4 p.m.
Panama vs. Croatia, 7 p.m.
Colombia vs. DR Congo, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs. Canada, 3 p.m.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, 3 p.m.
Scotland vs. Brazil, 6 p.m.
Morocco vs. Haiti, 6 p.m.
Czechia vs. Mexico, 9 p.m.
South Africa vs. South Korea, 9 p.m.
Thursday, June 25
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4 p.m.
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast, 4 p.m.
Japan vs. Sweden, 7 p.m.
Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 7 p.m.
Turkiye vs. USA, 10 p.m.
Paraguay vs. Australia, 10 p.m.
Friday, June 26
Norway vs. France, 3 p.m.
Senegal vs. Iraq, 3 p.m.
Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, 8 p.m.
Uruguay vs. Spain, 8 p.m.
Egypt vs. Iran, 11 p.m.
New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11 p.m.
Panama vs. England, 5 p.m.
Croatia vs. Ghana, 5 p.m.
Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 p.m.
DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, 7:30 p.m.
Algeria vs. Austria, 10 p.m.
Jordan vs. Argentina, 10 p.m.
Knockouts
Round of 32
Sunday, June 28
Runners-up A vs. Runners-up B, 3 p.m.
Monday, June 29
Winners C vs. Runners-up F, 1 p.m.
Winners E vs. Best 3rd (A/B/C/D/F), 4:30 p.m.
Winners F vs. Runners-up C, 9 p.m.
Runners-up E vs. Runners-up I, 1 p.m.
Winners I vs. Best 3rd (C/D/F/G/H), 5 p.m.
Winners A vs. Best 3rd (C/E/F/H/I), 9 p.m.
Wednesday, July 1
Winners L vs. Best 3rd (E/H/I/J/K), 12 p.m.
Winners G vs. Best 3rd (A/E/H/I/J), 4 p.m.
Winners D vs. Best 3rd (B/E/F/I/J), 8 p.m.
Winners H vs. Runners-up J, 3 p.m.
Runners-up K vs. Runners-up L, 7 p.m.
Winners B vs. Best 3rd (E/F/G/I/J), 11 p.m.
Friday, July 3
Runners-up D vs. Runners-up G, 2 p.m.
Winners J vs. Runners-up H, 6 p.m.
Winners K vs. Best 3rd (D/E/I/J/L), 9:30 p.m.
Round of 16
Saturday, July 4
TBD, 1 p.m.
TBD, 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 5
TBD, 4 p.m.
TBD, 8 p.m.
Monday, July 6
TBD, 3 p.m.
TBD, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 7
TBD, 12 p.m.
TBD, 4 p.m.
Quarterfinals
Thursday, July 9
TBD, 4 p.m.
Friday, July 10
TBD, 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 11
TBD, 5 p.m.
TBD, 9 p.m.
Semifinals
Tuesday, July 14
TBD, 3 p.m.
Wednesday, July 15
TBD, 3 p.m.
Third-Place match
Saturday, July 18
TBD, 5 p.m.
Final
Sunday, July 19
TBD, 3 p.m.
