Ultimate Guide to FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule & Fixtures (IST)
The highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to be the biggest tournament in football history, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With expanded groups and thrilling matchups, fans worldwide are eagerly marking their calendars. If you are tracking the action from India, this complete guide provides the entire World Cup 2026 schedule in IST (Indian Standard Time).
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Fixtures (Groups A - F)
The group stages kick off on June 12, 2026, with host nation Mexico taking on South Africa. Here are the confirmed dates, times (IST), and venues for the first half of the groups.
Group A & B Highlights
- June 12, 12:30 a.m. IST: Mexico vs South Africa (Group A) – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
- June 13, 12:30 a.m. IST: Canada vs UEFA Path A Winner (Group B) – BMO Field, Toronto
- June 14, 12:30 a.m. IST: Qatar vs Switzerland (Group B) – Levi’s Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
Group C & D Highlights
- June 13, 06:30 a.m. IST: USA vs Paraguay (Group D) – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
- June 14, 03:30 a.m. IST: Brazil vs Morocco (Group C) – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
- June 20, 12:30 a.m. IST: USA vs Australia (Group D) – Lumen Field, Seattle
Group E & F Highlights
- June 14, 10:30 p.m. IST: Germany vs Curacao (Group E) – NRG Stadium, Houston
- June 15, 01:30 a.m. IST: Netherlands vs Japan (Group F) – AT&T Stadium, Dallas
- June 21, 01:30 a.m. IST: Germany vs Ivory Coast (Group E) – BMO Field, Toronto
World Cup 2026 Group Stage Fixtures (Groups G - L)
The action continues across major North American venues with heavyweights like Argentina, Spain, France, and England looking to secure their spots in the Round of 32.
Group G & H Highlights
- June 15, 09:30 p.m. IST: Spain vs Cape Verde (Group H) – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- June 16, 12:30 a.m. IST: Belgium vs Egypt (Group G) – Lumen Field, Seattle
- June 21, 09:30 p.m. IST: Spain vs Saudi Arabia (Group H) – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Group I, J, K & L Highlights
- June 17, 12:30 a.m. IST: France vs Senegal (Group I) – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
- June 17, 06:30 a.m. IST: Argentina vs Algeria (Group J) – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
- June 18, 01:30 a.m. IST: England vs Croatia (Group L) – AT&T Stadium, Dallas
- June 24, 12:30 a.m. IST: England vs Ghana (Group L) – Gillette Stadium, Boston
FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage Dates
For the first time, the tournament will feature a Round of 32, expanding the knockout drama. The Round of 32 matches begin on June 29, 2026, hosted at venues like SoFi Stadium and NRG Stadium, and will run through July 3, 2026.
Following this, the Round of 16 will take place from July 4 to July 8, 2026 across stadiums in Houston, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Mexico City, Dallas, Seattle, Atlanta, and Vancouver.
The Quarter-Finals are scheduled for:
- July 10, 2026 (Gillette Stadium, Boston)
- July 11, 2026 (SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles)
- July 12, 2026 (Hard Rock Stadium, Miami)
- July 12, 2026 (Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City)
Semi-Finals & World Cup 2026 Final
The climax of the tournament will take place in the latter half of July. The Semi-Finals are set for:
- July 15, 2026 (12:30 a.m. IST): AT&T Stadium, Dallas
- July 16, 2026 (12:30 a.m. IST): Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
The highly anticipated FIFA World Cup Final will be held on July 20, 2026, at 12:30 a.m. IST at the iconic MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The 3rd Place match will occur a day prior on July 19 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final being played?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 20, 2026.
When does the World Cup 2026 start?
The tournament officially begins on June 12, 2026, with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Which stadiums are hosting the semi-finals?
The semi-final matches will be hosted at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on July 15, 2026, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on July 16, 2026.
Are all these match times in IST?
Yes, all times listed in this schedule have been converted to Indian Standard Time (IST) for the convenience of fans watching from India.
