The biggest World Cup ever played kicks off on Thursday, June 11, 2026 — 48 teams, 104 matches, 16 stadiums across three countries, and for the first time since 1994, the tournament is on US soil. Here’s the practical guide: when the games are, what time to tune in, and where to watch.
Key dates
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Opening match (Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca) | Thu, June 11 — 3 p.m. ET |
| Group stage (72 matches, 12 groups) | June 11 – June 27 |
| Round of 32 (new!) | late June – early July |
| Final (MetLife Stadium, New Jersey) | Sun, July 19 — 3 p.m. ET |
The tournament runs 39 days — ten days longer than Qatar 2022. The expanded format sends the top two from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-placed teams into a brand-new Round of 32, which means the eventual champion plays eight matches instead of seven.
Kickoff windows in Eastern Time
Unlike recent World Cups with their early-morning alarm clocks, this one is built for North American prime time. Group-stage kickoffs cluster in four daily windows:
- 12 p.m. ET — the lunchtime slot
- 3 p.m. ET — the marquee afternoon window (opening match and final both sit here)
- 5–6 p.m. ET — early evening
- 9–11 p.m. ET — late games, mostly from the Mexican venues
During the group stage you’ll get up to four matches a day. West Coast viewers: subtract three hours, which puts the late Mexico games at a comfortable 6–8 p.m. PT.
Where to watch in the US
| Broadcaster | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fox | 70 matches on the FOX network | opening match, final, marquee games |
| FS1 | the remaining 34 | cable |
| Telemundo | 92 matches free over-the-air (Spanish) | remaining 12 on Universo |
| Peacock | full streaming access (Spanish coverage) | subscription |
Streaming options for the English feed include the usual live-TV services (YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, DirecTV Stream).
Make the group stage actually matter: run a prediction game
A 104-match tournament is a marathon, and the group stage is where casual viewers drift. The fix that works every World Cup: a prediction game with your friends, office or fantasy league. The expanded format is genuinely kinder to players this time — early mistakes can be clawed back over six weeks, and the best-third-place permutations reward people who actually watch Curaçao vs Ecuador. We’ve compared the options in the best World Cup 2026 prediction games guide; if fantasy is more your thing, there’s a separate rundown of fantasy manager games for the World Cup.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the World Cup final? 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — an afternoon final, scheduled with European TV audiences in mind.
How many matches are there per day? Up to four during the group stage, spread between noon and 11 p.m. ET.
Is every match televised in the US? Yes — all 104 matches air across Fox/FS1 in English and Telemundo/Universo in Spanish, with streaming via Peacock and the live-TV platforms.
What’s the Round of 32? A new knockout round created by the 48-team expansion. Twelve group winners, twelve runners-up and the eight best third-placed teams advance — so 32 of the 48 teams survive the groups.