Key points to know
- The World Cup will start on 11 June and the final will take place on 19 July.
- The first World Cup tournament in history to be hosted by three countries – Canada, Mexico and the USA.
- The group stage will take place from 11-27 June and the Round of 32 will start on 28 June.
- Only in the third round of the group stage will matches be played at the same time.
- The tournament will consist of 104 matches and the finalists will play eight matches each throughout the tournament.
- The matches will take place in 16 different cities across three countries.
Key dates of the FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup will kick off on 11 June with the opening match Mexico-PAR at 22:00 Lithuanian time. The first round of the group stage will take place from 11 to 17 June, the second round from 18 to 23 June and the decisive group matches will be played from 24 to 27 June.
The table below shows all the main stages of the 2026 tournament. Times have been converted to Lithuanian time (summer GMT+3).
| Stage | Round | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | round 1 | 11-17 June |
| round 2 | 18-23 June | |
| round 3 | 24-27 June | |
| Play-offs | round of 32 | 28 June – 3 July |
| round of 16 | 4-7 July | |
| Quarter-finals | 9-11 July | |
| Semi-finals | 14-15 July | |
| Minor Finals | 18 July, 00:00 (LT) | |
| Finals | 19 July, 22:00 (LT) |
Highlights of the group stage matches
The expansion of the number of teams from 32 to 48 has increased the number of matches. A total of 104 matches will be played this year. Bets on the first two rounds of the group stage can be placed before the tournament starts – the odds are prepared in advance so there is plenty of time for analysis.
The group stage will consist of 72 matches from 11 to 27 June. Below are the most interesting matches with Lithuanian time.
| Matches | Date | Time (LT) |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico – PAR | 11 June | 22:00 |
| Brazil – Morocco | 14 June | 01:00 |
| Netherlands – Japan | 14 June | 23:00 |
| Belgium – Egypt | 15 June | 22:00 |
| France – Senegal | 16 June | 22:00 |
| Argentina – Algeria | 17 June | 04:00 |
| England – Croatia | 17 June | 23:00 |
| Mexico – South Korea | 19 June | 04:00 |
| Japan – Sweden | 26 June | 02:00 |
| Turkey – USA | 26 June | 05:00 |
| Norway – France | 26 June | 23:00 |
| Uruguay – Spain | 27 June | 03:00 |
Highlights of the 2026 World Cup schedule
the 2026 FIFA World Cup will follow a new format. It is important to remember that not only the number of participants and matches has changed, but also the structure of the play-off round.
A round of 32 has been added to the play-offs, with the top two teams from each group along with the top eight third-placed teams.
The change in format alters the importance of the match
The change in format means that more intriguing matches will be played. In the past, everything was often decided in the decisive duels of the group stage, with some teams playing without a starting line-up. Now, even in the last group matches, it will be possible to secure a place in the play-offs.
This means fewer “pointless” duels, with almost every game meaningful for at least one team. This is a good sign for bettors, as a motivated team is more likely to show its true potential.
Practical tips for betting in the Championship
When betting on the tournament and following the schedule, we recommend paying attention to a few points:
- The group stage will consist of 72 matches – a large enough number to find worthwhile bets.
- If profitability is the goal, avoid betting on every match – selectivity is more important than quantity.
- The first group matches are deceptive as it is unclear what form the teams will show.
- We recommend betting smaller amounts at the start of the tournament and increasing them as the tournament progresses.
- The decisive group matches and play-offs tend to be the most valuable bets.
- the 12 groups and 48 teams mean that there is a clear hierarchy in most groups – a clear favourite and a clear outsider.
Betting opportunities during the tournament
The three-week group stage will offer more than 70 matches. This is a huge betting flow that requires a reliable platform with deep in-play markets and fast odds updates. When choosing a bookmaker, it's worth comparing the best bookmakers according to your priorities.
For beginners, it is useful to review the live online betting guide, which explains the logic behind in-play solutions. In lopsided matches where the odds of winning offer little value, the alternative is over under betting or the team's individual goal total.
For more detailed information on the line-up of the main favourites, you can check out the individual overviews of Spain at the 2026 World Cup, France at the 2026 World Cup and Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. For the full list of participants, see the FIFA World Cup 2026 Participants article.
Responsible betting over the six-week tournament
The World Cup lasts almost six weeks, with matches taking place almost every day – some even at night, Lithuanian time. This rhythm increases the risk of chasing losses or betting just for fun.
Set a deposit limit for the entire tournament before the first match. For practical advice on how to stay disciplined, please refer to the responsible gambling guide.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule FAQ
When and where the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place
the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from 11 June to 19 July in Canada, Mexico and the United States. It is the first tournament in history with three hosts.
When will the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals take place
The final will be played on 19 July at MetLife Stadium. The match will kick off at 22:00 Lithuanian time.
When the group stage ends and the play-offs begin
The group stage will end on 27 June and the Round of 32 will start the very next day, 28 June.
Will the group matches take place at the same time
The group matches will be played at different times as the tournament will take place in three countries with different time zones. In the first two rounds of the group stage, the matches will be played consecutively, with no matches taking place simultaneously. Only in the third group round will matches in the same group be played at the same time.
Which cities will host FIFA World Cup matches
The matches will take place in 16 cities: Dallas, Mexico City, East Rutherford, Atlanta, Kansas City, Houston, Santa Clara, Inglewood, Philadelphia, Seattle, Foxborough, Miami Gardens, Vancouver, Guadalupe, Sapporo and Toronto.
Total number of matches in the 2026 tournament
A total of 104 matches will be played – 72 in the group stage and 32 in the play-offs. The finalists will play eight matches throughout the tournament.
How the new format differs from previous tournaments
The main difference is the addition of a 32-round stage to the play-offs. This means that not only the top two teams from each group will qualify, but also the top eight third-placed teams.
What time in Lithuania will the tournament matches take place?
Most of the matches will take place in the evening or night hours in Lithuania due to time zone differences. The most convenient viewing time is European evening (20:00-01:00 LT) and the least convenient is the US West Coast (03:00-05:00 LT).
