World Cup 2026: What are the key dates from the opening match to the final?

From must-watch games to the expansive finale, here’s a database of each the important dates connected the 2026 World Cup schedule.

Block your calendar. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is here!

From superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane to young guns specified arsenic Lamine Yamal, Arda Guler, Yan Diomande and more, football’s brightest talents volition assemble successful North America.

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As the 39-day tourney kicks disconnected crossed the United States, Canada and Mexico, Al Jazeera outlines the cardinal dates and matches for you:

• June 11: Mexico vs South Africa – opening crippled of the 2026 World Cup successful Mexico City
• June 12: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA vs Paraguay – opening matches of the different cohosts
• June 14: Germany vs Curacao – Curacao go the smallest federation to play astatine a World Cup
• June 15: Spain vs Cape Verde – Cape Verde marque their World Cup debut
• June 16: Argentina vs Algeria, Austria vs Jordan – Argentina statesman their rubric defence, and Lionel Messi starts his sixth World Cup campaign; Jordan play their archetypal World Cup match
• June 17: Portugal vs Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uzbekistan vs Colombia  – Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo makes his sixth World Cup appearance; Uzbekistan play astatine a World Cup for the archetypal time
• June 27: Group signifier ends

From left, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo are each acceptable to bargain the World Cup spotlight again [File: Getty Images]

• June 28-July 3: circular of 32
• July 4-7: circular of 16
• July 9-11: quarterfinals
• July 14-15: semifinals
• July 18: bronze match
• July 19: World Cup final

The champion group-stage World Cup matches:

In bid of their dates

• June 13: Brazil vs Morocco (Group C)
• June 14: Netherlands vs Japan (Group F)
• June 16: France vs Senegal (Group I)
• June 17: England vs Croatia (Group L)
• June 18: Mexico vs South Korea (Group A)
• June 20: Germany vs Ivory Coast (Group E)
• June 20: Netherlands vs Sweden (Group F)
• June 22: Norway vs Senegal (Group I)
• June 22: Argentina vs Austria (Group J)
• June 24: South Africa vs South Korea (Group A)
• June 25: Japan vs Sweden (Group F)
• June 26: Norway vs France (Group I)
• June 26: Uruguay vs Spain (Group H)
• June 27: Colombia vs Portugal (Group K)

Neymar is backmost successful Brazil’s squad arsenic they pursuit what would beryllium a record-extending sixth World Cup [Ricardo Moraes/Reuters]

The FIFA World Cup begins connected June 11. You tin travel the enactment connected Al Jazeera’s dedicated World Cup 2026 leafage with each the latest news, lucifer build-up and unrecorded substance commentary and support up to day with radical standings, real-time lucifer results and schedules.