When does the 2026 World Cup start and end?
The 2026 World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, with the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and ends with the final on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium near New York City. It runs 39 days, with the group stage from June 11–27 and the knockout rounds from June 28.
- 1The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026 — 39 days[1]
- 2The opening match is Mexico vs. South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026[2]
- 3The group stage runs June 11–27; the knockout round of 32 begins June 28[1]
- 4The final is on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium[1]
The 2026 World Cup runs across 39 days of summer soccer.
When does it start?
It kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — the first stadium ever to host three World Cup openers.
When does it end?
It ends with the final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium near New York City, 39 days after the opener.
What's the schedule in between?
The group stage runs June 11–27, with games almost every day. The knockout rounds begin on June 28 and build toward the July 19 final.
It's a 39-day event that builds like an NFL postseason stretched across five-plus weeks: a busy opening period with games nearly every day (the group stage), then fewer but bigger games as you approach the championship Sunday — the final, soccer's Super Bowl.
Key Takeaways
- It starts June 11, 2026 with the opener at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
- It ends July 19 with the final at MetLife Stadium — 39 days, group stage June 11–27, knockouts from June 28.
- Wikipedia — 2026 FIFA World Cup(accessed 2026-06-01)
- FIFA — World Cup 2026 hosts, cities and dates(accessed 2026-06-01)