World Cup 2026: 16 stadiums, full match schedule (with photos)

KATHMANDU: The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially got underway when the referee blew the whistle at 12:45 midnight Nepal time during the Mexico vs South Africa match on Thursday, marking the start of football’s grandest festival.

After a thrilling journey of 48 teams, 104 matches, and 39 days, the world will crown a new champion.

The tournament will be staged across 16 cities, including 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada.

The final will take place on 19 July at MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey, where teams reaching the final will play a total of eight matches.

1. Arrowhead Stadium

Constructed in 1972, Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri has a capacity of 73,000. It will host 6 matches (4 group stage, 2 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Argentina vs Algeria (16 June)
• Ecuador vs Curaçao (20 June)
• Tunisia vs Netherlands (25 June)
• Algeria vs Austria (27 June)
• Round of 16 (3 July)
• Quarter-final (11 July)

2. AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium)

Located in Arlington, Texas, this is the largest stadium of the tournament with a capacity of 94,000 (opened 2009). It will host 9 matches (5 group, 4 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Netherlands vs Japan (14 June)
• England vs Croatia (17 June)
• Argentina vs Austria (22 June)
• Japan vs Sweden (25 June)
• Jordan vs Algeria (27 June)
• Round of 32 (30 June & 3 July)
• Round of 16 (6 July)
• Semi-final (14 July)

3. Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium)

Located in Foxborough, Massachusetts, opened in 2002, capacity 65,000. Hosts 7 matches (5 group, 2 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Haiti vs Scotland (13 June)
• Iraq vs Norway (16 June)
• Scotland vs Morocco (19 June)
• England vs Ghana (23 June)
• Norway vs France (26 June)
• Round of 32 (29 June)
• Quarter-final (9 July)

4. Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Stadium)

Located in Miami Gardens, Florida, capacity 65,000, opened 1987. Hosted Copa América 2024 final. Total 7 matches (4 group, 3 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (15 June)
• Uruguay vs Cape Verde (21 June)
• Brazil vs Scotland (24 June)
• Colombia vs Portugal (27 June)
• Round of 32 (3 July)
• Quarter-final (11 July)
• Third-place match (18 July)

5. Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco Bay Area Stadium)

Located in Santa Clara, California, capacity 71,000, opened 2014. Hosts 6 matches (5 group, 1 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Qatar vs Switzerland (13 June)
• Austria vs Jordan (16 June)
• Turkey vs Paraguay (19 June)
• Jordan vs Algeria (22 June)
• Paraguay vs Australia (25 June)
• Round of 32 (1 July)

6. Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia Stadium)

Opened in 2003, capacity 69,000, home of Philadelphia Eagles. Hosts 6 matches (5 group, 1 Round of 16).

Fixtures:

• Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (14 June)
• Brazil vs Haiti (19 June)
• France vs Iraq (22 June)
• Curaçao vs Ivory Coast (25 June)
• Croatia vs Ghana (27 June)
• Round of 16 (4 July)

7. Lumen Field (Seattle Stadium)

Opened in 2002, capacity 69,000, hosts 6 matches (4 group, 2 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Belgium vs Egypt (15 June)
• USA vs Australia (19 June)
• Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar (24 June)
• Egypt vs Iran (26 June)
• Round of 32 (1 July)
• Round of 16 (6 July)

8. Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta Stadium)

Opened in 2017, capacity 75,000, iconic retractable roof stadium. Hosts 8 matches (5 group, 3 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Spain vs Cape Verde (15 June)
• Czech Republic vs South Africa (18 June)
• Spain vs Saudi Arabia (21 June)
• Morocco vs Haiti (24 June)
• Congo vs Uzbekistan (27 June)
• Round of 32 (1 July)
• Round of 16 (7 July)
• Semi-final (15 July)

9. MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey Stadium)

Located in East Rutherford, capacity 82,500, hosts the final on 19 July. Total 8 matches (5 group, 3 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Brazil vs Morocco (13 June)
• France vs Senegal (16 June)
• Norway vs Senegal (22 June)
• Ecuador vs Germany (25 June)
• Panama vs England (27 June)
• Round of 32 (30 June)
• Round of 16 (5 July)
• FINAL (19 July)

10. NRG Stadium (Houston Stadium)

Opened in 2002, capacity 72,000, hosts 7 matches (5 group, 2 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Germany vs Curaçao (14 June)
• Portugal vs Congo (17 June)
• Netherlands vs Sweden (20 June)
• Portugal vs Uzbekistan (23 June)
• Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia (26 June)
• Round of 32 (29 June)
• Round of 16 (4 July)

11. SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium)

Opened in 2020, capacity 70,000, hosts 8 matches (5 group, 3 knockout).

Fixtures:

• USA vs Paraguay (12 June)
• Iran vs New Zealand (15 June)
• Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (18 June)
• Belgium vs Iran (21 June)
• Turkey vs USA (25 June)
• Round of 32 (28 June & 2 July)
• Quarter-final (10 July)

12. Estadio Akron (Guadalajara Stadium)

Capacity 48,000, Mexico. Hosts 4 group matches.

Fixtures:

• South Korea vs Czech Republic (11 June)
• Mexico vs South Korea (11 June)
• Colombia vs Congo (23 June)
• Uruguay vs Spain (26 June)

13. Estadio Azteca (Mexico City Stadium)

Capacity 83,000, Mexico’s largest stadium, tournament opener venue. Hosts 5 matches.

Fixtures:

• Mexico vs South Africa (11 June)
• Colombia vs Uzbekistan (17 June)
• Mexico vs Czech Republic (24 June)
• Round of 32 (30 June)
• Round of 16 (6 July)

14. Estadio BBVA (Monterrey Stadium)

Capacity 53,500, extremely hot conditions expected (32°C+). Hosts 4 matches.

Fixtures:

• Tunisia vs Sweden (14 June)
• Tunisia vs Japan (20 June)
• South Korea vs South Africa (24 June)
• Round of 32 (29 June)

15. BMO Field (Toronto Stadium)

Capacity 45,000, Canada’s opening World Cup venue. Hosts 6 matches.

Fixtures:

• Canada vs Bosnia & Herzegovina (12 June)
• Ghana vs Panama (17 June)
• Germany vs Ivory Coast (20 June)
• Panama vs Croatia (23 June)
• Senegal vs Iraq (26 June)
• Round of 32 (2 July)

16. BC Place (Vancouver Stadium)

Opened in 1983, capacity 54,000, hosted 2015 Women’s World Cup final. Hosts 7 matches (5 group, 2 knockout).

Fixtures:

• Australia vs Turkey (13 June)
• Canada vs Qatar (18 June)
• New Zealand vs Egypt (21 June)
• Canada vs Switzerland (24 June)
• Belgium vs New Zealand (26 June)
• Round of 32 (2 July)
• Round of 16 (7 July)

Entire photos courtesy: Google