World Cup 2026 schedule: Mexico City's Azteca to host opening match, final set for New Jersey's MetLife Stadium

The 2026 World Cup finals will begin at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico on June 11, with New Jersey's MetLife Stadium set to host the stadium on July 19.

The schedule has been released for the next edition of football’s biggest international tournament, which is returning to its customary summer timeslot after a historic winter event in Qatar in 2022.

This will be the first 48-team World Cup, with matches spread across Canada, the United States and Mexico, after the final 32-team competition took place in Qatar.

The 48 teams will be split up into 12 groups of four, with a round of 32 set to be debuted for the first time.

Mexico has hosted two World Cups in their own right in 1970 and 1986, while the USA staged the competition in 1994.

The Azteca Stadium held the 1986 World Cup final as an Argentina team led by Diego Maradona secured their second World Cup title. The two other Mexican venues will be in Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Canada will have two venues at opposite ends of the country in Toronto and Vancouver, with the former set to host five group stage fixtures including Canada’s opening group match on June 12.

The United States will begin their campaign in Los Angeles on June 12, with LA one of eight cities from the country, which also includes Boston, Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York, Houston, Seattle and San Francisco.

June 11-27: Group stage: Matches to be held in Vancouver. Toronto, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Seattle, San Francisco. Los Angeles, Houston. Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta. Miami, Boston, Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey

June 29 - July 3: Round of 32: Matches to be held across all the host cities, with Guadalajara and Philadelphia the two exceptions. Los Angeles and Dallas will have two games each.

July 4-7: Round of 16: Matches will be hosted in Vancouver, Seattle, Mexico City, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey.

July 9-11: Quarter-finals: Games will be played in Los Angeles, Kansas City, Miami and Boston.

July 14-15: Semi-finals: Matches in Dallas and Atlanta

July 19: Final: New York/New Jersey

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