2026 World Cup schedule: See where, when and who your team plays

The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw was an entertaining, colorful, and at times somewhat baffling ceremony. When the dust settled, soccer fans knew which teams would face which opponents, and where those games would take place. The tournament features an expanded field, with more games and venues across North America, as 48 teams compete rather than 32.

Key takeaways:

Locations: Games will be held in multiple cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Matches: The schedule outlines group-stage matchups followed by the knockout rounds, culminating in the final at a designated host city.
Format changes: With the expansion to 48 teams, the group stage structure, the number of groups, and the path to the knockout rounds have been adjusted to accommodate the larger field.
Accessibility: The draw aimed to balance competitive fairness with geographic and broadcast considerations, ensuring broad global access to the event.

Notable quotes:

“The ceremony celebrated the global nature of the World Cup and the excitement of fans around the world.”
“This edition expands opportunities for teams from different regions to compete on soccer’s biggest stage.”

Context and implications:

The schedule is designed to maximize fan engagement by clustering games in popular markets while spreading some fixtures to newer venues.
Teams need to prepare for longer travel itineraries and a condensed group-stage timetable due to the larger tournament size.

Author’s summary: The 2026 World Cup schedule showcases a broad, multi-country footprint with expanded teams and a reimagined format intended to boost global access while maintaining high-stakes competition.

CNN — 2025-12-06

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