The 2026 FIFA World Cup started on Thursday, 11 June 2026 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where host Mexico played the opening match against South Africa at 13:00 local time. The tournament is now underway and runs for 39 days, ending with the final on 19 July 2026.
So if you’re asking when does the World Cup start — it has already kicked off, but with 104 matches across 16 host cities still to play, here’s the full schedule, kickoff times in your time zone, and how to follow the rest of the tournament.
When Does the 2026 World Cup Start?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup started on Thursday, 11 June 2026, with kickoff at 13:00 Mexico City local time (UTC-6). It runs for 39 days — the longest World Cup ever — and ends with the final on 19 July 2026.
The start date anchors everything else: travel windows, ticket-release phases, training camps, and broadcast scheduling all map back to 11 June.
Kickoff Times Around the World
For viewers outside Mexico, the opener fell in the evening across Europe and the GCC, and after midnight across South and Southeast Asia. The same conversions apply to most early matches — they are based on 13:00 Mexico City local time.
| City | Kickoff Time | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico City (kickoff city) | 13:00 | 11 June 2026 |
| London | 20:00 | 11 June 2026 |
| Cairo | 22:00 | 11 June 2026 |
| Riyadh / Doha / Kuwait City / Manama | 22:00 | 11 June 2026 |
| Dubai / Abu Dhabi / Muscat | 23:00 | 11 June 2026 |
| Karachi | 00:00 | 12 June 2026 |
| Delhi / Mumbai / Colombo | 00:30 | 12 June 2026 |
| Dhaka | 01:00 | 12 June 2026 |
| Bangkok / Jakarta | 02:00 | 12 June 2026 |
| Kuala Lumpur / Singapore / Manila | 03:00 | 12 June 2026 |
| Sydney | 05:00 | 12 June 2026 |
The Opening Match and the First Week of Fixtures
The tournament opened with Mexico vs South Africa on 11 June 2026 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — officially listed by FIFA as “Mexico City Stadium” due to sponsorship rules.
- Historic venue: Estadio Azteca becomes the first stadium ever to host three World Cup openers, after 1970 and 1986.
- 12 groups, opening week: The 48 teams are split into 12 groups (A–L). All groups play their opening fixtures between 11 and 17 June 2026.
- Co-hosts at home: Canada opens its campaign in Toronto, the USA in Los Angeles — both within the opening week.
- Full first round complete by 17 June: Every team in the tournament has played at least once.
For day-by-day fixtures, check the official FIFA fixtures page.
Opening Ceremony
FIFA staged a live opening ceremony at Estadio Azteca on 11 June 2026, starting at 11:30 Mexico City local time — about 90 minutes before the 13:00 kickoff. That worked out to roughly 20:30 in Riyadh and Doha, 21:30 in Dubai, and 23:00 on 11 June in India.
The show is headlined by Shakira and Burna Boy, who perform “Dai Dai”, the official song of the tournament. They are joined by Maná, Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Los Ángeles Azules, Lila Downs, J Balvin, Danny Ocean, and South Africa’s Tyla. Exact gate times are on FIFA’s official channels.
For the full lineup, start-time conversions, and how to watch, see our 2026 World Cup opening ceremony guide.
The Full 39-Day Roadmap from Kickoff to Final
From the 11 June kickoff, the tournament rolls out across a sequence of clearly defined phases. Group games dominate the first 17 days, then knockouts take over.
| Phase | Dates |
|---|---|
| Group stage | 11 – 27 June 2026 |
| Round of 32 | 28 June – 3 July 2026 |
| Round of 16 | 4 – 7 July 2026 |
| Quarter-finals | 9 – 11 July 2026 |
| Semi-finals | 14 & 15 July 2026 (Dallas & Atlanta) |
| Third-place playoff | 18 July 2026 (Miami) |
| Final | 19 July 2026 (MetLife Stadium) |
The tournament expands to 48 teams and 104 matches — the largest in World Cup history. The new Round of 32 adds an extra knockout layer not seen in any previous edition.
Host Cities
The 2026 World Cup is the first to span three countries and 16 host cities — 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, and 2 in Canada. The US hosts every knockout match from the quarter-finals onward.
| Country | Host Cities |
|---|---|
| Mexico | Mexico City (opening match), Guadalajara, Monterrey |
| Canada | Toronto, Vancouver |
| USA | New York / New Jersey (final), Dallas (semi-final), Atlanta (semi-final), Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City |
Planning to Attend a Match in Mexico City
The opener has been played, but Mexico City still hosts further group and knockout fixtures. If you’re heading there, three things need to line up:
- Tickets: sold only through FIFA.com/tickets. Tickets are personalised — avoid unauthorised resellers.
- Visa: Mexico is visa-free for many nationalities and for holders of a valid US, Canadian, UK, Schengen, or Japanese visa. Others need a Mexican visitor visa from the nearest consulate.
- Flights and hotels: Mexico City is served by Benito Juárez (MEX) and Felipe Ángeles (NLU). Hotel inventory near Estadio Azteca is already tightening.
Compare options on flights to Mexico City and hotels in Mexico City.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start?
The tournament kicked off on Thursday, 11 June 2026 at 13:00 Mexico City local time. That converted to 22:00 in Riyadh and Doha, 23:00 in Dubai, and 00:30 on 12 June in India. It runs through to the final on 19 July 2026.
Who plays the opening match of the 2026 World Cup?
Mexico, as host, played the opening match against South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. It was the third opener Azteca has staged after 1970 and 1986 — a first for any stadium.
How many days does the World Cup last?
The 2026 World Cup runs for 39 days, from 11 June to 19 July 2026. That is the longest World Cup ever, driven by the expansion to 48 teams and 104 matches.
When does every team play its first match?
All 12 groups play their opening fixtures between 11 and 17 June 2026. Group A starts on 11 June, and by 17 June every team in the tournament has played at least once.
Do I need separate visas to attend matches in all three host countries?
Yes. The United States, Canada, and Mexico each set their own entry rules, so a multi-city trip across borders can mean separate visas or travel authorisations. Confirm each country’s requirements well in advance, as processing times vary.
What time is the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony?
The Mexico City opening ceremony begins at 11:30 local time on 11 June 2026, about 90 minutes before the 13:00 kickoff. That is around 20:30 in Riyadh and Doha, 21:30 in Dubai, and 23:00 on 11 June in India. Shakira and Burna Boy headline with the official song “Dai Dai”.
How does the 2026 World Cup knockout bracket work?
The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams — 32 in all — advance to a new Round of 32. From there it is single-elimination through the Round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, ending with the final on 19 July. The full bracket is set once the group stage finishes on 27 June.
Sources
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Tournament Page
- FIFA — Mexico City Stadium to Host Opening Match
- FIFA — Scores and Fixtures
- FIFA — Host Countries and Cities
- FIFA — New York / New Jersey to Host Final
- FIFA — Mexico City Opening Ceremony
- Olympics.com — World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Performers and Start Time
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