When does the World Cup start? Date, time, first match and opening ...
FIFA is ready to unveil its biggest World Cup ever as the 2026 competition ramps up towards a highly anticipated opening this coming summer.
www.sportingnews.comThe 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, with the opening matches in North America, and runs through July 19, 2026. The tournament is hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the opening game is traditionally held in the host country, followed by the group-stage matches across multiple venues.[1][3][4]
Key points
- Start date: June 11, 2026
- End date: July 19, 2026
- Hosts: United States, Canada, and Mexico
- Opening match location: Mexico City (Estadio Azteca) is the commonly cited venue for the opening game[4][1]
- First set of matches: Opening ceremony details have not been officially released; opening matches are scheduled for June 11, 2026, with the opening game kickoff in the afternoon/evening depending on local time zones[1]
If you’d like, I can pull the latest official schedule details (kickoff times by venue and broadcast info) from FIFA and major outlets and present them in a compact itinerary. Please tell me your preferred format (bullet list, quick table, or a day-by-day guide) and time zone (your local Los Angeles time or ET/CT, etc.).
Sources: FIFA World Cup pages and major outlets confirm the June 11, 2026 start and July 19, 2026 final, with the United States–Canada–Mexico hosting arrangement.[7][4]