- How many matches are in the 2026 World Cup schedule?
- There are 104 matches in the FIFA World Cup 2026, played across the group stage, round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and the final.
- When does the FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule start?
- The 2026 World Cup schedule begins on 2026-06-11 with the opening match at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City.
- How does the group stage differ from the knockout rounds?
- In the group stage, all 48 teams play in 12 groups of 4 — each team plays 3 matches. The top two from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance to the round of 32, where a single loss ends a team's tournament.