FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule: full groups, Germany’s results and knockout dates
Get the complete FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule, including group assignments, Germany’s results, knockout dates and how to watch from Germany (June 11–July 19, 2026).
The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, features 48 teams across three host countries and a record 104 matches. The expanded format places teams into 12 groups with the top two and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a new round of 16. This article summarizes group compositions, Germany’s performance in Group E, the knockout timetable and broadcast arrangements for viewers in Germany.
Group composition and current standings (as of June 26, 2026)
The tournament’s 12 groups mix established powers with surprise qualifiers and smaller nations, producing early upsets and high-scoring affairs. Notable groups include Group I with France and Norway, Group C with Brazil and Morocco, and Group E where Germany faced Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
As of 07:00 CEST on June 26, 2026, the ranking of third-placed teams shows Sweden and Ecuador at the top of that secondary table, followed by Bosnia-Herzegovina and Paraguay, making Paraguay a likely candidate to fill one of the best-third slots. The top eight third-placed teams will be slotted into the new round of 32, determining many early knockout pairings.
Germany’s Group E: results, key performers and likely next opponent
Germany finished first in Group E after a commanding 7–1 opening win over Curaçao on June 14 in Houston and a 2–1 victory against the Ivory Coast in Toronto on June 20. A 2–1 defeat by Ecuador in New York on June 25 left the team with two wins and one loss in group play, but still top of the group overall.
Kai Havertz provided early impact with multiple goals, while substitutes Deniz Undav and Nadiem Amiri shifted momentum in tight moments. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann’s side now faces a third-placed team in the new round of 32 on Monday, June 29, 2026, with Paraguay among the likeliest opponents given the third-place table standings on June 26.
Knockout phase schedule and match locations
The expanded knockout phase begins with a round of 32 (the new Sechzehntelfinale) scheduled from June 28 through July 4, followed by the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final on July 19, 2026. Germany’s round-of-32 fixture is set for June 29 in Boston, with kick-off times listed in Central European Summer Time for international audiences.
Quarterfinals are spread across major venues in early July, the semifinals are scheduled for July 14 in Dallas and July 15 in Atlanta, and the third-place match will be played on July 18 in Miami. The tournament concludes with the final in New York on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Stadiums, capacities and time-zone impact for European viewers
Sixteen stadiums host the 104 matches: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. Key venues include Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium (approximately 83,000 capacity), Dallas’ 94,000-seat arena in Arlington, New York/New Jersey’s 82,500-seat stadium, and BC Place in Vancouver with roughly 54,000 seats.
Time differences across venues range from six to nine hours relative to Central European Summer Time, so most matches are scheduled with European viewers in mind and are published in CEST. Canadian venues such as Toronto operate at a six-hour difference, while Pacific coast sites like Vancouver and Los Angeles require a nine-hour conversion for German audiences.
Broadcasting and streaming arrangements for Germany
German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF hold rights to a substantial share of the tournament and are scheduled to transmit around 60 of the 104 matches live. Telekom’s MagentaTV carries the full slate of fixtures via its pay platform, providing viewers in Germany access to every game through live streams and on-demand highlights.
In addition to linear TV, ARD and ZDF offer live streams via their respective media libraries and sports apps — including the Sportschau and Sportstudio platforms — while MagentaTV streams are available to subscribers. Viewers should check local listings for channel assignments and the published FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule in CEST to confirm start times.
Germany’s match on June 29 and the following knockout fixtures will appear in TV schedules with kick-off times converted to Central European Summer Time, enabling fans in Germany to plan viewing and travel accordingly.
The expanded format has increased the tournament’s complexity but also created more knockout-stage drama and viewing options for European audiences. With group winners and the top third-placed teams now clarified, the focus shifts to single-elimination ties that will determine which nations advance toward the July 19 final in New York.
