FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule: full groups, match dates and Germany fixtures (CET)
Complete FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule, groups, Germany fixtures and stadiums. See match dates, kickoff times (CET) and venues across USA, Mexico and Canada.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with 48 nations competing from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The expanded format and dispersed venues mean fans in Europe must convert a wide range of local kickoff times to Central European Summer Time (CET). This article summarizes the groups, early results, Germany’s fixtures and the stadiums and broadcast arrangements fans need to follow the tournament.
Expanded field: 48 teams and the new round of 32
The 2026 tournament uses 12 groups of four teams each, producing 104 matches in total and introducing a new knockout round often called the Sechzehntelfinale or round of 32. The top two teams in every group advance automatically, while the eight best third-placed teams fill the remaining round-of-32 slots. Tie-breakers follow goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head records and, if required, fair-play points.
Group headlines: hosts, heavyweights and debutants
Several groups combine established powers with less familiar names, creating early intrigue and potential shock results. Hosts Mexico and the United States each face lively opposition in Group A and Group D respectively, while Group E pits Germany alongside Ecuador, Ivory Coast and debutant Curaçao. Smaller nations and newcomers such as Haiti and Curaçao add unpredictability to the group stage and complicate qualification math for third-placed sides.
Germany’s group and match schedule in CET
Germany begins its group campaign on Sunday, June 14 in Houston against Curaçao, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 CET. The second match for Germany will take place on Saturday, June 20 in Toronto against the Ivory Coast at 22:00 CET. Germany’s final group game is set for Thursday, June 25 in New York when they visit Ecuador, with kickoff listed at 22:00 CET. If Germany tops Group E, the Sechzehntelfinale pathway could match them with a third-placed side; the round-of-32 and knockout calendar follow in late June and early July.
Opening weekend: hosts record wins and attendance questions
The tournament opened on June 11 in Mexico City with Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0 in front of a large crowd at the Azteca. Early fixtures through June 12 and 13 produced other notable results, including South Korea’s 2-1 win over Czechia and the United States’ 4-1 victory against Paraguay. Organizers have faced scrutiny over stadium visuals showing empty seats in some broadcasts, while official attendance figures continue to be published by FIFA.
Sixteen host stadiums across three countries
Matches are spread across 16 stadiums: eleven venues in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada, with capacities ranging from around 45,000 to more than 90,000 seats. Key venues include the Azteca in Mexico City, the New York–New Jersey stadium in East Rutherford, Dallas’s large venue in Arlington and Toronto’s main stadium. Time-zone differences require conversions of six to nine hours to CET for European viewers, affecting evening and late-night match access.
Broadcast rights: ARD, ZDF and MagentaTV coverage in Germany
Public broadcasters ARD and ZDF are scheduled to show roughly 60 of the competition’s 104 matches live, with the remainder available through the pay service MagentaTV. All matches can be streamed via the broadcasters’ respective online platforms and apps, and MagentaTV offers a separate full-tournament package for subscribers. European viewers should confirm local kickoff listings and stream access ahead of each match because of staggered start times and regional broadcast assignments.
The tournament’s knockout phase ramps up in late June with round-of-32 ties beginning June 28 and the final scheduled for Sunday, July 19 in New York at 21:00 CET. With group-stage permutations still unfolding, the expanded format promises more high-stakes games and several days when third-placed teams wait to learn whether they will continue in the competition.
