FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule: full match calendar, Germany results and knockout timetable
FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule: dates, stadiums and broadcast times across USA, Mexico and Canada. Germany’s results and the full knockout timetable. Live updates.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, maps a record 104 matches across three host nations and 16 stadiums. Co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, the expanded 48-team format produces an unprecedented number of group and knockout fixtures. This article lays out the key dates, venues and Germany’s path through the tournament, plus television and streaming details.
Hosts, dates and tournament scale
The tournament opens June 11 and concludes with the final in New York on July 19, 2026. A total of 48 teams are divided into 12 groups, creating a larger group stage and a new round of 32 (the “Round of 32” or sixteenth-finals).
Those 104 matches will be played at 16 stadiums: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. Kick-off times are listed in Central European Summer Time for European viewers and account for time differences of six to nine hours.
Germany’s group stage and knockout exit
Germany were drawn into Group E alongside Curaçao, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador and began the tournament with a dominant 7-1 win over Curaçao in Houston on June 14. Kai Havertz scored twice in that match and Deniz Undav, introduced from the bench in later games, contributed goals and assists that shaped Germany’s group campaign.
A second group victory came on June 20 in Toronto, when Germany beat the Ivory Coast 2-1 after a period of difficulty resolved by tactical substitutions. Germany’s final group fixture, however, ended in a 2-1 defeat to Ecuador in New York on June 25, overturning an early German lead and complicating the side’s prospects.
Germany advanced to the Round of 32 but were eliminated in their first knockout tie. In Boston on June 29, Germany drew 1-1 with Paraguay and lost the match on penalties, with Paraguay prevailing 5-4 in the shootout. The defeat ended Germany’s campaign earlier than many had expected.
Key match dates and knockout timetable
The new Round of 32 runs from June 28 through July 4, consolidating the eight best third-placed teams with the 24 automatic qualifiers to produce 16 knockout ties. Notable early knockout fixtures included Canada’s narrow 1-0 victory over South Africa in Los Angeles and Brazil’s 2-1 win over Japan in Houston.
The schedule advances with Round of 16 matches scheduled July 4–7, quarterfinals July 9–12, and semifinals on July 14 and 15. The third-place match is set for July 18 in Miami, and the final will be played July 19 in New York at 21:00 local time.
Groups and tournament format
The 12 groups are labelled A through L. The first and second-placed teams in each group automatically qualify for the knockout phase. In addition, the eight best third-placed teams across all groups advance to the Round of 32, creating additional suspense for several groups.
Tiebreakers follow the standard hierarchy: goal difference, goals scored and head-to-head results. If teams remain level after those criteria, fair-play points — the team with fewer disciplinary points advances — are used to separate them.
Stadiums, locations and broadcast arrangements
Sixteen stadiums host the competition, ranging from Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, with a capacity around 83,000, to Canada’s Toronto venue, listed at 45,000 seats. The largest listed venue is the Dallas-area stadium with approximately 94,000 capacity, while BC Place in Vancouver is scheduled to hold some matches with about 54,000 fans.
Broadcast rights in Germany and much of Europe include public-service coverage and pay services. ARD and ZDF are scheduled to carry roughly 60 of the 104 fixtures between them, while the telecommunication provider MagentaTV holds rights to stream all matches as a paid service. ARD and ZDF will also offer livestreams via their media platforms and apps.
Germany’s results and the finalized FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule are set against the logistical challenge of three host countries and significant time-zone shifts, factors that will influence travel and viewing patterns throughout the tournament.
Beyond the headline fixtures, the expanded format has increased the number of venues and added a formal Round of 32, producing a denser calendar and more opportunities for surprise results. Fans should check local listings and broadcaster schedules for final kick-off times in their region.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule delivers an expanded global event across North America, but it is Germany’s early knockout exit that remains one of the tournament’s most notable storylines so far.
