The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to usher in a new era for international football, with the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the month-long spectacle will run from June 11 to July 19, featuring a record 104 matches across 16 host cities.The expanded format means more teams, more matches and a longer knockout stage, making the 2026 edition the biggest World Cup ever staged.FIFA World Cup 2026 Format ExplainedA total of 48 nations have been divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Every team will play three group-stage matches, with the top two teams from each group progressing automatically to the knockout rounds.In addition, the eight best third-placed teams will also qualify, taking the number of teams in the knockout phase to 32.The introduction of a Round of 32 means teams that reach the final will now have to play eight matches instead of seven.FIFA World Cup 2026 ScheduleStageDatesGroup StageJune 11-27Round of 32June 28-July 3Round of 16July 4-7Quarter-finalsJuly 9-11Semi-finalsJuly 14-15Third-place PlayoffJuly 18FinalJuly 19FIFA Opening MatchThe tournament will begin on June 11, with hosts Mexico taking on South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.FIFA Final VenueThe World Cup final is scheduled to take place on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), where the champions of the world's biggest football tournament will be crowned.India Match Timings (IST)Indian football fans should be prepared for some late nights, as most matches will be played in the overnight and early-morning hours because of the time difference between India and the host nations.Most games are expected to kick off at one of the following time slots:12:30 AM IST3:30 AM IST6:30 AM IST7:30 AM IST (selected matches)The opening fixture between Mexico and South Africa is expected to start at around 12:30 AM IST on June 12.Key Group Stage DatesMatchday 1: June 11-17Matchday 2: June 18-23Matchday 3: June 24-27Among the standout group-stage encounters are England vs Croatia, Brazil vs Morocco, France vs Norway and Spain vs Uruguay, all of which are expected to draw significant global attention.FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups GroupTeamsGroup AMexico, South Korea, South Africa, CzechiaGroup BCanada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, SwitzerlandGroup CBrazil, Morocco, Haiti, ScotlandGroup DUnited States, Paraguay, Australia, TürkiyeGroup EGermany, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, CuraçaoGroup FNetherlands, Japan, Sweden, TunisiaGroup GBelgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New ZealandGroup HSpain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo VerdeGroup IFrance, Senegal, Norway, IraqGroup JArgentina, Algeria, Austria, JordanGroup KPortugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Congo DRGroup LEngland, Croatia, Ghana, PanamaHas India Qualified?India will not be part of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after failing to secure qualification. However, Indian fans will still have plenty to follow, including several players of Indian origin who could feature for their respective national teams.With a record 48 teams, 104 matches and three host countries, FIFA World Cup 2026 promises to deliver the most expansive and ambitious edition of the tournament yet.FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage fixturesThursday, 11 June 2026Mexico v South Africa - Group A – Mexico City StadiumKorea Republic v Czechia – Group A - Estadio GuadalajaraFriday, 12 June 2026Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Group B – Toronto StadiumUSA v Paraguay - Group D – Los Angeles StadiumSaturday, 13 June 2026Haiti v Scotland – Group C - Boston StadiumAustralia v Türkiye – Group D - BC Place VancouverBrazil v Morocco – Group C - New York New Jersey StadiumQatar v Switzerland – Group B - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumSunday, 14 June 2026Côte d'Ivoire v Ecuador – Group E - Philadelphia StadiumGermany v Curaçao – Group E - Houston StadiumNetherlands v Japan – Group F - Dallas StadiumSweden v Tunisia – Group F - Estadio MonterreyMonday, 15 June 2026Saudi Arabia v Uruguay – Group H - Miami StadiumSpain v Cabo Verde – Group H - Atlanta StadiumIR Iran v New Zealand – Group G - Los Angeles StadiumBelgium v Egypt – Group G - Seattle StadiumTuesday, 16 June 2026France v Senegal – Group I - New York New Jersey StadiumIraq v Norway – Group I - Boston StadiumArgentina v Algeria – Group J - Kansas City StadiumAustria v Jordan – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumWednesday, 17 June 2026Ghana v Panama – Group L - Toronto StadiumEngland v Croatia – Group L - Dallas StadiumPortugal v Congo DR – Group K - Houston StadiumUzbekistan v Colombia – Group K - Mexico City StadiumThursday, 18 June 2026Czechia v South Africa – Group A - Atlanta StadiumSwitzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina – Group B - Los Angeles StadiumCanada v Qatar - Group B – BC Place VancouverMexico v Korea Republic - Group A - Estadio GuadalajaraFriday, 19 June 2026Brazil v Haiti – Group C - Philadelphia StadiumScotland v Morocco – Group C - Boston StadiumTürkiye v Paraguay – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumUSA v Australia - Group D – Seattle StadiumSaturday, 20 June 2026Germany v Côte d'Ivoire – Group E - Toronto StadiumEcuador v Curaçao – Group E - Kansas City StadiumNetherlands v Sweden – Group F - Houston StadiumTunisia v Japan – Group F - Estadio MonterreySunday, 21 June 2026Uruguay v Cabo Verde – Group H - Miami StadiumSpain v Saudi Arabia – Group H - Atlanta StadiumBelgium v IR Iran – Group G - Los Angeles StadiumNew Zealand v Egypt – Group G - BC Place VancouverMonday, 22 June 2026Norway v Senegal – Group I - New York New Jersey StadiumFrance v Iraq – Group I - Philadelphia StadiumArgentina v Austria – Group J - Dallas StadiumJordan v Algeria – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumTuesday, 23 June 2026England v Ghana – Group L - Boston StadiumPanama v Croatia – Group L - Toronto StadiumPortugal v Uzbekistan – Group K - Houston StadiumColombia v Congo DR – Group K - Estadio GuadalajaraWednesday, 24 June 2026Scotland v Brazil – Group C - Miami StadiumMorocco v Haiti – Group C - Atlanta StadiumSwitzerland v Canada - Group B – BC Place VancouverBosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar – Group B - Seattle StadiumCzechia v Mexico - Group A – Mexico City StadiumSouth Africa v Korea Republic – Group A - Estadio MonterreyThursday, 25 June 2026Curaçao v Côte d'Ivoire – Group E - Philadelphia StadiumEcuador v Germany – Group E - New York New Jersey StadiumJapan v Sweden – Group F - Dallas StadiumTunisia v Netherlands – Group F - Kansas City StadiumTürkiye v USA - Group D – Los Angeles StadiumParaguay v Australia – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumFriday, 26 June 2026Norway v France – Group I - Boston StadiumSenegal v Iraq – Group I - Toronto StadiumEgypt v IR Iran – Group G - Seattle StadiumNew Zealand v Belgium – Group G - BC Place VancouverCabo Verde v Saudi Arabia – Group H - Houston StadiumUruguay v Spain – Group H - Estadio GuadalajaraSaturday, 27 June 2026Panama v England – Group L - New York New Jersey StadiumCroatia v Ghana – Group L - Philadelphia StadiumAlgeria v Austria – Group J - Kansas City StadiumJordan v Argentina – Group J - Dallas StadiumColombia v Portugal – Group K - Miami StadiumCongo DR v Uzbekistan – Group K - Atlanta StadiumFIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 32 fixturesSunday, 28 June 2026Match 73 – Group A runners-up v Group B runners-up - Los Angeles StadiumMonday, 29 June 2026Match 74 – Group E winners v Group A/B/C/D/F third place - Boston StadiumMatch 75 – Group F winners v Group C runners-up - Estadio MonterreyMatch 76 – Group C winners v Group F runners-up - Houston StadiumTuesday, 30 June 2026Match 77 – Group I winners v Group C/D/F/G/H third place - New York New Jersey StadiumMatch 78 – Group E runners up v Group I runners-up - Dallas StadiumMatch 79 – Group A winners v Group C/E/F/H/I third place - Mexico City StadiumWednesday, 1 July 2026Match 80 – Group L winners v Group E/H/I/J/K third place - Atlanta StadiumMatch 81 – Group D winners v Group B/E/F/I/J third place - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumMatch 82 – Group G winners v Group A/E/H/I/J third place - Seattle StadiumThursday, 2 July 2026Match 83 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up - Toronto StadiumMatch 84 – Group H winners v Group J runners-up - Los Angeles StadiumMatch 85 – Group B winners v Group E/F/G/I/J third place - BC Place VancouverFriday, 3 July 2026Match 86 – Group J winners v Group H runners-up - Miami StadiumMatch 87 – Group K winners v Group D/E/I/J/L third place - Kansas City StadiumMatch 88 – Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up - Dallas StadiumFIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 fixturesSaturday, 4 July 2026Match 89 – Winner match 74 v Winner match 77 - Philadelphia StadiumMatch 90 – Winner match 73 v Winner match 75 - Houston StadiumSunday, 5 July 2026Match 91 – Winner match 76 v Winner match 78 - New York New Jersey StadiumMatch 92 – Winner match 79 v Winner match 80 - Mexico City StadiumMonday, 6 July 2026Match 93 – Winner match 83 v Winner match 84 - Dallas StadiumMatch 94 – Winner match 81 v Winner match 82 - Seattle StadiumTuesday, 7 July 2026Match 95 – Winner match 86 v Winner match 88 - Atlanta StadiumMatch 96 – Winner match 85 v Winner match 87 - BC Place VancouverFIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final fixturesThursday, 9 July 2026Match 97 – Winner match 89 v Winner match 90 - Boston StadiumFriday, 10 July 2026Match 98 – Winner match 93 v Winner match 94 - Los Angeles StadiumSaturday, 11 July 2026Match 99 – Winner match 91 v Winner match 92 - Miami StadiumMatch 100 – Winner match 95 v Winner match 96 - Kansas City StadiumFIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final fixturesTuesday, 14 July 2026Match 101 – Winner match 97 v Winner match 98 - Dallas StadiumWednesday, 15 July 2026Match 102 – Winner match 99 v Winner match 100 - Atlanta StadiumFIFA World Cup 2026 bronze finalSaturday, 18 July 2026Match 103 – Runner-up match 101 v Runner-up match 102 - Miami StadiumFIFA World Cup 2026 FinalSunday, 19 July 2026Match 104 – Winner match 101 v Winner match 102 - New York New Jersey Stadium