2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule Release Date, Time, How to Watch & Full Details
The moment every football fan has been waiting for is almost here! On 6 December 2025, FIFA will officially release the complete 2026 World Cup match schedule – all 104 games, exact dates, kick-off times, stadiums, and group-stage fixtures. This is the biggest World Cup ever, and the schedule drop is going to be massive.
Here’s everything you need to know in simple, human-style English (perfect for sharing, reading on mobile, and ranking on Google).
When is the 2026 World Cup Schedule Being Released?
- Date: Saturday, 6 December 2025
- Time: 12:00 PM ET (Eastern Time) | 5:00 PM GMT | 10:30 PM IST (India) | 1:00 AM (7 Dec) Bangladesh
- Where: Live from Washington D.C., USA
- How to Watch: Free on FIFA+, YouTube, FIFA.com, FOX (USA), Telemundo (Spanish), BBC (UK), Sony Sports (India)
This comes just 24 hours after the Final Draw on 5 December, where the 12 groups of four teams will be revealed.
Why is the Schedule Release So Important This Time?
For the first time ever, FIFA is releasing the full fixture list one day after the draw instead of on the same day. Why? Because the 2026 World Cup is HUGE:
- 48 teams (instead of 32)
- 104 matches (instead of 64)
- 16 stadiums across USA, Canada & Mexico
- 4 different time zones
- Travel distance between venues can be over 4,000 km!
FIFA needs extra time to make sure teams don’t fly across the continent every few days and that kick-off times work for TV audiences worldwide.
Key Dates You Must Save Right Now
Top Stadiums & Cities Hosting Matches
- Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) – Opening game + historic 3rd time hosting
- MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) – The Grand Final
- AT&T Stadium (Dallas) – Most matches (9 games)
- SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) – Ultra-modern, $5 billion venue
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) – Retractable roof magic
- Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) – Third-place playoff + Messi vibes
- BMO Field (Toronto) & BC Place (Vancouver) – Canada’s first World Cup games ever
Who Has Already Qualified? (As of Dec 2025)
42 teams are confirmed. The last 6 spots will be decided in March 2026 playoffs.
Confirmed Big Names: Spain, Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador… and many more!
Who Can Still Qualify?
India, Pakistan, Indonesia, and other Asian teams are still fighting in the playoffs. Fingers crossed!
Where to Watch the Schedule Release Live (Free Links)
- FIFA Official YouTube: youtube.com/FIFA
- FIFA+ App (free worldwide)
- Sony LIV (India)
- BBC iPlayer (UK)
- FOX Sports / Telemundo (USA)
Final Words
Mark your calendar for 6 December 2025 at 10:30 PM IST – that’s when your favorite team’s entire World Cup journey will be revealed.
Will Messi play his last match in Miami? Will Ronaldo face Brazil early? Is the USA likely to receive a favorable, less challenging group in the World Cup?
Drop a ⚽ in the comments if you’re staying up late for the schedule drop!
