The world cup 2026 countdown has begun. The biggest football tournament in history kicks off on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at Mexico City Stadium. 48 teams, 16 stadiums and 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Every football fan on the planet wants to know exactly how many days remain until the opening whistle.
The live countdown timer below tracks every day, hour, minute and second until Mexico vs South Africa opens the tournament at 3:00 PM ET.
World Cup 2026 Countdown Timer
Tournament starts Thursday, June 11, 2026. Last updated: April 2026.
Key Dates for the World Cup 2026
The tournament spans 39 days from start to finish. Here are the dates every fan needs to mark on the calendar.
| Event | Date | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Ceremony | Thu, June 11 | ~2:00 PM (est.) | Mexico City Stadium |
| Opening Match | Thu, June 11 | 3:00 PM | Mexico City Stadium |
| USA First Match | Fri, June 12 | 9:00 PM | Los Angeles Stadium |
| Canada First Match | Fri, June 12 | 3:00 PM | Toronto Stadium |
| Group Stage Ends | Sat, June 27 | Various | Multiple Venues |
| Round of 32 Starts | Sun, June 28 | 3:00 PM | Los Angeles Stadium |
| Round of 16 Starts | Sat, July 4 | 1:00 PM | Houston Stadium |
| Quarterfinals Start | Thu, July 9 | 4:00 PM | Boston Stadium |
| Semifinal 1 | Tue, July 14 | 3:00 PM | Dallas Stadium |
| Semifinal 2 | Wed, July 15 | 3:00 PM | Atlanta Stadium |
| Third-Place Match | Sat, July 18 | 5:00 PM | Miami Stadium |
| Final | Sun, July 19 | 3:00 PM | NY NJ Stadium |
For the full schedule check out our complete World Cup 2026 guide.
What Happens When the Countdown Hits Zero?
Mexico vs South Africa kicks off the tournament at 3:00 PM ET on June 11. The opening ceremony takes place at the same venue right before the match. Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca) holds 87,500 fans and sits at 7,200 feet above sea level. The atmosphere will be electric.
Co-hosts Canada and USA start their campaigns the next day. Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina at Toronto Stadium at 3:00 PM ET. USA plays Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium at 9:00 PM ET.
Four matches kick off every day during the group stage. The knockout rounds begin on June 28 with the brand new Round of 32. The tournament builds toward the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
World Cup 2026 by the Numbers
Here are the key facts about the biggest World Cup ever.
- 48 teams compete for the first time. The tournament expanded from 32 teams at Qatar 2022.
- 104 matches take place over 39 days. That’s 40 more matches than the 2022 edition.
- 16 stadiums across three countries host the action. Eleven venues sit in the United States. Three sit in Mexico. Two sit in Canada.
- 12 groups of four teams each make up the group stage. The top two from each group advance. The eight best third-place finishers also go through to the Round of 32.
- 3 host nations stage the tournament together. The United States, Canada and Mexico make this the first World Cup hosted by three countries.
- 1 defending champion returns. Argentina won the 2022 title in Qatar and enter Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
First-Time Qualifiers at World Cup 2026
Four nations will play at a World Cup for the first time ever. Cabo Verde qualified through the African qualifiers. Curaçao earned their spot through CONCACAF and became the smallest country by population ever to reach a World Cup. Jordan qualified from the Asian group stage. Uzbekistan also qualified through Asia and became the first Central Asian country ever to reach a World Cup.
World Cup 2026 Countdown FAQ
How many days until the World Cup 2026?
The live countdown timer at the top of this page shows the exact days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining. The tournament starts on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET.
When does the World Cup 2026 end?
The final takes place on Sunday, July 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
What is the first match of the World Cup 2026?
Mexico vs South Africa opens the tournament on June 11 at 3:00 PM ET at Mexico City Stadium. South Korea vs Czechia follows later that day at 10:00 PM ET in Guadalajara.
How many teams play in the World Cup 2026?
48 teams compete in 12 groups of four. This marks the first expansion from the 32-team format used since 1998.
The world cup 2026 countdown continues. Football’s greatest show starts on June 11 in Mexico City. Bookmark this page and watch the timer tick down to kickoff.
