Last updated: June 2026 · All kick-off times in CEST

The WC 2026 runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026 with 104 matches across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States. This page lists every fixture in Belgian time (CEST), so you know exactly when to plan your evening.

The 72 group-stage matches run between 11 June and 27 June, followed by the new Round of 32 from 28 June, the Round of 16 from 4 July, quarter-finals from 9 July, semi-finals on 14 and 15 July, the third-place play-off on 18 July and the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.

A quick navigation guide for this page: key dates first, then the Belgium fixtures, the full group-stage schedule by date, the knockout-stage schedule, fixtures by group, fixtures by venue, an explanation of how CEST kick-off times work for Belgian viewers, and where to follow live scores once matches begin.

WC 2026 schedule at a glance

The 39-day tournament breaks down into seven phases. These are the official tournament dates as published in WC 2026 match calendar.

Note: the phase dates above follow the official match calendar based on venue-local dates. The full fixture lists below show each match on its CEST kick-off date, which can fall one day later than the venue date for late-evening North American matches.

Belgium at WC 2026: schedule and kick-off times

Belgium plays three group-stage matches in Group G against Egypt, IR Iran and New Zealand. Two prime-time evening kick-offs, one early-Saturday morning match in Vancouver.

If Belgium qualifies from Group G as one of the top two or as one of the eight best third-placed teams, the Round of 32 fixture would be scheduled between 28 June and 3 July (venue date), with the exact opponent and venue determined by the final group standings.

For Group G fixtures, head-to-head history, predictions and group-winner odds, see the dedicated Group G page.

Full WC 2026 group-stage schedule (CEST)

All 72 group-stage matches are listed below, ordered by Belgian date and kick-off time. The dense matchdays from 25 to 27 June close out the group stage with six fixtures per day. Late-evening North American matches appear on the next CEST date.

WC 2026 knockout-stage schedule (CEST)

From the Round of 32 onward, every match is single elimination. If a knockout match is level after 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time follow, then penalties if needed. The 32 knockout fixtures span Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final.

Note: until the group stage concludes on 27 June 2026, the knockout matches are listed with their bracket placeholders ("Winner Group A", "Runner-up Group B", "Best 3rd from A/B/C/D/F", and "Winner of Match 73" for later rounds). Each placeholder resolves to a real team as soon as the relevant group or earlier knockout match completes.

WC 2026 fixtures by group

For a group-by-group view of fixtures, head-to-head context, predictions and group-winner odds, see the dedicated group pages below. Every group plays a four-team round robin with six matches per group spread across three matchdays.

WC 2026 fixtures by venue

Sixteen host cities across Canada, Mexico and the United States stage the 104 matches. Dallas hosts the most matches (9), followed by Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York/New Jersey at 8 each.

For full venue profiles including capacity, atmosphere, climate notes and surrounding city guides, see the WC 2026 host cities hub.

How kick-off times work for Belgian viewers

The WC 2026 spans four North American time zones, from Eastern Time on the East Coast to Pacific Time on the West Coast. All matches on this page are converted to CEST (Central European Summer Time), which applies in Belgium from late March to late October and is two hours ahead of UTC.

Prime-time evening matches

East-coast and central-time afternoon kick-offs land in Belgium between 18:00 and 22:00 CEST. These are the easiest matches to watch live: dinner-time and prime-time slots that fit a normal Belgian evening.

Late-night and overnight matches

West-coast evening matches kick off between 03:00 and 06:00 CEST the following morning. These appear on this page under the next CEST date, not the venue date. A 20:00 Pacific Time kick-off on a Friday in Los Angeles is listed here as a Saturday morning 05:00 CEST kick-off.

Why some matches show one day later than expected

If you're cross-referencing the schedule against other sources that use venue-local dates, the dates may seem to shift by one day for the late-evening fixtures. That's the time-zone gap, not a scheduling error. The official tournament dates listed in the "Schedule at a glance" section above use venue-local dates, while the full match tables use CEST kick-off dates.

Where to follow live scores and final results

For everything that happens once the ball is kicked, switch to the dedicated WC 2026 results and live scores hub.

From 11 June onward, the Napoleon Sports live centre shows every WC 2026 fixture in play with running scoreline, status label and key events. Inside the app you can also enable notifications per match for kick-off, goals and full-time.

For group tables, qualification scenarios and post-match recaps, the standings page and results hub are the right places.

Responsible play and Belgian licensing

Napoleon Sports operates under class F1 (online betting) and class F1+ (retail) licences from the Belgian Gaming Commission, and is a member of BAGO, the Belgian Association of Gaming Operators. The minimum legal age is 21.

A long tournament with daily matches makes it especially important to set deposit and session limits in advance. The app supports deposit limits, time-out periods and self-exclusion through EPIS. For free, confidential support visit stopoptijd.be, and see responsible gaming for the full set of in-app tools.

WC 2026 schedule: frequently asked questions

When does WC 2026 start and end?

The tournament opens on Thursday 11 June 2026 with Mexico vs South Africa in Mexico City at 21:00 CEST. The final is on Sunday 19 July 2026 at the New York New Jersey Stadium at 21:00 CEST.

How many matches are there at WC 2026?

104 matches in total: 72 group-stage matches across 12 groups, plus 32 knockout matches across Round of 32, Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final.

What time do WC 2026 matches start in Belgium?

Most prime-time kick-offs are between 18:00 and 22:00 CEST. West-coast evening matches kick off between 03:00 and 06:00 CEST the following morning. The schedule above lists every match on its CEST kick-off date.

When does Belgium play at WC 2026?

Belgium has three group-stage matches: Belgium vs Egypt on Monday 15 June at 21:00 CEST in Seattle, Belgium vs IR Iran on Sunday 21 June at 21:00 CEST in Los Angeles, and New Zealand vs Belgium on Saturday 27 June at 05:00 CEST in Vancouver.

Where can I see the latest live scores?

Use the Napoleon Sports live centre for in-play scores, or the dedicated results and live scores hub for full-time results, group tables and recap content.

Why do some matches show one day later than I expected?

The full match tables on this page use CEST kick-off dates, not venue-local dates. A 20:00 Pacific Time match on Friday in Los Angeles is shown here as 05:00 CEST on Saturday. The phase summary table above uses venue-local dates, which matches how the tournament organisers describe the calendar.

Explore more WC 2026 content

The full WC 2026 wiki at Napoleon Sports covers groups, predictions, bookmakers, odds, bracket and team-by-team breakdowns. Start with these sibling guides.