48-Nation FIFA World Cup 2026 Opens Thursday With Four Continental Matchups
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins Thursday, June 12, 2026, with Mexico facing South Africa at 3 p.m. ET, followed by South Korea against Czechia at 10 p.m. ET. The two fixtures mark the formal start of a tournament that, for the first time in its history, expands to a 48-team field, adding a new tier of group-stage competition before the knockout rounds begin.
The tournament is co-hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada - the first World Cup held across three nations. Group-stage matches will be distributed across venues in all three host countries over the coming weeks. The final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Coverage of the tournament is broadcast on FOX, FS1, Fox One, and Tubi in the United States.
The expanded 48-team format introduces a Round of 32, replacing the previous 16-team knockout entry point. Teams are divided into 12 groups, with the top two finishers from each group and eight best third-place sides advancing. South Korea's Son Heung-min, one of the tournament's prominent individual figures, was photographed in training ahead of Thursday's match against Czechia in Guadalajara, Mexico. U.S. Men's National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino oversees the host nation's campaign, which opens against Paraguay on June 12 at 9 p.m. ET.
Following Thursday's opening fixtures, the group stage runs through a full schedule of 48-nation competition before the knockout phase begins. FIFA President Gianni Infantino held a press conference at the venue in Mexico City on June 10, the day before the opening match, marking the official start of the tournament period. Full match results will be updated as group play progresses toward the July 19 final.
