World Cup 2026 Schedule Announced: Kickoff Times and Venues Revealed
The highly anticipated World Cup 2026 schedule has been announced, with the final match set to kick off at 3 p.m. EDT on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This decision allows for prime-time viewing in Europe and Britain, where it will be 9 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively. The average temperature in East Rutherford on July 19 is expected to be around 83 degrees (28 Celsius) with a RealFeel index of 89 (32), according to AccuWeather.
Schedule and Venue Considerations
FIFA announced the schedule and sites after factoring in travel and broadcast considerations. Chief tournament officer Manolo Zubiria explained that the goal was to “strike the right balance” between team preparation, recovery, and exposure to the global audience. The organization aimed to minimize travel for teams and fans while considering climate conditions, time zones, and restrictions. Zubiria noted that it was a challenging process, saying, “Let’s just say it’s been a long night — or a short night.”
The opener at Mexico City on June 11 between El Tri and South Africa will start at 1 p.m. local time (3 p.m. EDT). Semifinals will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, both of which have retractable roofs. Quarterfinals will be held at various venues, including Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Notable Matches and Venues
The U.S. first-round games will be played at Inglewood, Seattle, and SoFi, with kickoff times ranging from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. local time. Japan’s Group F game against Tunisia at Monterrey, Mexico, on June 20 will mark the 1,000th World Cup match. Germany’s June 14 Group E opener against Curaçao will kick off at noon local time (1 p.m. EDT) at NRG Stadium, a closed indoor venue.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino highlighted the significance of Curaçao’s participation, noting that it has the smallest population of a country to reach the World Cup, with approximately 150,000 inhabitants. Infantino said, “It will be played in Houston, which is a closed venue, indoor, so nobody can complain about heat or weather or wind or whatever.”
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