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2026 World Cup begins Thursday with 48 teams across three countries
The first matches of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup start Thursday in North America. Forty-eight men's national teams will play 104 matches through July 19.
Jun 10, 5:00 AM·1m read1 source
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The first matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup begin Thursday with Mexico versus South Africa and South Korea versus Czech Republic. The United States opens against Paraguay on Friday at 9 p.m. ET. The group stage runs through June 27. Twelve groups of four teams each play a round-robin schedule. The top two teams from each group advance, along with the eight best third-place teams.
final The round of 32 is scheduled for June 28 to July 3.
The round of 16 follows from July 4 to 7. Quarterfinals take place July 9 to 11, semifinals July 14 and 15, and the third-place match July 18. The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Viewers with cable packages that include Fox or FS1 can watch without additional fees. The Fox One app offers live and on-demand streaming with a paid subscription. Tubi carries the opening ceremony and two early matches with a free sign-in. Spanish-language coverage on Telemundo and Universo reaches 104 matches.
All Telemundo broadcasts are also available live and on demand through Peacock with a paid subscription.
Four teams make their World Cup debut: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. A new rule allows red cards for players who cover their mouths during confrontations or leave the field in protest of referee decisions. The final includes a halftime show featuring Shakira, Madonna, and BTS.
