When does the 2026 tournament start?

The 2026 tournament begins on June 11, 2026 with the opening match at Estadio Azteca in Messico City. The group stage runs from June 11-26, featuring 72 matches across all 12 groups.

How many matches are in the 2026 tournament?

There are 104 total matches in the expanded 48-team format: 72 group stage matches (June 11-26), 16 Round of 32 matches (June 28-July 1), 8 Round of 16 matches (July 4-6), 4 Quarterfinals (July 9-10), 2 Semifinals (July 14-15), and the Final on July 19.

Where is the 2026 final being played?

The 2026 Final will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York metro area) on July 19, 2026. The stadium has a capacity of over 82,500 seats, making it one of the largest venues in the tournament.

What countries are hosting the 2026 tournament?

The 2026 tournament is co-hosted by three North American countries: the Stati Uniti (11 venues), Messico (3 venues), and Canada (2 venues). This marks the first time three nations have co-hosted, and the first 48-team tournament with 16 host cities.

What time zone are match times displayed in?

Match times are shown in the venue's local time zone (ET, CT, or PT depending on the city), with your local time displayed below for convenience. The tournament spans multiple time zones across the US, Messico, and Canada.

Full Schedule

Can your team still qualify?

World Cup 2026 Schedule

All 104 FIFA World Cup™ matches from June 11 to July 19, 2026

How This Calculator Works

After Matchday 2, this calculator shows the current third-place standings across all 12 groups and calculates what each team needs to qualify. Select a team to see their specific scenario.

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Select a team to see their scenario:

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Select a Team

Choose a team from the dropdown above to see what they need to qualify as one of the 8 best third-place teams.

Third-Place Qualification Rules

In the expanded 48-team format, 8 of the 12 third-place teams advance to the Round of 32. Here's how they're determined:

Ranking Criteria (in order)

Points – Most points earned in 3 group matches
Goal Difference – Goals scored minus goals conceded
Goals Scored – Total goals scored
Fair Play Score – Fewest yellow/red cards
FIFA World Ranking – Higher-ranked team advances

Status Meanings

Safe Ranks 1-6 – Very likely to qualify

On the Bubble Ranks 7-9 – Could go either way

At Risk Ranks 10-12 – Needs help to qualify

Important Notes

Scenarios become available after Matchday 2 (when teams have played 2 games)
A team with 4 points could still be eliminated if others have 4+ points with better tiebreakers
The calculator updates in real-time as matches are played
Final rankings are confirmed only after all 72 group stage matches complete

Frequently Asked Questions

How many third-place teams qualify for the Round of 32?

8 of the 12 third-place teams qualify for the Round of 32. They are ranked by points, goal difference, goals scored, fair play score, and FIFA ranking.

When can I use the third-place calculator?

The calculator becomes useful after Matchday 2 (when each team has played 2 games). Before that, there isn't enough data to calculate meaningful scenarios.

What does 'Safe', 'On the Bubble', and 'At Risk' mean?

Safe (ranks 1-6) means your team is likely to qualify. On the Bubble (ranks 7-9) means it could go either way. At Risk (ranks 10-12) means your team needs help from other groups to qualify.