Home / Sports / World Cup 2026 Kicks Off: Your Guide to the Matches
World Cup 2026 Kicks Off: Your Guide to the Matches
3 Jun
Summary
- FIFA World Cup 2026 begins June 11 in North America.
- 104 matches will be played across 16 diverse venues.
- Fans in India can watch live telecasts and streaming.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to commence on June 11, 2026, marking the beginning of an expansive tournament across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The opening match will feature co-hosts Mexico against South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The tournament will conclude on July 19 with the final held at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.
This year's competition is unprecedented, featuring 104 matches spread across 16 venues throughout North America. Fifty-two teams will compete, divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to a knockout stage, culminating in the round of 32.
Defending champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, are in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. Fans across India can experience the excitement through live telecasts on Z's Unite8 Sports channels, including Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD. Live streaming will be available on the Zee5 platform.
