2026 FIFA World Cup starts Thursday: How to watch, full schedule and final friendlies
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just days away, with national teams using the final week to fine-tune rosters and tactics through a series of international friendlies.
International friendlies this week
Here are some of the remaining friendlies scheduled before the tournament begins (all times Eastern and subject to change):
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Tuesday, June 9
- 5 p.m. ET — DR Congo vs. Chile
- 7 p.m. ET — Saudi Arabia vs. Senegal
- 9 p.m. ET — Argentina vs. Iceland
Wednesday, June 10
- 3:45 p.m. ET — Portugal vs. Nigeria
- 4 p.m. ET — England vs. Costa Rica
- 9 p.m. ET — Austria vs. Guatemala
These matches give coaches one final opportunity to evaluate players, test lineups and make last-minute adjustments before World Cup play begins.
When does the 2026 FIFA World Cup start?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins Thursday, June 11, with Mexico opening the tournament against South Africa.
The competition runs through July 19, when the championship match will be played in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
2026 FIFA World Cup schedule
- Group stage: June 11-27
- Round of 32: June 28-July 3
- Round of 16: July 4-7
- Quarterfinals: July 9-11
- Semifinals: July 14-15
- Third-place match: July 18
- World Cup final: July 19
The 2026 tournament will be the largest in FIFA history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Match times will vary depending on the host city and time zone.
How to watch World Cup matches
In the United States, World Cup matches will air on:
- FOX and FS1 for English-language coverage
- Telemundo and Universo for Spanish-language coverage
How to stream World Cup games
Fans without cable can stream matches through:
- FOX One (all matches)
- Fubo
- Hulu + Live TV
- YouTube TV
- DirecTV Stream
- Peacock (Spanish-language streams)
- Prime Video (FOX One available as an add-on)
All 104 matches will be available through FIFA's U.S. broadcast and streaming partners.
Contributing: USA Today Network
—Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York State. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 2026 FIFA World Cup starts Thursday: Schedule, TV channels, streaming guide