The matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be played from June 11 to July 19, 2026. For the first time in the history of the tournament, the World Cup will be hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico and the United States. At the same time, the tournament expands from 32 to 48 national teams. A total of 104 matches will be played – more than ever before in the history of the FIFA World Cup.

We will publish all results, standings and match schedules as soon as they become available, ensuring that you do not miss a single game. Watching football together will once again be a major part of the World Cup experience. That is why we regularly provide information about where matches are being shown live in bars, restaurants, sports pubs, clubhouses and other venues across the Netherlands, Germany and beyond.

A quick note: the term "Public Viewing" is mainly used in German-speaking countries to describe the public screening of sporting events on large screens. In the Netherlands, people usually refer to it as "watching the World Cup" or simply "watching football". Due to licensing requirements, safety regulations and noise restrictions, large fan zones are less common there. Instead, matches are more often shown in restaurants, sports bars, clubhouses, cafés and outdoor terraces.

From the Group Stage to the Knockout Stage

The 48 national teams will first compete in twelve groups of four teams each. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams from every group will automatically qualify for the knockout stage. In addition, the eight best third-placed teams will also advance to the final rounds.

This means that a total of 32 teams will qualify for the knockout stage. For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the knockout phase will begin with a Round of 32. This will be followed by the Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, the Third-Place Play-off and finally the World Cup Final, where the new world champion will be crowned.

The ranking of the best third-placed teams is determined using the following criteria:

• Total points earned in all group matches
• Goal difference in all group matches
• Total goals scored in all group matches
• Fair Play ranking
• Current FIFA World Ranking
• Previous FIFA World Rankings if teams are still level

We wish you an exciting tournament, plenty of goals and a fantastic 2026 FIFA World Cup!