The Matches
FIFA World Cup 26 kicks off with an opening match in Mexico City at Estadio Azteca (North America’s most famous soccer venue) in early June.
South Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field (which will be temporarily renamed Philadelphia Stadium) will then play host to six of the tournament’s matches in total.
The Philly region begins with five Group Stage “pool play” matchups — featuring qualified national teams from semi-randomly assigned groups — from June 14-27, 2026, at The Linc on the following dates (teams and start times to be determined):
- Sunday, June 14, 2026
- Friday, June 19, 2026
- Monday, June 22, 2026
- Thursday, June 25, 2026
- Saturday, June 27, 2026
As the tournament progresses, the top two teams from each round-robin group (one group per city) move into the single-elimination Knockout Stage.
— Photo courtesy FIFA World Cup 26 Philadelphia
Philadelphia does not host a match during the Knockout Stage’s Round of 32, but returns for a high-stakes Round of 16 match on Saturday, July 4th, 2026 — one of Philly’s biggest holidays and America’s Semiquincentennial — for the right to advance to a Quarter-final in Boston.
From there, the winners will progress to the Semi-finals in Texas and Atlanta, and conclude with the FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
