The 2026 World Cup is mostly happening on American soil across 16 host cities in three countries. The United States hosts 11 venues from coast to coast, with the USMNT drawn into Group D against Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye—all three group matches on US soil.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest in history and mostly happening on American soil. Here is exactly where the matches are, when the USMNT plays, and how to stream every game—including the ones that are completely free.
Where Are the Games Actually Being Played?
For the first time, the World Cup is spread across 16 host cities in three countries. The United States hosts the lion's share with 11 venues from coast to coast:
United States Host Cities
1. Atlanta – Mercedes-Benz Stadium 2. Boston – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) 3. Dallas – AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) – hosts 9 matches, most of any venue 4. Houston – NRG Stadium 5. Kansas City – Arrowhead Stadium 6. Los Angeles – SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) 7. Miami – Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida) 8. New York/New Jersey – MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford) – hosts the Final 9. Philadelphia – Lincoln Financial Field 10. San Francisco Bay Area – Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California) 11. Seattle – Lumen Field
Mexico Host Cities
- Mexico City – Estadio Azteca (opening match, June 11) - Guadalajara – Estadio Akron - Monterrey – Estadio BBVA
Canada Host Cities
- Toronto – BMO Field - Vancouver – BC Place
Note on stadium names: Because of FIFA's sponsor rules, your local stadium gets a generic tournament name. SoFi becomes "Los Angeles Stadium," Lumen Field becomes "Seattle Stadium," AT&T becomes "Dallas Stadium," and so on.
When Does the USMNT Play?
The United States qualified automatically as a co-host and was drawn into Group D with Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye. A useful edge: unlike co-hosts Canada and Mexico, the U.S. never has to leave the country during the tournament.
USMNT Group D Schedule
| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Friday, June 12 | Paraguay | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi) | 9:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
| Match 2 | Friday, June 19 | Australia | Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) | 3:00 PM | 12:00 PM |
| Match 3 | Thursday, June 25 | Türkiye | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi) | 10:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
Türkiye claimed the group's fourth spot by beating Kosovo in the UEFA playoff. Win the group or finish second and the U.S. moves into the new Round of 32. Learn how the best third-place teams can also advance.
Who Should I Watch on the USMNT?
Christian Pulisic is the player the team is built around heading into the tournament. He is the talisman, the one casual fans will recognize, and the engine of the U.S. attack in the final third.
One honest caveat: the final 26-man roster is not locked until early June 2026. Form and fitness in the final friendlies will decide the supporting cast around Pulisic. Hold off on betting your watch party on any single name until the squad is official.
How Do the Time Zones Work?
Unlike Qatar 2022, where Americans set 5 a.m. alarms, 2026 is built for U.S. living rooms. With games on home soil across four time zones, matches stagger from early afternoon into prime time on the East Coast.
- 40+ matches will air in prime time Eastern - USMNT matches range from afternoon to late night - No 3 a.m. kickoffs, no 6 a.m. alarms needed
The staggered schedule means you can watch multiple matches daily without completely disrupting your sleep schedule.
How Do I Watch the World Cup on TV and Streaming in the US?
English Language Broadcast
FOX is the English-language home for all 104 matches: - FOX broadcast network: 70 matches - FS1 (Fox Sports 1): 34 matches - FOX Sports app: Every match streams here with TV provider login - FOX One: Streaming platform carrying all matches
Spanish Language Broadcast
- Telemundo: Broadcast television coverage - Peacock: Full tournament streaming (subscription required)
Free Matches – No Subscription Needed
The detail most fans miss: some games are free with no subscription at all:
- June 11 opening match: Mexico vs. South Africa – free on Tubi - June 12 USA vs. Paraguay: USMNT opener – free on Tubi
Beyond those free games, any live-TV streaming service that carries FOX and FS1 (YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo, Sling, etc.) will have the U.S. matches.
When and Where Are the Opening Match and the Final?
Opening Match
Thursday, June 11, 2026 - Mexico vs. South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City - 3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT
Azteca becomes the first stadium ever to host matches at three different World Cups (1970, 1986, and 2026).
Final
Sunday, July 19, 2026 - World Cup Final - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey - Officially "New York New Jersey Stadium" for the tournament
For the complete tournament format, tiebreakers, and how the 48-team bracket works, see our format guide.
USMNT Schedule Quick Reference
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Stadium | How to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 12 | Paraguay | 9:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, LA | FOX / Free Tubi |
| June 19 | Australia | 3:00 PM | Lumen Field, Seattle | FOX / FS1 |
| June 25 | Türkiye | 10:00 PM | SoFi Stadium, LA | FOX / FS1 |
Round of 32 matches (if USMNT advances) would be June 29–July 2, locations TBD based on final group position.