What to Expect from the Opening Week of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
We are just 19 days away from the biggest event in sports history. Fans from 48 different countries will be traveling to the United States, Mexico, and Canada to watch their national teams compete on the world stage. The winning team will consecrate itself as the champion of the largest and most popular FIFA World Cup, placing itself at the very top of the soccer pyramid. With just over two weeks remaining until the start of this massive tournament, fans can only wonder what to expect from the first few weeks. Here is the article to avoid feeling overwhelmed and catch the games you are looking forward to without fuss.
The World Cup will hold its first two matches on Thursday, June 11th. Mexico will open in Mexico City Stadium against South Africa, followed by South Korea vs. Czechia in Guadalajara Stadium later in the evening. The United States will be playing its first match the following day, Friday, June 12th, against Paraguay. The USMNT’s first match will be held in SoFi Stadium, home to the NFL's Rams and Chargers, at 9 p.m. EST. This game will be the first 2026 FIFA match on U.S. soil. Canada will also kick start its participation on the same date in Toronto, facing Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Five-time FIFA World Cup Champion Brazil will commence its participation on Saturday, June 13th, against Morocco at MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets. Current World Cup title holders, Argentina, will face Algeria on June 16th at 9:00 p.m. EST in Kansas City. Their participation is one of the most anticipated performances of the tournament and will surely bring a lot of excitement to Argentinian and non-Argentinian fans alike. France, the last World Cup’s runners-up and the 2018 edition winners, will also open the same day against Senegal at MetLife Stadium.
The USMNT will be playing their second match on Friday, June 19th at 3 p.m. ET in Lumen Field, home base to the Seattle Seahawks. Mauricio Pochettino’s team will be facing Australia in front of a home crowd. All the matches will be broadcast on FOX Sports, as well as Telemundo for the Spanish-speaking fans. If you would rather watch them through streaming, Peacock TV will also be airing the games on its platform. Apart from rooting for your national team, it is always fun to also set aside some time to watch teams you have never heard of before. It is the ultimate soccer experience to find yourself supporting a team you have no ties to. Take note, make the necessary preparations, buy your merch, and let the games begin!
