2026 World Cup schedule and tournament tree – all games + path to the final – and where the games are live on TV | Football news

Here you will find the full World Cup schedule, tournament tree for the playoffs and all the rules – simply explained and constantly updated.

When will Germany play at the 2026 World Cup? (LIVE)

• 📅 Dates: Monday, June 29, 2026
• ⏰ Kick off: 22:30. (CEST)
• ⚽ Enemy: Paraguay
• 🏟️ Venue: Foxboro (Boston)
• 🏆 Phase: 1/8 finals
• 📺 Live on TV: ZDF and MagentaTV

48 teams and one more knockout round – how is the 2026 World Cup going?

First time fighting 48 countries for the World Cup trophy – a huge step up from the previous 32 participants. With the new format, the tournament as a whole will grow 104 games – significantly more than the 64 games at the 2022 World Cup.

Schedule and tournament tree of the 2026 World Cup

• 📅 Tournament: from June 11 to July 19, 2026
• 🏆 Final: July 19 (New York/New Jersey)
• ⚽ Games: total 104
• 👥 Teams: 48 countries
• 🔥 Co-phase: from June 28, 2026
• 🧩 Mode: for the first time in the 1/8 finals

“Who will play at the 2026 World Cup and when?”

The fundamental difference: the group stage is just the beginning of a much larger tournament tree. Because the field of playoff participants will be significantly expanded.

2026 World Cup playoff tournament tree

Image:
A brief overview of the 2026 World Cup tournament tree.© Sky

Who will make it to the playoffs?

Qualify immediately after the group stage. 32 teams in playoffs:

• die 12 group winners
• die 12 group runners-up
• die 8 best third groups

This means that only 16 of the 48 teams are directly eliminated, more than ever before in the tournament tree. This makes the group stage more open, exciting and tactical.

World Cup 2026 is new

• ⚽ 48 teams (instead of 32)
• 📊 12 groups (instead of 8)
• 🏆 32 teams in the playoffs (instead of 16)
• 🆕 1/8 finals presented
• 🔥 Total 104 games (instead of 64)

What is round 16? New round of the 2026 World Cup playoffs.

The biggest change to the tournament tree is the new first knockout round: 1/8 finals. This has never happened at any World Championship before.

From this point on, the classic general principle applies: no losses.

Path to the title

🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs: dates at a glance

• ⚔️ 1/8 finals: from June 28 to July 4.
• 🔥 1/8 finals: from 4 to 7 July
• 🎯 Quarterfinals: from 9 to 12 July.
• 🏅 Semi-finals: July 14 and 15.
• 🏆 Final: July 19

If the score is level after 90 minutes, the game goes into extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout.

Who is eligible to participate in the elimination rounds?

• Mexico (1st group A)
• South Africa (2nd Group A)
• Switzerland (1st group B)
• Canada (2nd Group B)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (3rd Group B)
• Brazil (1st Group C)
• Morocco (2nd Group C)
• USA (1st Group D)
• Australia (2nd Group D)
• Paraguay (3rd Group D)
• Germany (1st group E)
• Ivory Coast (2nd Group E)
• Ecuador (3. Group E)
• Netherlands (1st group F)
• Japan (2nd Group F)
• Sweden (3rd Group F)
• Belgium (1st Group G)
• Egypt (2nd Group G)
• Spain (1st Group H)
• Cape Verde (2. Group H)
• Argentina (1st Group J)
• Austria (2nd Group J)
• Algeria (3rd Group J)
• France (1st group I)
• Norway (2nd group I)
• Senegal (3. Group I)
• Colombia (1st Group K)
• Portugal (2nd group K)
• DR Congo (3rd Group K)
• England (1st Group L)
• Croatia (2nd group L)
• Ghana (3rd Group L)

The following teams were eliminated:

• Czech Republic (4th group A)
• South Korea (3rd Group A)
• Qatar (4th Group B)
• Haiti (4th Group C)
• Scotland (3rd Group C)
• Turkiye (4th group D)
• Curaçao (4th Group E)
• Tunisia (4th Group F)
• New Zealand (4th Group G)
• Iran (3rd Group G)
• Uruguay (3rd Group H)
• Saudi Arabia (4th Group H)
• Iraq (4. Group I)
• Jordan (4th J Group)
• Uzbekistan (4. Group K)
• Panama (4th Group L)

Germany at the 2026 World Cup: a quick overview

• 🏆 World title: 4 (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
• 👥 Group: E
• ⚽ Group rivals: Curacao, Elfenbeinkuste, Ecuador
• 🎯 Target: Reaching the finals
• 📅 Next game: June 29, 22:30. (round 16)
• 🔥 Enemy: Paraguay

Who will Germany face in the playoffs?

Germany top the table in Group E. As group winners, national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team will face one of the top eight third-placed teams at the start of the knockout stages. It will be Paraguay (3rd Group D).

The match starts on June 29 at 22:30. CEST in Foxborough near Boston at the NFL’s New England Patriots stadium.

Current table of the best third-placed teams at the 2026 World Cup

These 8 teams will currently qualify

Germany’s opponents in the 1/8 finals:

1/8 finals: decisive duel against France?

• Winner from France – Sweden

The game will take place in Philadelphia on July 4 (23:00 CEST).

Quarter-finals: Morocco or the Netherlands?

The duel will take place again in Foxboro on July 9 (10 p.m.). Germany will choose the winner…

• South Africa/Canada – Netherlands/Morocco

Semi-final: See you again in Spain?

If there is further success, another attacker may be waiting:

• Spaincurrent European champion, could be a possible opponent

Other possible opponents for Germany in the semi-finals:

• USA
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Belgium
• Croatia
• Portugal
• Senegal

Captain Joshua Kimmich’s side will play their first World Cup semi-final since winning the title in 2014 on July 14 (21:00 CEST) in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas.

Final: Like against Argentina in 2014?

The final will take place on July 19 at 21:00. in East Rutherford. Possible opponents there include:

• Argentina’s current champions
• Brazil
• Mexico
• Switzerland
• Norway
• Colombia
• England

What is the path to the final?

To become world champions, a team must win five games from the playoffs, starting with the 1/8 finals.

2026 World Cup schedule – 1/8 finals

Sunday, June 28, 2026

• Game 73: South Africa – Canada || Los Angeles Stadium, 12:00 p.m. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)

Monday, June 29, 2026

• Spire 74: Germany – Paraguay || Boston Stadium, 4:30 p.m. local time (22:30 CEST)
• Game 75: Netherlands – Morocco || Monterrey Stadium, 19:00. local time (2 a.m. CEST June 30)
• Game 76: Brazil – Japan || Houston Stadium, 12:00 p.m. local time (19:00 Central European Summer Time)

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

• Game 77: France vs. Sweden || New York Stadium, New Jersey, 5 p.m. local time (23:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 78: Ivory Coast – Norway || Dallas Stadium, 12:00 p.m. local time (19:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 79: Mexico – Ecuador || Mexico City Stadium, 19:00. local time (2 a.m. CEST July 1)

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

• Match 80: England – DR Congo – Atlanta Stadium, 12:00 local time (18:00 CEST).
• Game 81: USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, 5 p.m. local time (2 a.m. CEST July 2)
• Match 82: Belgium – Senegal – Seattle Stadium, 13:00 local time (22:00 CEST).

Thursday, July 2, 2026

• Match 83: Portugal – Croatia – Toronto Stadium, 19:00 local time (1:00 CEST July 3)
• Game 84: Spain – Austria – Los Angeles Stadium, 12:00. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 85: Switzerland – Algeria – BC Place Vancouver, 20:00 local time (5:00 CEST July 3)

Friday, July 3, 2026

• Game 86: Argentina – Cao Verde – Miami Stadium, 18:00. local time (12:00 CEST July 4)
• Game 87: Colombia vs. Ghana vs. Kansas City Stadium, 8:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. CEST, July 4)
• Match 88: Australia – Egypt – Dallas Stadium, 13:00 local time (20:00 CEST).

1/8 finals

Saturday, July 4, 2026

• Game 89: Winner. Game 74. Winner. Game 77. Philadelphia Stadium, 5 p.m. local time (23:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 90: Winner. Game 73. Winner. Game 75. Houston Stadium, 12:00 p.m. local time (19:00 Central European Summer Time)

Sunday, July 5, 2026

• Game 91: Winner. Game 76 Winner of Game 78 New York New Jersey Stadium, 4 p.m. local time (22:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 92: Winner. Game 79. Winner of Game 80. Mexico City Stadium, 6 p.m. local time (2 a.m. CEST July 6)

Monday, July 6, 2026

• Game 93: Winner. Game 83. Winner. Game 84. Dallas Stadium, 2 p.m. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 94: Winner. Game 81 Winner of Game 82 Seattle Stadium, 5 p.m. local time (2 a.m. CEST July 7)

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

• Game 95: Winner. Game 86 Winner of Game 88 Atlanta Stadium, 12 p.m. local time (18:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 96: Winner. Game 85. Winner. Game 87. BC Place, Vancouver, 1 p.m. local time (22:00 Central European Summer Time)

Quarterfinals

Thursday, July 9, 2026

• Game 97: Winner. Game 89. Winner. Game 90. Boston Stadium, 4 p.m. local time (22:00 Central European Summer Time)

Friday, July 10, 2026

• Game 98: Winner. Game 93. Winner. Game 94. Los Angeles Stadium, 12:00. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)

Saturday, July 11, 2026

• Game 99: Winner. Game 91. Winner. Game 92. Miami Stadium, 5 p.m. local time (23:00 Central European Summer Time)
• Game 100: Winner. Game 95. Winner. Game 96. Kansas City Stadium, 8 p.m. local time (2 a.m. CEST July 12)

Semi-finals

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

• Game 101: Winner. Game 97 Winner of Game 98 Dallas Stadium, 2 p.m. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

• Game 102: Winner. Game 99. Winner of Game 100. Atlanta Stadium, 3 p.m. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)

Play in 3rd place

Saturday, July 18, 2026

• Game 103: Loser. Game 101. Loser. Game 102. Miami Stadium, 5 p.m. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)

Final

Sunday, July 19, 2026

• Game 104: Winner. Game 101. Winner. Game 102: New York New Jersey Stadium, 3:00 p.m. local time (21:00 Central European Summer Time)

How does the 2026 World Cup tournament tree work?

The 2026 World Cup tournament tree begins after the group stage with 32 teams entering the knockout stages. The path to the finals lies through the 1/8 finals, 1/8 finals, quarter-finals and semi-finals. Placement in the group is critical as it determines the future development of the tournament tree.

The 2026 World Cup tournament tree will be constantly updated throughout the tournament.

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