New York World Cup 2026 Fixtures Groups and Stadium Guide

Every World Cup has one destination that stands above all others. In 2026, that destination is New York New Jersey. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey — operating as New York New Jersey Stadium throughout the tournament — hosts eight matches this summer, culminating in the World Cup Final on 19 July. The greatest match in football, in the greatest city in the world. Brazil open the New York New Jersey schedule on 13 June. France, England, Germany and Norway all follow across the group stage. And then, on 19 July, two nations will play 90 minutes that decides who lifts the trophy. If you can only attend one World Cup match in your lifetime, attend the one that matters most.

This guide covers the full fixture schedule at MetLife Stadium, every group and team playing here, the key storylines and what to expect on match day. For travel logistics, transport from New York City, accommodation and everything else you need, visit the full New York New Jersey World Cup 2026 city guide.

New York New Jersey's Full World Cup 2026 Match Schedule

MetLife Stadium hosts the following confirmed fixtures across the group stage and knockout rounds:

• 13 June — Brazil vs Morocco, Group C (6:00 PM ET)
• 16 June — France vs Senegal, Group I (3:00 PM ET)
• 22 June — Norway vs Senegal, Group I (8:00 PM ET)
• 25 June — Ecuador vs Germany, Group E (4:00 PM ET)
• 27 June — Panama vs England, Group L (5:00 PM ET)
• 30 June — Round of 32
• 5 July — Round of 16
• 19 July — World Cup Final (3:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM BST)

Five group stage matches across three different groups, a Round of 32, a Round of 16 and the Final. MetLife Stadium is the only venue in the entire tournament to host both a Round of 16 and the Final — making it the most prestigious knockout assignment of any city in World Cup 2026. Browse all available World Cup 2026 tickets for New York New Jersey and every other host city.

Group C at MetLife: Brazil vs Morocco — The Heavyweight Opener

The New York New Jersey schedule opens on 13 June with one of the most eagerly anticipated group stage fixtures of the entire tournament. Brazil vs Morocco is a match between two of the sport's most celebrated nations — and a rematch of what many had expected would be the final of Qatar 2022 before Argentina's extraordinary run changed the bracket.

Brazil — South America's Giants in New York

Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002 — a 24-year wait that grows heavier with every tournament. For 2026, Dorival Junior's squad arrives with genuine belief: Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Endrick and a core of world-class attackers give Brazil the firepower to beat any side in the world on their day. Opening their Group C campaign at MetLife Stadium on 13 June — in front of a New York crowd that includes one of the largest Brazilian diaspora communities in the United States — will feel like a home match in all but name. The atmosphere for Brazil vs Morocco on a June evening at MetLife will be extraordinary.

Morocco — Africa's Finest Against the Samba Stars

Morocco were the story of Qatar 2022, becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals and doing so by eliminating Belgium, Spain and Portugal along the way. For 2026, they arrive as one of Africa's most respected sides with a squad built around Achraf Hakimi, Youssef En-Nesyri and a generation of players who now believe genuinely that they can compete with anyone. Their opening fixture against Brazil at MetLife Stadium is one of the tournament's genuinely open group stage matches — a contest between two teams with similar quality, high motivation and everything to play for in their World Cup openers.

Scotland and Haiti Complete Group C

Group C also includes Scotland and Haiti, who play their fixtures across other host cities including Miami and Dallas. Scotland's first World Cup since 1998 gives the group an underdog storyline, while Haiti carry the emotional weight of representing a nation that has overcome extraordinary challenges to reach the world's biggest tournament.

Group I at MetLife: France vs Senegal and Norway vs Senegal

MetLife Stadium hosts two Group I fixtures — France vs Senegal on 16 June and Norway vs Senegal on 22 June — and the group's storylines are as rich as any in the tournament.

France — The Defending Runners-Up Targeting the Title

France lost the 2022 World Cup Final to Argentina on penalties after one of the greatest individual performances in tournament history from Kylian Mbappe. In 2026, Mbappe arrives at the peak of his powers, leading a squad that many consider the most complete in the tournament. Alongside him, France boast depth in every position — Antoine Griezmann's experience, Aurelien Tchouameni's midfield authority, Mike Maignan's reliability in goal. Their opening Group I fixture against Senegal at MetLife Stadium on 16 June is a match between two nations with deep football ties, fierce competitive intent and two of Africa and Europe's finest players. France are tournament favourites alongside Spain, and their New York opener is the moment their World Cup campaign begins.

Senegal — African Champions with a Point to Prove

Senegal arrive at 2026 as reigning African Cup of Nations champions — one of the continent's most powerful, physically imposing and technically gifted sides. Sadio Mane, now in the later stages of his career, leads a squad that includes Idrissa Gueye, Kalidou Koulibaly and a generation of players competing at the highest level in European football. Playing France on 16 June and Norway on 22 June — both at MetLife Stadium — means Senegal effectively play two of their three group stage fixtures in the New York New Jersey region. The African champion fanbase in New York is substantial, and Senegal supporters will create one of the tournament's most vibrant atmospheres at both fixtures.

Norway and Erling Haaland — The World Cup Debut

Norway's presence at World Cup 2026 is one of the tournament's most anticipated storylines. Erling Haaland — the most prolific striker in club football over the past three seasons — makes his World Cup debut here, finally stepping onto the tournament stage after Norway's qualification heartbreak in previous cycles. Haaland at a World Cup, in New York, against Senegal on 22 June at MetLife Stadium, is a fixture that will draw a global audience regardless of group standing. Norway are a genuine contender for second place in Group I, and their match against Senegal is likely to decide who accompanies France into the knockout rounds. For neutral fans, this is one of the must-attend fixtures of the entire group stage.

Group E at MetLife: Ecuador vs Germany — A Crucial European Test

MetLife Stadium hosts a Group E fixture on 25 June between Ecuador and Germany — and by this point in the group stage, the result is likely to have direct implications for which two teams advance from a competitive group.

Germany — European Quality in New York

Germany's World Cup campaign opens at Houston's NRG Stadium before moving to MetLife for the Ecuador fixture on 25 June. By this stage, Germany will either be looking to confirm their group stage progression or needing a result to secure their knockout place. Either way, Germany at MetLife Stadium in front of a New York crowd — which includes one of the largest German-American communities in the USA — will be one of the group stage's great European showcases.

Ecuador — South America's Dangerous Qualifier

Ecuador arrive in North America as one of South America's most consistent recent qualifiers, with a physical, well-organised side built on strong defensive foundations and dangerous attacking transitions. Their match against Germany at MetLife on 25 June is a fixture Ecuador will genuinely believe they can get a result from — and in the largest metropolitan area in the United States, with a growing Ecuadorian-American community cheering them on, they will have vocal support behind every touch.

Group L at MetLife: Panama vs England — England's Final Group Stage Test

England's Group L journey concludes at MetLife Stadium on 27 June against Panama — and depending on results in the group, this fixture could arrive with England's knockout stage seeding on the line.

England — The Three Lions Come to New York

England play their first two Group L fixtures in Dallas (vs Croatia, 17 June) and another venue before arriving at MetLife Stadium for their final group match against Panama on 27 June. For England fans who have made the journey to the United States, New York is the natural gathering point — the city has one of the largest British communities in the Americas, with sports bars, pubs and English-speaking neighbourhoods that make it feel closer to home than anywhere else on the tournament circuit. Panama are significant underdogs, but England will need to be focused and professional to secure the result they need. Get your England World Cup 2026 tickets now for the New York fixture and beyond.

Panama — Making Their Mark in the Big Apple

Panama return to the World Cup having grown significantly as a football nation since their Russia 2018 debut. Their Group L fixture against England at MetLife Stadium on 27 June — in one of the world's most famous cities — is the highlight of their tournament calendar and will be played in front of a substantial and passionate Panamanian diaspora community in the New York metropolitan area.

The World Cup Final: 19 July at MetLife Stadium

On 19 July 2026, the greatest match in football takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Kick-off is at 3:00 PM ET — 8:00 PM BST for fans watching from the UK, 9:00 PM CEST across Europe. Two nations, 90 minutes, one trophy. The entire World Cup — all 103 matches that precede it — exists to produce this single fixture.

The World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium carries additional historical resonance. The last time a World Cup Final was played in the United States was in 1994 — Brazil vs Italy at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, decided on penalties after a 0-0 draw. Thirty-two years later, with a tournament that has grown from 24 to 48 teams and expanded from 64 to 104 matches, the final returns to American soil in a stadium that holds 82,500 and sits across the Hudson River from one of the most recognisable skylines on earth.

Attending the World Cup Final is the rarest and most extraordinary experience football offers. Most fans will watch it on television. A small number will be inside MetLife Stadium when the referee blows the final whistle and one nation's players collapse to their knees in tears while another erupts in scenes of collective joy. If you have ever imagined being in that moment, this is the tournament to make it happen. World Cup Final tickets at MetLife Stadium on 19 July are available now — but availability at this stage of the competition is always the most limited of any fixture in the tournament. Do not wait.

MetLife Stadium: The Match Day Experience

MetLife Stadium is one of the largest sports venues in the United States, with a capacity of approximately 82,500 for World Cup matches. Home to both the NFL's New York Giants and New York Jets, it is one of the most experienced major event venues in the Americas, having hosted Super Bowls, major concerts and international fixtures across its 14-year history.

The stadium is an open-air venue, which means June weather in New Jersey applies directly to match day conditions. June in the New York area is typically warm and humid — temperatures ranging from 22 to 32 degrees Celsius — with occasional thunderstorms. Evening kick-offs like Brazil vs Morocco (6:00 PM ET) and Norway vs Senegal (8:00 PM ET) will be played in more comfortable conditions than afternoon fixtures. The 19 July Final at 3:00 PM ET falls in the height of New Jersey's summer — hot and potentially humid, but tolerable for most fans who dress appropriately.

The stadium sits in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, approximately 10 miles west of Midtown Manhattan. Transport from New York City is straightforward and strongly recommended over driving. NJ Transit trains run from Penn Station in Manhattan directly to Meadowlands Station, adjacent to MetLife Stadium, with a journey time of approximately 40 minutes at a cost of around $5 each way, with trains running every 10 to 15 minutes on match days. This is by far the most reliable and cost-effective option — road closures and parking restrictions will make driving significantly more difficult than usual on World Cup match days.

The FIFA Fan Festival for New York New Jersey spans multiple locations across the region, with fan zones planned at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island and Queens — giving fans across the five boroughs and New Jersey multiple opportunities to experience the World Cup atmosphere with or without match tickets. New York's sheer scale means the World Cup will be visible and felt across the entire metropolitan area from 13 June onwards.

New York New Jersey as the Ultimate World Cup Base

For fans planning the full World Cup experience — from group stage through to the final — New York New Jersey is the natural home base. The city's transport links are unmatched: international flights arrive at JFK, Newark and LaGuardia from virtually every country sending fans to the tournament. Domestic connections to Boston (one hour), Philadelphia (one hour), Miami (three hours) and Atlanta (two and a half hours) make day trips or overnight stays to other Eastern Region venues straightforward throughout the tournament window.

New York is also, simply, the greatest city in the world for the non-football dimensions of a World Cup trip. The concentration of restaurants, bars, cultural institutions, entertainment and iconic landmarks within walking distance or a short subway ride of Midtown Manhattan means the days between matches will never be empty. The Brazilian community in Astoria, the French community in the Upper West Side, the English pubs of Midtown, the diversity of every neighbourhood — New York absorbs the World Cup and amplifies it in a way no other city on earth can match.

Securing Your New York New Jersey World Cup Tickets

MetLife Stadium's eight fixtures span the full arc of the tournament — from Brazil vs Morocco on 13 June to the World Cup Final on 19 July. The Final is the most sought-after sporting ticket of 2026 and availability is always extremely limited at this stage. England's group stage fixture against Panama on 27 June will also see exceptionally high demand from the UK market.

Browse all available World Cup 2026 tickets for every New York New Jersey fixture and beyond, find England World Cup tickets for the Panama match and all other fixtures, and visit the New York New Jersey World Cup city guide for full travel planning including transport from the city to MetLife Stadium. And for the moment the entire tournament builds towards, World Cup Final tickets on 19 July are available now.

Brazil. France. Germany. England. Norway. And then, on 19 July, the two best teams in the world. New York New Jersey is not just a host city — it is where World Cup 2026 ends, and where football history is made.