The 2026 FIFA World Cup is finally here, and it’s the biggest in history. With 48 national teams, 16 host cities and 104 matches, this tournament rewrites the record books on every front – here’s everything Australian fans need to know.
Fixture & Scores
Where is the tournament being held?
For the first time ever, three nations share hosting duties for the FIFA World Cup: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Specifically, the USA hosts matches in 11 cities, Mexico in 3, and Canada in 2. Altogether, there are 16 host cities, each with a single stadium. The tournament runs from 11 June to 19 July 2026, spanning 39 days, and the opening match takes place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
How to watch the FIFA World Cup in Australia
Here’s the best news for Australian fans: there’s no paywall. In fact, all 104 matches stream live and free across SBS, SBS VICELAND, and SBS On Demand. SBS secured exclusive rights after fending off Nine Entertainment and Optus, continuing a run that stretches to 40 consecutive years of World Cup coverage dating back to 1986. As a result, no subscription is needed to watch any game.
What time do FIFA World Cup games kick off in Australia?
Of course, kick-off times depend on the venue. Generally, group stage matches at US East Coast venues start late at night. By comparison, US West Coast matches in Vancouver, Seattle and Los Angeles typically run between 2:00 PM and 4:00 AM AEST.
Which teams are in Australia’s FIFA World Cup Group?
Ultimately, Australia has landed in Group D, alongside Paraguay, Türkiye and tournament co-host the United States. Although it is a difficult draw, the Socceroos dodged world champions Argentina, world No. 1 Spain, plus France and England.
When is Australia playing?
Socceroos Group Match Times – Group D
Matchday 1
Australia v Türkiye
Sun, 14 June
2:00 PM
Matchday 2
USA v Australia
Sat, 20 June
5:00 AM
Matchday 3
Paraguay v Australia
Fri, 26 June
12:00 PM
All times AEST
How many teams are in the FIFA World Cup?
Notably, a record 48 teams are taking part, up from 32. In particular, AFC (Asian) now has 8 direct slots, up from 4.5. Consequently, qualifying became much more achievable for Australia.
In short, the official goal is to widen global representation, letting rising nations qualify without being blocked by traditional giants. As a result, there are four debutants this year: Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cabo Verde, Curaçao.
In all, twelve groups of four feed the knockouts: the top two from each group reach the round of 32, and the eight best third-placed teams join them. That structure produces 104 games in total.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup final?
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey hosts the final on Sunday 19 July 2026. Meanwhile, for Australians, the final should kick off at roughly 9:00 AM AEST.
Who are the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
So far, two European powers have pulled clear. Spain (5/1) and France (11/2) lead the favourites, with Spain holding an implied probability of roughly 17%. Behind them, defending champion Argentina sits sixth, behind Spain, France, England, Brazil and Portugal.
Spain enters as the reigning European champions while carrying a 31-match unbeaten streak.
What is the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule?
Because of the extra teams, a round of 32 has been added to the schedule. So, the tournament now progresses as follows:
- Group stage: 11 June – 27 June
- Round of 32: late June into early July
- Round of 16 and quarter-finals: early-to-mid July
- Semi-finals: AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
- Final: Sunday 19 July, MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey
Additionally, viewers can track the full daily fixtures via SBS or FIFA’s official schedule as the knockout brackets fill in.
Who are the highest paid players at the FIFA World Cup?
This tournament makes history off the pitch too. Indeed, it’s the first World Cup to feature billionaire players – Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel Messi.
Here are the top earners over the last 12 months:
- $300m – Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- $140m – Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- $95m – Kylian Mbappé (France)
- $80m – Erling Haaland (Norway)
- $60m – Vinícius Jr. (Brazil)
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