FIFA has officially announced that it will globally broadcast the release of the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule from Washington, D.C. at 12:00 Eastern Time (ET) on Saturday, December 6. This announcement comes approximately 24 hours after the world learned the results of the tournament’s first-ever 12 four-team groups.
The schedule will be unveiled by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who will appear on stage alongside FIFA legends. The live audience will include representatives from the 42 qualified teams as well as those still in contention. The broadcast is expected to be one of the most important milestones leading up to 2026, featuring expert insights and reactions, analysis of matchups and key storylines, and perspectives on the host cities that will welcome global fans next June and July.
During the live stream, the venues and kick-off times for all 104 matches will be confirmed. The broadcast will be available in real-time across FIFA’s platforms, including FIFA.com and the official FIFA YouTube channel, ensuring fans worldwide can follow the announcements simultaneously. FIFA will also provide live signals to major broadcasters around the globe.
The post-draw match allocation process aims to ensure the best conditions for all teams and spectators, while allowing fans in different time zones to watch their teams’ games live whenever possible. The final version of the schedule will be released in March next year, after the conclusion of the FIFA and UEFA play-offs to determine the last six qualifying spots.
As the excitement builds across 3 countries and 16 dynamic host cities, with nearly 2 million tickets already sold, the post-draw schedule announcement will mark another significant milestone towards this truly transformative FIFA World Cup.
