FIFA World Cup Ticket and Schedule Information for USA fans and Californians - FAQ

The first phase of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup ticket lottery begins at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Sign up on the website between Sept. 10-19.

For people in the United States' most populous state who want to see any World Cup game and/or see team USA at least once, here's a few answers to your questions.

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Photo by Brian Fishbach

I ROOT FOR TEAM USA AND LIVE IN CALIFORNIA. WHAT CAN I EXPECT FOR THE FIFA MEN'S WORLD CUP IN 2026?

These are the only three guaranteed locations for Team USA:

🇺🇸 USA (3 group-stage matches, Group D)

• June 12 – 🎞️ Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium): First group match 🇺🇸

• June 19 – ☔️Seattle (Lumen Field): Second group match 🇺🇸

• June 25 – 🎞️ Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium): Third group match 🇺🇸

WHAT IF I WILL ONLY GO TO GAMES IN CALIFORNIA?

There will be a total of 14 matches in California: 8 matches in Los Angeles (Inglewood) and 6 in the San Francisco Bay Area (Santa Clara).

🎞️ Los Angeles – SoFi Stadium GROUP STAGE (5 matches)

• June 12 – Group D: USA first group match 🇺🇸

• June 15 – Group G (neutral)

• June 18 – Group B (neutral)

• June 21 – Group G (neutral)

• June 25 – Group D: USA third group match 🇺🇸

🎞️ Los Angeles – SoFi Stadium KNOCKOUT STAGE (3 matches)

• June 28 – Round of 32 (neutral)

• July 2 – Round of 32 (neutral)

• July 10 – Quarterfinal (neutral)

🌉 San Francisco Bay Area – Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara) - GROUP STAGE (5 matches)

• June 13 – Group B (neutral)

• June 16 – Group J (neutral)

• June 19 – Group D (neutral, not USA)

• June 22 – Group J (neutral)

• June 25 – Group D (neutral, not USA)

🌉 San Francisco Bay Area – Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara) - KNOCKOUT STAGE (1 match)

• July 1 – Round of 32 (USA possible if they win Group D)

Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Photo by Brian Fishbach

WHAT IF USA MAKES IT TO THE ROUND OF 32?

🇺🇸 If USA finishes 1st in Group D

• July 1 – San Francisco (Levi’s Stadium)

  • Opponent: 3rd place team from Groups B, E, F, I, or J

🇺🇸 If USA finishes 2nd in Group D

• July 3 – Dallas (AT&T Stadium)

  • Opponent: 2nd place team from Group E

🇺🇸 If USA finishes 3rd in Group D

• Then it depends on whether they qualify as one of the 8 best third-place teams.

• If they do, their Round of 32 game could be slotted into a different bracket path. To be determined after the Group stage completes.

WHAT ABOUT GUARANTEED LOCATIONS FOR THE OTHER HOSTS, MEXICO AND CANADA?

Both Canada and Mexico will play all of their group stage games in their home country.

• Canada has Vancouver and Toronto.

• Mexico has Guadalajara and Mexico City.

• Monterrey will not host any Team Mexico group-stage or knockout games.

🇲🇽 Mexico – Group A

• June 11 – Mexico City (Estadio Azteca): First group match (tournament opener)

• June 18 – Guadalajara (Estadio Akron): Second group match

• June 24 – Mexico City (Estadio Azteca): Third group match

🇨🇦 Canada – Group B

• June 12 – Toronto (BMO Field): First group match

• June 16 – Vancouver (BC Place): Second group match

• June 24 – Vancouver (BC Place): Third group match

WHERE WOULD MEXICO AND CANADA PLAY IF THEY MAKE IT PAST THE GROUP STAGE?

I don’t care. We're sticking with Team USA and California here.

I DON'T LIVE IN CALIFORNIA. WHERE ARE THE NEAREST GAMES TO ME?

Again, I don't care. Look it up on this chart.

I STILL DON'T GET IT. TELL ME WHERE AND WHEN THE MOST IMPORTANT TOURNAMENT GAMES WILL BE:

⚽ Semifinals

• July 14 – Dallas (AT&T Stadium)

• July 15 – Atlanta (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)

⚽ Bronze Final (Third-Place Match)

• July 18 – Miami (Hard Rock Stadium)

🏆 Final

• July 19 – New Jersey (MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford)