The FIFA World Cup usually lasts about one month from the opening match to the final. Recent tournaments have run around 29 to 32 days , while the expanded 2026 World Cup is scheduled to last about six weeks with 104 matches.

Quick Scoop

  • Typical duration: about 1 month.
  • 2022 World Cup: 29 days, from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18.
  • 2026 World Cup: longer than usual, around 6 weeks because the tournament has expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches.

Match length

A single World Cup match is 90 minutes of regulation time, split into two 45-minute halves, plus stoppage time. Knockout games can go longer because of extra time and penalties.

Useful rule of thumb

If someone asks “how long does the World Cup last?”, the simplest answer is: about a month. If they mean the 2026 edition , the better answer is about six weeks.