The 2026 FIFA World Cup started on 11 June 2026.

Quick Scoop: Start Date

For the current tournament in North America (Canada, Mexico, USA), the opening match and official kickoff of the World Cup were scheduled for 11 June 2026. The competition runs through to the final on 19 July 2026.

A Bit Of Context

  • The 2026 edition is the first 48‑team World Cup, spread across 16 host cities in three countries.
  • FIFA’s official match schedule confirms that the “first whistle” of the tournament is on 11 June, with group matches beginning that day.
  • Fan and media guides describing “when does the 2026 World Cup start” all align on 11 June as the start date.

In simple terms: if you’re asking “what day did the World Cup start?” about the ongoing 2026 tournament, the answer is 11 June 2026.

Mini Timeline

  1. 11 June 2026 – Opening match and start of the group stage.
  1. Late June 2026 – Round of 32 knockout phase begins.
  2. Early July 2026 – Round of 16 and later knockout rounds get underway.
  3. 19 July 2026 – World Cup final and end of the tournament.

TL;DR

  • The answer to “what day did the World Cup start” (2026 edition): 11 June 2026.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.