What cities got the best slate of games? Analyzing the 2026 World Cup schedule

FIFA revealed the full schedule, including venues and kickoff times, for the 2026 World Cup on Saturday, one day after the 42 qualifiers and six remaining playoff slots were drawn into 12 groups.

Here are some of the big takeaways from the full reveal.

Co-hosts (partly) in prime time

A year after the 2025 Club World Cup was played largely in times optimal for European television audiences, the group stage features numerous kickoff times more optimal for audiences in the Western Hemisphere and the far Eastern Hemisphere.

That includes the group itinerary of both the United States and Mexico, who will kick off two of their three matches in prime time.

Mexico Group A Schedule

Thursday, June 11 vs. South Africa - 3 p.m. ET, Mexico City

Thursday, June 18 vs. South Korea - 9 p.m. ET, Guadalajara

Wednesday, June 24 vs. UEFA Playoff D - 9 p.m. ET, Mexico City

USA Group D Schedule

Friday, June 12 vs. Paraguay - 9 p.m. ET, Los Angeles

Friday, June 19 vs. Australia - 3 p.m. ET, Seattle

Thursday, July 25 vs. UEFA Playoff C - 10 p.m. ET, Los Angeles

Which city (debatably) got the best games?

The answer to this question might depend on your criteria.

In terms of getting the widest range of glamorous nations to visit, you'd have to go with New York's group itinerary, which includes appearances by -- in order -- Brazil, France, Germany and England:

New York group fixtures

Saturday, June 13 - Brazil vs. Morocco - 6 p.m. ET

Tuesday, June 16 - France vs. Senegal - 3 p.m. ET

Monday, June 22 - Norway vs. Senegal - 8 p.m. ET

Thursday, June 25 - Ecuador vs. Germany - 4 p.m. ET

Saturday, June 27 - Panama vs. England - 5 p.m. ET

In terms of getting a mix of well-known teams and matches likely to be competitive until the final whistle, the best mix might belong to Dallas.

Dallas group fixtures

Sunday, June 14 - Netherlands vs. Japan - 4 p.m. ET

Wednesday, June 17 - Croatia vs. England - 4 p.m. ET

Monday, June 22 - Argentina vs. Austria - 1 p.m. ET

Thursday, June 25 - Japan vs. UEFA Playoff B - 7 p.m. ET

Saturday, June 27 - Jordan vs. Argentina - 10 p.m. ET

(Mostly) avoiding the heat

The Club World Cup was perhaps a useful lesson for FIFA in terms of avoiding scheduling matches in the worst of the summer heat in the Southern and Eastern U.S.

There's been an obvious adjustment with the group stage schedule for next summer. While there are several matches in warmer markets with outdoor stadiums before sundown, most of them are late enough that the playing surface should be in the shade. There are also numerous daytime kickoffs in indoor venues in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston. But there are a few exceptions to the rule.

Here are the group stage matches that kick off before 6 pm local time in markets that could pose a risk of extreme heat.

Tuesday, June 16 - France vs. Senegal - 3pm ET, New York/New Jersey

Monday, June 22 - France vs. Intercontinental Playoff 2 - 5 p.m. ET, Philadelphia

Thursday, June 25 - Germany vs. Ecuador - 4 p.m. ET, New York/New Jersey

Thursday, June 25 - Curacao vs. Ivory Coast - 4 p.m. ET, Philadelphia

Saturday, June 27 - Panama vs. England - 5 p.m. ET, New York/New Jersey

Saturday, June 27 - Croatia vs. Ghana - 5 p.m. ET, Philadelphia

However, FIFA will still go ahead with a 3 p.m. ET kickoff for the final outdoors at the New York/New Jersey venue in East Rutherford, N.J. The Club World Cup final kicked off at the same time and venue amid temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit and high humidity.

--Ian Quillen, Field Level Media