Everything that happened at the 2026 World Cup draw, group stage schedule release

The World Cup final will take place at 3pm (ET) at MetLife Stadium on July 19, 2026, FIFA confirmed, in a move that is likely to renew the debate about tensions between player welfare and commercial priorities.

MetLife Stadium is located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and it is an open venue without a roof, meaning that players and fans will be exposed to the elements. The FIFA Club World Cup last summer played its semi-finals and final at MetLife, with all three games kicking off at 3pm ET.

The World Cup final is therefore one of only two of its MetLife games slated to take place at 3pm, a time which also provides a premium slot for a European television audience. FIFA makes the decisions about schedules and kick-off times.

See the full tournament schedule with all the fixture times and locations, below.