2026 World Cup schedule announced for historic 48-team tournament across North America
via Le Matin1 min read
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be a landmark event in football history. This edition will be the first to feature 48 national teams, expanding from the previous 64-match format. The tournament is scheduled to commence on June 11, 2026, and conclude with the final on July 19, 2026, spanning over a month of competition. This expanded format will result in a record 104 matches. Football enthusiasts will be able to follow the journey of major national favorites, underdogs, and African representatives from the group stage through to the crowning of the world champion. The detailed schedule provides dates and times for each match, as well as the full knockout stage bracket.
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On Tuesday, June 10, 2026, the MASI index of the Casablanca Stock Exchange dropped 1.96% to close at 18,142 points, with a total transaction volume of 283 million dirhams. This decline follows a bearish first week, eroding some of the year's gains, with the market's year-to-date performance now at -3.73%. Forty-five stocks closed lower, 13 rose, and 4 remained unchanged. Mining stocks, which had benefited from rising precious metal prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, were central to the correction. Managem, recently the largest capitalization on the Casablanca Stock Exchange, fell 9.77% to 14,800 dirhams, accounting for 103 million dirhams of the day's trading. Société Métallurgique d'Imiter SMI also dropped 9.64% to 7,230 dirhams, with a transaction volume of 24 million dirhams. Cosumar, another active stock, saw 23 million dirhams in exchanges but declined 1.92% to 178 dirhams. This correction follows several weeks of strong gains for mining stocks, driven by rising gold, silver, and other strategic metal prices. Analysts note that the market remains influenced by Middle East geopolitical developments, which support precious metals but penalize energy-intensive sectors. The mining sector was a key driver for the Casablanca Stock Exchange in May, with a 21.36% sectoral increase, primarily due to Managem's performance. Macroeconomically, factors like the Treasury's successful international market issuance and controlled inflation support the Moroccan market.
Slovenian international referee Slavko Vinčić, 46, has been appointed to officiate the Morocco-Brazil match at the 2026 World Cup. Vinčić, a FIFA international referee since 2010, is a prominent figure in European officiating, having overseen the 2022 Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers, and the 2024 Champions League final featuring Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. He also participated in the Euros 2020 and 2024, and the 2022 World Cup, and is among the officials selected by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup. He will be supported by his compatriots Tomaž Klančnik as first assistant and Andraž Kovačić as second assistant. Sandro Schärer from Switzerland will serve as the fourth official, with Stéphane De Almeida as the reserve assistant referee. The Morocco-Brazil game is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 11:00 PM Moroccan time, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA. Both teams are in Group 3, which also includes Haiti and Scotland.
For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has introduced a new initiative called "Super Shoutout," allowing fans to have their names displayed on the giant screens in the stadiums for $79. This service is accessible via an online platform, where supporters can select a group stage match and submit their identity at least 72 hours in advance. Purchases are limited to four registrations per order. Slots for the opening match between Mexico and South Africa sold out within hours. The display of names will occur exclusively on the giant screens of the sixteen North American stadiums and only during the pre-match period, specifically during player warm-ups. FIFA does not guarantee the exact placement on the screen or a minimum broadcast duration. A moderation committee strictly filters requests, automatically excluding any messages with political, commercial, or offensive connotations.