Football fans will have to wait one more day for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to resume, as the tournament enters its first scheduled rest day since the knockout rounds began.
After weeks of regular matches across the United States, Canada and Mexico, FIFA has paused the competition to give the remaining teams time to recover before the quarter-finals.
The tournament is now down to eight teams, with only seven matches left before a new world champion is crowned. Because fewer games remain, the schedule has been spaced out to give players more rest, especially after the physical demands of the expanded 48-team format.
The quarter-finals will take place from July 9 to July 11, followed by another rest day on July 13. The semi-finals are scheduled for July 14 and 15, while the third-place match will be played on July 18. The final is set for July 19.
The break is important because any team that reaches the final could play up to eight matches during the tournament. Players have also had to deal with long-distance travel across North America and tough summer weather conditions.
After Wednesday’s pause, three more match-free days remain before the tournament ends. There will be no games on July 13 before the semi-finals, and no matches on July 16 and 17 before the final weekend.
World Cup action will return on Thursday with the first quarter-final, as the remaining teams continue their fight for a place in the semi-finals.
