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Why Are There No World Cup Games Today? Explaining the Break in the Schedule

There are now just four teams and four matches remaining at the 2026 World Cup, with the tournament entering its decisive final stretch.
Barnaby Lane|
You'll have to settle for something else to watch for a day or so.
You'll have to settle for something else to watch for a day or so. | Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The 2026 World Cup has reached its business end.

What began with a record 48 teams is now down to just four, with France set to face Spain and England renewing its rivalry with Argentina in the semifinals.

Before the action resumes, though, the tournament takes a brief pause—a change of pace that may feel unusual after weeks of almost non-stop soccer. Since kickoff, fans have been treated to multiple matches on most days across the United States, Canada and Mexico, but with only a handful of games remaining, the schedule inevitably begins to slow.

So why is there a break before the semifinals? And when will the World Cup action return? Here's why FIFA has built a day off into the schedule.

Why Aren't There Any World Cup Games Today?

Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham deserves a break. | Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images

The World Cup quarterfinals concluded on Saturday—or early Sunday morning in some time zones—with England defeating Norway and Argentina overcoming Switzerland to book their places in the final four.

A day earlier, Spain edged past Belgium, while France kicked off the quarterfinals by beating Morocco on Thursday.

Simply put, there are no World Cup games on Sunday (July 12) or on Monday (July 13) because FIFA has built a short break into the schedule to give the four remaining teams time to rest, recover and prepare for the semifinals.

The tournament resumes on Tuesday, July 14, when France takes on Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. England and Argentina then meet 24 hours later at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

The staggered schedule means all four semifinalists receive several days to recover before returning to action, although France will enjoy slightly more rest after playing its quarterfinal first.

Which Other Days Will Have No World Cup Games?

Following this break, there will be two more days without World Cup action before the tournament reaches its conclusion.

After the semifinals are played on Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15, there will be no matches on Thursday, July 16, or Friday, July 17. The two-day pause gives the finalists additional time to recover and prepare for the biggest match in world soccer.

The tournament then resumes on Saturday, July 18, with the third-place playoff, before the 2026 World Cup comes to a close on Sunday, July 19, when the final is held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

World Cup Schedule—Semifinals Onwards

Stage

Dates

Semifinals

July 14–15

Third place playoff

July 18

Final

July 19

READ THE LATEST WORLD CUP NEWS, PREVIEWS & ANALYSIS HERE

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Barnaby Lane
BARNABY LANE

Barnaby Lane, better known as Barney, is a soccer writer for SI FC. With nearly a decade of experience in the industry, he has worked for a range of household-name publications in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and has interviewed some of the world’s biggest athletes—from Usain Bolt and Rafael Nadal to Christian Pulisic (though his favorite interview remains Adebayo Akinfenwa). Barney specializes in Premier League soccer, covering everything from the nostalgia of years gone by to the modern, vastly different landscape of today’s game. He also has experience reporting on La Liga and Major League Soccer, the latter of which he developed a particular affinity for during his university days at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

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