The World Cup is finally here. Here’s how to watch (and everything else you need to know).

With the World Cup set to kick off on Thursday, 104 matches will be played across 39 days.

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The group stage will be the busiest time of the schedule, with 72 matches to be contested between June 11 from 27.

Group-stage matches will be played in 16 cities across the three countries. In addition to Boston, 10 other US cities (Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Francisco Bay Area) will host matches. In Canada, Toronto and Vancouver are the venues. Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey are the host cities in Mexico.

The expanded 48-team field will see 32 teams advance. The bottom team from each group will be eliminated. Matches will end after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, and teams will be awarded 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.

So, how can you watch all the action?

All 104 matches will be broadcast across FOX and FS1. They can also be streamed though FOX One and the FOX Sports app.

If you do not have cable, these streaming services carry those channels: Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, and DIRECTV Stream.

Telemundo and its affiliates will be broadcasting the Spanish-language matches in the US. Peacock is streaming all 104 matches in Spanish.

You can see the day-by-day World Cup schedule here.

Looking for something surrounded by more people? Here’s a list of community watch parties. The largest such example will be at the FIFA fan festival, held at Boston City Hall, which will also livestream matches for the 16 days that it is operational.

A list of what days that is open and which matches will be livestreamed can be viewed here.

Here are the matches to be played in Boston, starting with the group stage.

Sat., June 13, 9 p.m. (FS1): Haiti vs. Scotland

Scotland, ranked 45th in the FIFA rankings, holds a decisive edge on Haiti (No. 83) and boasts players such as Napoli’s Scott McTominay, Aston Villa’s John McGinn, and Liverpool’s Andy Robertson.

Tues., June 16, 6 p.m. (Fox): Iraq vs. Norway

What a prime opportunity to see one of the best players in the world, Norway’s Erling Haaland, in person.

Fri., June 19, 6 p.m. (Fox): Scotland vs. Morocco

Led by defender Achraf Hakimi, Morocco was a semifinalist at the 2022 World Cup. The Atlas Lions are No. 8 in the FIFA rankings.

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Tues., June 23, 4 p.m. (Fox): England vs. Ghana

One of the favorites, the Three Lions seek their first World Cup title since 1966. From top to bottom, England’s lineup is stacked, with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane leading the line.

Fri., June 26, 3 p.m. (Fox): Norway vs. France

Arguably the best of the group-stage matchups in Boston, Kylian Mbappé and Les Bleus will battle Haaland and Norway in what amounts to must-see TV.

Round of 32

Sixteen teams will be eliminated after the group stage. From the Round of 32 on, it is single-elimination knockout. If the match goes to overtime, two 15-minutes periods will be played. If the match is still tied after 120 minutes plus stoppage time, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.

Boston hosts one match in the Round of 32 on Mon., June 29 at 3 p.m., which will be broadcast on Fox. It features the winner of Group E vs. a third-place finisher in Group A/B/C/D/F.

The other cities hosting Round of 32 matches are Los Angeles, Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Atlanta, Seattle, Miami, San Francisco, Houston, Kansas City, Mexico City, Monterrey, Vancouver, and Toronto.

Boston will not host a game in the Round of 16, which kicks off on July 4. That round features the final match each in Canada and Mexico, with the tournament’s premier clashes to be played in the United States.

Quarterfinals

Boston will host one of the four quarterfinal games, on Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m. The others are in Los Angeles (July 10, 3 p.m.), Miami (July 11, 5 p.m.), and Kansas City (July 11, 9 p.m.).

The tournament wraps with two semifinals (July 14, 3 p.m. in Dallas and July 15, 3 p.m. in Atlanta) then the third-place match on July 18 (5 p.m., Miami) and the final on July 19 (3 p.m., MetLife Stadium in New Jersey).

Eight teams will play in Massachusetts during the group stage: England, France, Haiti, Iraq, Morocco, Norway, and Scotland. Learn more about all eight — their stars, their playing style, their history, and their projected finish — here.

We also have a list of the top 10 players in Foxborough here.

Who should you root for in the World Cup? Take our quiz to pick a country.

We also have details on the favorites for the World Cup — why they’ll win, and why they won’t.

Check out some underrated teams to root for here, and the most overrated teams entering the tournament here.

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About the fans

• With the World Cup here, one final question remains: Has ‘Ted Lasso’ made soccer more popular in the United States?
• This Scottish soccer superfan is walking across the country in a kilt. His last stop? Boston.
• Will World Cup frenzy also bring ‘hooliganism’ to Boston? Here’s what experts say.
• Boston’s Haitian community celebrates World Cup qualification, team forward with Mass. roots

News you can use

• The nine best soccer bars in Greater Boston for World Cup watching
• Where to eat in Rhode Island during the World Cup, based on what team you’re rooting for
• Here are the details about the World Cup trains to Gillette, and how it could impact your commute
• Here’s what we know — and don’t know — about immigration enforcement and the World Cup

Talking soccer

• Ambitions were high after the last men’s World Cup in the US. Here’s what’s happened to the home team since.
• NFL stadium conversions to grass for World Cup proves challenging, especially at indoor venues
• Why is France practicing at Bentley University? Perfect grass and complete privacy.
• The state of the US men’s national team entering the World Cup: Americans should advance, but how far?
• Heat, humidity, elevation, long travel — these countries have the toughest road at the World Cup

Business, politics, and controversy

• Robert Kraft helped bring the World Cup to North America. Will this time be different?
• Why do NFL owners want to host World Cup games? It’s not for the revenue.
• After delays and frustrations, the clock is ticking. The games are here. And Boston could learn from it.
• Boston hotels were expecting a World Cup gold mine. Travelers had other plans.
• Parking, extra staffing, and lobster rolls: Foxborough businesses brace for uncertain World Cup crowds
• As the World Cup comes to Foxborough, homeowners are renting out their lawns for parking
• ‘A frustrating mess’: Inside Boston’s troubled World Cup volunteer rollout
• Here’s how Boston’s World Cup preparations compare to other host cities