As shades of Argentina’s triumph in Qatar remain firmly entrenched in the memory, the 2026 World Cup is right around the corner.
Hosted across North America, 48 teams will descend upon the United States, Canada, and Mexico as the tournament expands the field for the first time in decades.
While Argentina look to defend their title, some of the world’s best teams will hope to dethrone the South American giants and keep them from being the first country to repeat as World Cup champions since Brazil over 60 years ago.
The likes of England, France, and Spain will have their eyes on the famous FIFA trophy, while hosts USA will bid to deliver their best ever performance in the tournament’s modern format.
The Sporting News brings you a look at how the group stage will shape up, and the wider bracket heading into the expanded knockout phase.
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World Cup 2026 groups
We knew before the draw that Mexico will be in Group A, Canada in Group B, and USA in Group D.
The remaining layout of the group stage was determined at the final draw on December 5.
| Group |
Pot 1 |
Pot 2 |
Pot 3 |
Pot 4 |
| A |
Mexico |
South Korea |
South Africa |
UEFA Playoff D |
| B |
Canada |
Switzerland |
Qatar |
UEFA Playoff A |
| C |
Brazil |
Morocco |
Scotland |
Haiti |
| D |
USA |
Australia |
Paraguay |
UEFA Playoff D |
| E |
Germany |
Ecuador |
Ivory Coast |
Curacao |
| F |
Netherlands |
Japan |
Tunisia |
UEFA Playoff B |
| G |
Belgium |
Iran |
Egypt |
New Zealand |
| H |
Spain |
Uruguay |
Saudi Arabia |
Cape Verde |
| I |
France |
Senegal |
Norway |
FIFA Playoff 2 |
| J |
Argentina |
Austria |
Algeria |
Jordan |
| K |
Portugal |
Colombia |
Uzbekistan |
FIFA Playoff 1 |
| L |
England |
Croatia |
Panama |
Ghana |
WORLD CUP DRAW BREAKDOWNS:
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F
Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L
World Cup 2026 kickoff times
This section will be updated when kickoff times are set. FIFA has indicated that the precise World Cup schedule will be announced on Saturday, December 6 at around 12 p.m. ET.
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Complete World Cup 2026 match schedule
The World Cup draw will be held on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
It will be there that the teams are distributed across the 12 groups and their pathways to a potential final are made clear.
The hosts have already been pre-assigned certain places in the group stage: Mexico are in Group A, Canada Group B, and the USA in Group D. Additionally, new rules dictate that the world’s top-four sides according to the FIFA rankings — Spain, Argentina, France and England — will be on opposite sides of the bracket so they cannot meet until the latter stages.
MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:
World Cup 2026 group stage
All venues and kickoff times for each group stage match will be officially announced by FIFA one day after the draw, on December 6, 2025.
Group A table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Mexico |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
South Africa |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
South Korea |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
UEFA Playoff D |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The UEFA Playoff D qualifier will be either Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, or North Macedonia
Group A fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Thu, Jun. 11 |
|
Mexico vs. South Africa |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX) |
| Thu, Jun. 11 |
|
South Korea vs. TBD |
Estadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX) |
| Thu, Jun. 18 |
|
TBD vs. South Africa |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
| Thu, Jun. 18 |
|
Mexico vs. A3South Korea |
Estadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX) |
| Wed, Jun. 24 |
|
TBD vs. Mexico |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX) |
| Wed, Jun. 24 |
|
South Africa vs. South Korea |
Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, MEX) |
STADIUM GUIDES: Estadio Azteca | Estadio Akron | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Estadio BBVA
Group B table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Canada |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
UEFA Playoff A |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Qatar |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Switzerland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The UEFA Playoff A qualifier will be either Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland, or Bosnia & Herzegovina
Group B fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Fri, Jun. 12 |
|
Canada vs. TBD |
BMO Field (Toronto, CAN) |
| Sat, Jun. 13 |
|
Qatar vs. Switzerland |
Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA) |
| Thu, Jun. 18 |
|
Switzerland vs. TBD |
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Thu, Jun. 18 |
|
Canada vs. Qatar |
BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) |
| Wed, Jun. 24 |
|
Switzerland vs. Canada |
BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) |
| Wed, Jun. 24 |
|
TBD vs. Qatar |
Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
STADIUM GUIDES: BMO Field | Levi’s Stadium | SoFi Stadium | BC Place | Lumen Field
Group C table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Brazil |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Morocco |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Haiti |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Scotland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Group C fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Sat, Jun. 13 |
|
Brazil vs. Morocco |
|
| Sat, Jun. 13 |
|
Haiti vs. Scotland |
|
| Fri, Jun. 19 |
|
Brazil vs. Haiti |
|
| Fri, Jun. 19 |
|
Scotland vs. Morocco |
|
| Wed, Jun. 24 |
|
Scotland vs. Brazil |
|
| Wed, Jun. 24 |
|
Morocco vs. Haiti |
|
Group D table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
United States |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Paraguay |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Australia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
UEFA Playoff C |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The UEFA Playoff C qualifier will be either Slovakia, Turkey, Kosovo, or Romania
Group D fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Fri, Jun. 12 |
|
United States vs. Paraguay |
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Sat, Jun. 13 |
|
Australia vs. TBD |
BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) |
| Fri, Jun. 19 |
|
TBD vs. Paraguay |
Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA) |
| Fri, Jun. 19 |
|
United States vs. Australia |
Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
| Thu, Jun. 25 |
|
TBD vs. United States |
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Thu, Jun. 25 |
|
Paraguay vs. Australia |
Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA) |
STADIUM GUIDES: SoFi Stadium | BC Place | Levi’s Stadium | Lumen Field
Group E table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Germany |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Curacao |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Ivory Coast |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Ecuador |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Group E fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Sun, Jun. 14 |
|
Germany vs. Curacao |
|
| Sun, Jun. 14 |
|
Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador |
|
| Sat, Jun. 20 |
|
Germany vs. Ivory Coast |
|
| Sat, Jun. 20 |
|
Ecuador vs. Curacao |
|
| Thu, Jun. 25 |
|
Ecuador vs. Germany |
|
| Thu, Jun. 25 |
|
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast |
|
Group F table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Netherlands |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Japan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
UEFA Playoff B |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Tunisia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The UEFA Playoff B qualifier will be either Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania
Group F fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Sun, Jun. 14 |
|
Netherlands vs. Japan |
|
| Sun, Jun. 14 |
|
TBD vs. Tunisia |
|
| Sat, Jun. 20 |
|
Netherlands vs. TBD |
|
| Sat, Jun. 20 |
|
Tunisia vs. Japan |
|
| Thu, Jun. 25 |
|
Tunisia vs. Netherlands |
|
| Thu, Jun. 25 |
|
Japan vs. TBD |
|
Group G table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Belgium |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Egypt |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Iran |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
New Zealand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Group G fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Mon, Jun. 15 |
|
Belgium vs. Egypt |
|
| Mon, Jun. 15 |
|
Iran vs. New Zealand |
|
| Sun, Jun. 21 |
|
Belgium vs. Iran |
|
| Sun, Jun. 21 |
|
New Zealand vs. Egypt |
|
| Fri, Jun. 26 |
|
New Zealand vs. Belgium |
|
| Fri, Jun. 26 |
|
Egypt vs. Iran |
|
Group H table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Spain |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Cape Verde |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Saudi Arabia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Uruguay |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Group H fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Mon, Jun. 15 |
|
Spain vs. Cape Verde |
|
| Mon, Jun. 15 |
|
Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay |
|
| Sun, Jun. 21 |
|
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia |
|
| Sun, Jun. 21 |
|
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde |
|
| Fri, Jun. 26 |
|
Uruguay vs. Spain |
|
| Fri, Jun. 26 |
|
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia |
|
Group I table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
France |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Senegal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
FIFA Playoff 2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Norway |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 2 qualifier will be either Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname.
Group I fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Tue, Jun. 16 |
|
France vs. Senegal |
|
| Tue, Jun. 16 |
|
TBD vs. Norway |
|
| Mon, Jun. 22 |
|
France vs. TBD |
|
| Mon, Jun. 22 |
|
Norway vs. Senegal |
|
| Fri, Jun. 26 |
|
Norway vs. France |
|
| Fri, Jun. 26 |
|
Senegal vs. TBD |
|
Group J table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Argentina |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Algeria |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Austria |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Jordan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Group J fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Tue, Jun. 16 |
|
Argentina vs. Algeria |
|
| Tue, Jun. 16 |
|
Austria vs. Jordan |
|
| Mon, Jun. 22 |
|
Argentina vs. Austria |
|
| Mon, Jun. 22 |
|
Jordan vs. Algeria |
|
| Sat, Jun. 27 |
|
Jordan vs. Argentina |
|
| Sat, Jun. 27 |
|
Algeria vs. Austria |
|
Group K table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
Portugal |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
FIFA Playoff 1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Uzbekistan |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Colombia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
The FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 1 qualifier will be either DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.
Group K fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Fri, Jun. 17 |
|
Portugal vs. TBD |
|
| Fri, Jun. 17 |
|
Uzbekistan vs. Colombia |
|
| Tue, Jun. 23 |
|
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan |
|
| Tue, Jun. 23 |
|
Colombia vs. TBD |
|
| Sat, Jun. 27 |
|
Colombia vs. Portugal |
|
| Sat, Jun. 27 |
|
TBD vs. Uzbekistan |
|
Group L table
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
England |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
Croatia |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
Ghana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
Panama |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Group L fixtures
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Match |
Location |
| Fri, Jun. 17 |
|
England vs. Croatia |
|
| Fri, Jun. 17 |
|
Ghana vs. Panama |
|
| Tue, Jun. 23 |
|
England vs. Ghana |
|
| Tue, Jun. 23 |
|
Panama vs. Croatia |
|
| Sat, Jun. 27 |
|
Panama vs. England |
|
| Sat, Jun. 27 |
|
Croatia vs. Ghana |
|
Ranking of third-place finishers
The top eight third-place finishers will qualify for the knockout stage, while the bottom four will be eliminated.
| Pos |
Team |
PTS |
GP |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
| 1. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 3. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 4. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 5. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 6. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 7. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 8. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 9. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 10. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 11. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 12. |
TBD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
World Cup 2026 knockout stage
Round of 32
| Date |
Match |
Location |
| Sun, Jun. 28 |
M1: 2nd, Group A vs. 2nd, Group B |
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Mon, Jun. 29 |
M2: 1st, Group E vs. 3rd place finisher |
Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA) |
| Mon, Jun. 29 |
M3: 1st, Group F vs. 2nd, Group C |
Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, MEX) |
| Mon, Jun. 29 |
M4: 1st, Group C vs. 2nd, Group F |
NRG Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Tue, Jun. 30 |
M5: 1st, Group I vs. 3rd place finisher |
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) |
| Tue, Jun. 30 |
M6: 2nd, Group E vs. 2nd, Group I |
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) |
| Tue, Jun. 30 |
M7: 1st, Group A vs. 3rd place finisher |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX) |
| Wed, Jul. 1 |
M8: 1st, Group L vs. 3rd place finisher |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
| Wed, Jul. 1 |
M9: 1st, Group D vs. 3rd place finisher |
Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA) |
| Wed, Jul. 1 |
M10: 1st, Group G vs. 3rd place finisher |
Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
| Thu, Jul. 2 |
M11: 2nd, Group K vs. 2nd, Group L |
BMO Field (Toronto, CAN) |
| Thu, Jul. 2 |
M12: 1st, Group H vs. 2nd, Group J |
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Thu, Jul. 2 |
M13: 1st, Group B vs. 3rd place finisher |
BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) |
| Fri, Jul. 3 |
M14: 1st, Group J vs. 2nd, Group H |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL) |
| Fri, Jul. 3 |
M15: 1st, Group K vs. 3rd place finisher |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO) |
| Fr, Jul. 3 |
M16: 2nd, Group D vs. 2nd, Group G |
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) |
Round of 16
| Date |
Match |
Location |
| Sat, Jul. 4 |
M1: Winner, R32 M2 vs. Winner, R32 M5 |
Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Sat, Jul. 4 |
M2: Winner, R32 M1 vs. Winner, R32 M3 |
NRG Stadium (Houston, TX) |
| Sun, Jul. 5 |
M3: Winner, R32 M4 vs. Winner, R32 M6 |
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) |
| Sun, Jul. 5 |
M4: Winner, R32 M7 vs. Winner, R32 M8 |
Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX) |
| Mon, Jul. 6 |
M5: Winner, R32 M11 vs. Winner, R32 M12 |
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) |
| Mon, Jul. 6 |
M6: Winner, R32 M9 vs. Winner, R32 M10 |
Lumen Field (Seattle, WA) |
| Tue, Jul. 7 |
M7: Winner, R32 M14 vs. Winner, R32 M16 |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
| Tue, Jul. 7 |
M8: Winner, R32 M13 vs. Winner, R32 M15 |
BC Place (Vancouver, CAN) |
Quarterfinals
| Date |
Match |
Location |
| Thu, Jul. 9 |
QF1: Winner, R16 M1 vs. Winner, R16 M2 |
Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA) |
| Fri, Jul. 10 |
QF2: Winner, R16 M5 vs. Winner, R16 M6 |
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA) |
| Sat, Jul. 11 |
QF3: Winner, R16 M3 vs. Winner, R16 M4 |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL) |
| Sat, Jul. 11 |
QF4: Winner, R16 M7 vs. Winner, R16 M8 |
Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO) |
Semifinals
| Date |
Match |
Location |
| Tue, Jul. 14 |
SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF2 |
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX) |
| Wed, Jul. 15 |
SF2: Winner, QF3 vs. Winner, QF4 |
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
Third place match
| Date |
Match |
Location |
| Sat, Jul. 18 |
Loser, SF1 vs. Loser, SF2 |
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL) |
Final
| Date |
Match |
Location |
| Sun, Jul. 19 |
Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2 |
MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ) |
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