Group A ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ท
Mexico (co-host), South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Playoff D
DateMatchCityTime (ET)
June 11 – Mexico vs. South Africa – Mexico City 3 p.m.
June 11 – South Korea vs. UEFA Playoff D – Guadalajara – 10 p.m.
June 18 – UEFA Playoff D vs. South Africa – Atlanta – 12 p.m.
June 18 – Mexico vs. South Korea – Guadalajara – 9 p.m.
June 22 – UEFA Playoff D vs. Mexico – Mexico City – 9 p.m.
June 22 – South Africa vs. South Korea – Monterrey – 9 p.m.
UEFA Playoff D: Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, or Ireland
Mexico, currently struggling under Javier Aguirre, will open the tournament against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca. Of the three co-hosts, Mexico’s home advantage might arguably be the most volatile. El Tri could benefit greatly from their home support, but if things go sideways, the Mexican fans have already shown they’re more than willing to make the players on the pitch aware of their frustrations. The final spot in the group will be determined in March 2026, when all the European and intercontinental playoffs take place to decide the last six qualifiers for the World Cup.
Group B ๐จ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ
Canada (co-host), UEFA Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Date Match City Time (ET)
June 12 – Canada vs. UEFA Playoff A – Toronto – 3 p.m.
June 13 – Qatar vs. Switzerland – San Francisco – 3 p.m.
June 18 – Switzerland vs. UEFA Playoff A – Los Angeles – 3 p.m.
June 18 – Canada vs. Qatar – Vancouver – 6 p.m.
June 24 – Switzerland vs. Canada – Vancouver – 3 p.m.
June 24 – UEFA Playoff A vs. Qatar – Seattle – 3 p.m.
UEFA Playoff A: Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Bosnia and Herzegovina
Should Italy advance through its UEFA playoff path, the Azzurri will return to the tournament for the first time since 2014 with a match against Canada in Toronto. The city’s sizable Canadian-Italian population would have to decide which shirt color to don for the contest.
Group C ๐ง๐ท๐ฒ๐ฆ๐ญ๐น๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
DateMatchCityTime (ET)
June 13 – Brazil vs. Morocco – New Jersey – 6 p.m.
June 13Haiti vs. ScotlandBoston9 p.m.
June 19Scotland vs. MoroccoBoston6 p.m.
June 19Brazil vs. HaitiPhiladelphia9 p.m.
June 24Scotland vs. BrazilMiami6 p.m.
June 24Morocco vs. HaitiAtlanta6 p.m.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil won’t have it easy in Group C. Morocco, which finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup, will provide a massive test. Meanwhile, Scotland returns to the tournament for the first time in 28 years and will be spurred on by a boisterous Tartan Army.
Group D ๐บ๐ธ๐ต๐พ๐ฆ๐บ
United States (co-host), Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff CDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 12United States vs. ParaguayLos Angeles9 p.m.June 13Australia vs. UEFA Playoff CVancouver12 a.m.June 19UEFA Playoff C vs. ParaguaySan Francisco12 a.m.June 19United States vs. AustraliaSeattle3 p.m.June 25UEFA Playoff C vs. United StatesLos Angeles10 p.m.June 25Paraguay vs. AustraliaSan Francisco10 p.m.
UEFA Playoff C: Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo
Mauricio Pochettino has to be happy with this. While the result of the European playoff could make this quartet more difficult, the suddenly high-flying United States will take on Paraguay and Australia – two teams it recently defeated in friendly matches.
Group E ๐ฉ๐ช๐จ๐ผ๐จ๐ฎ๐ช๐จ
Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, EcuadorDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 14Germany vs. CuracaoHouston1 p.m.June 14Ivory Coast vs. EcuadorPhiladelphia7 p.m.June 20Germany vs. Ivory CoastToronto4 p.m.June 20Ecuador vs. CuracaoKansas City8 p.m.June 25Ecuador vs. GermanyNew Jersey4 p.m.June 25Curacao vs. Ivory CoastPhiladelphia4 p.m.
Although the Germans stumbled a little bit in qualifying, they ultimately got the job done and now stand out as the favorites to advance from Group E. Ecuador’s resolute defense will be very difficult to break down, while the Ivorians have all the talent necessary to cause major upsets in the group. Both sides will fancy their chances against tiny tournament debutant Curacao.
Group F ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ต๐น๐ณ
Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Playoff B, TunisiaDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 14Netherlands vs. JapanDallas4 p.m.June 14UEFA Playoff B vs. TunisiaMonterrey10 p.m.June 20Netherlands vs. UEFA Playoff BHouston1 p.m.June 20Tunisia vs. JapanMonterrey12 a.m.June 25Japan vs. UEFA Playoff BDallas7 p.m.June 25Tunisia vs. NetherlandsKansas City7 p.m.
UEFA Playoff B: Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania
This could sneakily end up being one of the most interesting groups of the tournament, with the Netherlands and Japan playing refined styles that will be easy on the eyes. Tunisia, a perennial World Cup team that’s always among Africa’s most stout sides, will push them all the way.
Group G ๐ง๐ช๐ช๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ท๐ณ๐ฟ
Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New ZealandDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 15Iran vs. New ZealandLos Angeles9 p.m.June 15Belgium vs. EgyptSeattle3 p.m.June 21Belgium vs. IranLos Angeles3 p.m.June 21New Zealand vs. EgyptVancouver9 p.m.June 26Egypt vs. IranSeattle11 p.m.June 26New Zealand vs. BelgiumVancouver11 p.m.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will see plenty of familiar faces when the Egyptian star and his teammates take on Belgium in what is the most interesting Group G contest. Iran and New Zealand meet in their first match, which should create a perfect group dynamic in which they both come out knowing that anything less than a victory in the opener could be devastating for their chances of advancing.
Group H ๐ช๐ธ๐จ๐ป๐ธ๐ฆ๐บ๐พ
Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, UruguayDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 15Spain vs. Cape VerdeAtlanta12 p.m.June 15Saudi Arabia vs. UruguayMiami6 p.m.June 21Spain vs. Saudi ArabiaAtlanta12 p.m.June 21Uruguay vs. Cape VerdeMiami6 p.m.June 26Cape Verde vs. Saudi ArabiaHouston8 p.m.June 26Uruguay vs. SpainGuadalajara8 p.m.
Tough break for first-timer Cape Verde and 2034 World Cup host Saudi Arabia, as matchups with Spain and Uruguay are about as daunting as they come in the same group. Soccer’s greatest spectacle always delivers some stunners, though, and the Saudis will look to replicate what they did to eventual champion Argentina in 2022.
Group I ๐ซ๐ท๐ธ๐ณ๐ณ๐ด
France, Senegal, Intercontinental Playoff 2, NorwayDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 16France vs. SenegalNew Jersey3 p.m.June 16Intercontinental Playoff 2 vs. NorwayBoston6 p.m.June 22France vs. Intercontinental Playoff 2Philadelphia5 p.m.June 22Norway vs. SenegalNew Jersey8 p.m.June 26Norway vs. FranceBoston3 p.m.June 26Senegal vs. Intercontinental Playoff 2Toronto3 p.m.
Intercontinental Playoff 2: Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname
This is probably the big one for neutral viewers. Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, arguably the two most singularly dominant forwards in the sport today, will clash when title hopeful France battles a loaded Norwegian side that steamrolled its competition in qualifying to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998. Don’t overlook Senegal: the Lions of Teranga have prior experience against France in World Cup matchups.
Group J ๐ฆ๐ท๐ฉ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐น๐ฏ๐ด
Argentina, Algeria, Austria, JordanDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 16Argentina vs. AlgeriaKansas City9 p.m.June 16Austria vs. JordanSan Francisco12 a.m.June 22Argentina vs. AustriaDallas1 p.m.June 22Jordan vs. AlgeriaSan Francisco11 p.m.June 27Algeria vs. AustriaKansas City10 p.m.June 27Jordan vs. ArgentinaDallas10 p.m.
Assuming Lionel Messi plays at the World Cup – he remains coy on his status whenever he’s asked – the Argentine icon and his compatriots will be loving what transpired at the draw. The reigning World Cup champion was paired with just one European nation and looks, at least on paper, like an overwhelming mismatch for Algeria and Jordan.
Group K ๐ต๐น๐บ๐ฟ๐จ๐ด
Portugal, Intercontinental Playoff 1, Uzbekistan, ColombiaDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 17Portugal vs. Intercontinental Playoff 1Houston1 p.m.June 17Uzbekistan vs. ColombiaMexico City10 p.m.June 23Portugal vs. UzbekistanHouston1 p.m.June 23Colombia vs. Intercontinental Playoff 1Guadalajara10 p.m.June 27Colombia vs. PortugalMiami7:30 p.m.June 27Intercontinental Playoff 1 vs. UzbekistanAtlanta7:30 p.m.
Intercontinental Playoff 1: DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia
Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t get quite so lucky thanks to Portugal being paired with the extremely talented Colombians. But the all-time top scorer in men’s international soccer, free to play in the tournament despite his red card in qualifying, could certainly add to his record tally in this group.
Group L
England, Croatia, Ghana, PanamaDateMatchCityTime (ET)June 17England vs. CroatiaDallas4 p.m.June 17Ghana vs. PanamaToronto7 p.m.June 23England vs. GhanaBoston4 p.m.June 23Panama vs. CroatiaToronto7 p.m.June 27Panama vs. EnglandNew Jersey5 p.m.June 27Croatia vs. GhanaPhiladelphia5 p.m.
England versus Croatia is another standout match in the group stage. Thomas Tuchel’s loaded squad is being tipped as one of the tournament favorites, and with good reason. Luka Modric and his battle-tested Croatian teammates will provide a perfect early test that could give a good indication of just how legitimate the Three Lions’ title aspirations are.
To learn more about each team that’s qualified so far, tap here.
Knockout schedule
Once the group stage concludes, the expanded knockout stage of the World Cup runs as follows:
- Round of 32: June 28-July 3
- Round of 16: July 4-7
- Quarterfinals: July 8-11
- Semifinals: July 14-15
- Third-place match: July 18
- Final: July 19
In a delicious outcome, if Argentina and Portugal both win their groups and advance to the quarterfinals, icons Messi and Ronaldo could meet with a semifinal berth on the line. Ronaldo has already said this will be his final World Cup, while Messi is yet to confirm that he will play in the event, remaining coy on his participation.