FIFA World Cup 2026: The FIFA World Cup 2026 is all set to mark a historic chapter in football history. For the first time ever, the tournament will feature 48 teams, expanded groups, and an extended knockout phase.
Co-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the USA, this edition promises bigger crowds, more drama, and matchups football fans have been dreaming of for years.
The official World Cup draw, held at the iconic John F. Kennedy Center, has unveiled several thrilling group clashes, including a potential Kylian Mbappe vs. Erling Haaland showdown and major battles across all 12 groups. With the full schedule now released, here’s everything you must know.
Major Highlights of FIFA World Cup 2026
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups (A to L), 4 teams each
- Tournament to be played across 16 cities in North America
- First-ever World Cup with an expanded Round of 32
- Tournament begins on June 11, 2026, and ends with the final on July 19, 2026
- Dream clashes: France vs. Senegal, England vs. Croatia, Mbappe vs. Haaland, Brazil vs. Morocco, and more
Blockbuster Groups to Watch
Group I: The Group of Fire
This group steals the spotlight with:
- France
- Senegal
- Norway
- Winner of FIFA Playoff 2
This means football fans could witness Mbappe vs. Haaland for the first time at a World Cup. Senegal adds even more spice with their athletic, aggressive style.
Group L: England on High Alert
- England
- Croatia
- Panama
- Ghana
With Luka Modric’s Croatia and a physical Ghana side, this group promises high-intensity matches.
Group B: Will Italy Join?
Italy still awaits their playoff fate. If they qualify, they will join:
- Canada
- Qatar
- Switzerland
This group could turn into a battleground of contrasting playing styles.
Tournament Opener — June 11, 2026
The World Cup kicks off in style at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City:
- Mexico vs South Africa (Group A)
- South Korea vs UEFA Playoff D winner in Guadalajara
Full FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule (Group Stage)
Below is the complete date-by-date match schedule covering every group game.
June 11
- Mexico vs South Africa — Mexico City
- South Korea vs UEFA Playoff D — Guadalajara
June 12
- Canada vs UEFA Playoff A — Toronto
- USA vs Paraguay — Los Angeles
June 13
- Brazil vs Morocco — Boston/New York
- Australia vs UEFA Playoff C — Vancouver
- Haiti vs Scotland — Boston/New York
- Qatar vs Switzerland — San Francisco Bay Area
June 14
- Germany vs Curaçao — Philadelphia/Houston
- Ivory Coast vs Ecuador — Philadelphia/Houston
- Netherlands vs Japan — Dallas/Monterrey
- UEFA Playoff B vs Tunisia — Dallas/Monterrey
June 15
- Spain vs Cape Verde — Miami/Atlanta
- Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — Miami/Atlanta
- Belgium vs Egypt — Los Angeles/Seattle
- Iran vs New Zealand — Los Angeles/Seattle
June 16
- France vs Senegal — New York/New Jersey or Boston
- FIFA Playoff 2 vs Norway — Same venue
- Argentina vs Algeria — Kansas City/San Francisco Bay Area
- Austria vs Jordan — Same venue
June 17
- England vs Croatia — Toronto/Dallas
- Ghana vs Panama — Same venue
- Portugal vs FIFA Playoff 1 — Houston/Mexico City
- Uzbekistan vs Colombia — Same venue
June 18
- UEFA Playoff D vs South Africa — Atlanta
- Switzerland vs UEFA Playoff A — Los Angeles
- Canada vs Qatar — Vancouver
- Mexico vs South Korea — Guadalajara
June 19
- Brazil vs Haiti — Philadelphia/New York
- Scotland vs Morocco — Same venue
- UEFA Playoff C vs Paraguay — San Francisco Bay Area
- USA vs Australia — Seattle
June 20
- Germany vs Ivory Coast — Toronto/Kansas City
- Ecuador vs Curaçao — Same venue
- Netherlands vs UEFA Playoff B — Houston/Monterrey
- Tunisia vs Japan — Same venue
June 21
- Spain vs Saudi Arabia — Miami/Atlanta
- Uruguay vs Cape Verde — Same venue
- Belgium vs Iran — Los Angeles/Vancouver
- New Zealand vs Egypt — Same venue
June 22
- France vs FIFA Playoff 2 — New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia
- Norway vs Senegal — Same venue
- Argentina vs Austria — Dallas/San Francisco Bay Area
- Jordan vs Algeria — Same venue
June 23
- England vs Ghana — Boston/Toronto
- Panama vs Croatia — Same venue
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan — Houston/Guadalajara
- Colombia vs FIFA Playoff 1 — Same venue
June 24
- Scotland vs Brazil — Miami/Atlanta
- Morocco vs Haiti — Same venue
- Canada vs Switzerland — Vancouver
- UEFA Playoff A vs Qatar — Seattle
- Mexico vs UEFA Playoff D — Mexico City
- South Korea vs South Africa — Monterrey
June 25
- Ecuador vs Germany — Philadelphia/New York
- Curaçao vs Ivory Coast — Same venue
- Tunisia vs Netherlands — Dallas/Kansas City
- Japan vs UEFA Playoff B — Same venue
- USA vs UEFA Playoff C — Los Angeles
- Paraguay vs Australia — San Francisco Bay Area
June 26
- Norway vs France — Boston/Toronto
- Senegal vs FIFA Playoff 2 — Same venue
- New Zealand vs Belgium — Seattle/Vancouver
- Egypt vs Iran — Same venue
- Uruguay vs Spain — Houston/Guadalajara
- Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — Same venue
June 27
- Panama vs England — New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia
- Croatia vs Ghana — Same venue
- Jordan vs Argentina — Kansas City/Dallas
- Algeria vs Austria — Same venue
- Colombia vs Portugal — Miami/Atlanta
- FIFA Playoff 1 vs Uzbekistan — Same venue
Knockout Stage Schedule
- Round of 32: June 28 – July 3
- Round of 16: July 4 – July 7
- Quarterfinals: July 9 – July 11
- Semifinals: July 14–15 — AT&T Stadium & Mercedes-Benz Stadium
- Third-place match: July 18 — Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
- Grand Final: July 19, 2026 — MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
Final Word
The 2026 World Cup promises to be the biggest, longest, and most competitive World Cup ever. With historic rivalries, dream matchups, and football’s most iconic stars sharing the stage, fans around the world are in for an unforgettable summer.
Also Read: Cameron Green to Break All Records? 45 players register in Rs 2 crore base-price band