" FIFA World Cup thread "

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins on June 11th in Mexico City, with the final taking place in New Jersey on 19th July.

This year's tournament sees the USA, Canada and Mexico jointly hosting.

It is the first World Cup to have 48 teams competing.

There are 12 groups of four. The top two in each group will qualify for the first knockout round, as well as the eight best third placed nations.

Below is the full schedule - every match will be shown live on either BBC or ITV.

Will keep this updated as the tournament progresses. All kick off times are UK time.


2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

GROUP STAGES

Group A

1 Czech Republic (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Mexico (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 South Africa (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 South Korea (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Mexico v South Africa - June 11th, 8pm
South Korea v Czech Republic - June 12th, 3am

Czech Republic v South Africa - June 18th, 5pm
Mexico v South Korea - June 19th, 2am

Czech Republic v Mexico - June 25th, 2am
South Africa v South Korea - June 25th, 2am

Group B

1 Bosnia (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Canada (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Switzerland (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Qatar (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Canada v Bosnia - June 12th, 8pm
Qatar v Switzerland - June 13th, 8pm

Switzerland v Bosnia - June 18th, 8pm
Canada v Qatar - June 18th, 11pm

Switzerland v Canada - June 24th, 8pm
Bosnia v Qatar - June 24th, 8pm

Group C

1 Brazil (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Haiti (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Morocco (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Scotland (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Brazil v Morocco - June 13th, 11pm
Haiti v Scotland - June 14th, 2am

Scotland v Morocco - June 19th, 11pm
Brazil v Haiti - June 20th, 1.30am

Scotland v Brazil - June 24th, 11pm
Morocco v Haiti - June 24th, 11pm

Group D

1 Australia (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Paraguay (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Turkey (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 USA (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

USA v Paraguay - June 13th, 2am
Australia v Turkey - June 14th, 5am

USA v Australia - June 19th, 8pm
Turkey v Paraguay - June 20th, 4am

Turkey v USA - June 26th, 3am
Paraguay v Australia - June 26th, 3am

Group E

1 Curacao (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Ecuador (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Germany (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Ivory Coast (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Germany v Curacao - June 14th, 6pm
Ivory Coast v Ecuador - June 15th, 12am

Germany v Ivory Coast - June 20th, 9pm
Ecuador v Curacao - June 21st, 1am

Curacao v Ivory Coast - June 25th, 9pm
Ecuador v Germany - June 25th, 9pm

Group F

1 Japan (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Netherlands (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Sweden (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Tunisia (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Netherlands v Japan - June 14th, 9pm
Sweden v Tunisia - June 15th, 3am

Netherlands v Sweden - June 20th, 6pm
Tunisia v Japan - June 21st, 5am

Japan v Sweden - June 26th, 12am
Tunisia v Netherlands - June 26th, 12am

Group G

1 Belgium (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Egypt (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Iran (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 New Zealand (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Belgium v Egypt - June 15th, 8pm
Iran v New Zealand - June 16th, 2am

Belgium v Iran - June 21st, 8pm
New Zealand v Egypt - June 22nd, 2am

Egypt v Iran - June 27th, 4am
New Zealand v Belgium - June 27th, 4am

Group H

1 Cape Verde (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Saudi Arabia (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Spain (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Uruguay (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Spain v Cape Verde - June 15th, 5pm
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay - June 15th, 11pm

Spain v Saudi Arabia - June 21st, 5pm
Uruguay v Cape Verde - June 21st, 11pm

Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia - June 27th, 1am
Uruguay v Spain - June 27th, 1am

Group I

1 France (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Iraq (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Norway (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Senegal (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

France v Senegal - June 16th, 8pm
Iraq v Norway - June 16th, 11pm

France v Iraq - June 22nd, 10pm
Norway v Senegal - June 23rd, 1am

Norway v France - June 26th, 8pm
Senegal v Iraq - June 26th, 8pm

Group J

1 Algeria (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Argentina (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Austria (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Jordan (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Argentina v Algeria - June 17th, 2am
Austria v Jordan - June 17th, 5am

Argentina v Austria - June 22nd, 6pm
Jordan v Algeria - June 23rd, 4am

Algeria v Austria - June 28th, 3am
Jordan v Argentina - June 28th, 3am

Group K

1 Colombia (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 Conga (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Portugal (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Uzbekistan (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

Portugal v Congo - June 17th, 6pm
Uzbekistan v Colombia - June 18th, 3am

Portugal v Uzbekistan - June 23rd, 6pm
Colombia v Congo - June 24th, 3am

Colombia v Portugal - June 28th, 12.30am
Congo v Uzbekistan - June 28th, 12.30am

Group L

1 Croatia (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
2 England (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
3 Ghana (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)
4 Panama (played 0, 0pts, 0GD)

England v Croatia - June 17th, 9pm
Ghana v Panama - June 18th, 12am

England v Ghana - June 23rd, 9pm
Panama v Croatia - June 24th, 12am

Panama v England - June 27th, 10pm
Croatia v Ghana - June 27th, 10pm

LAST 32

Winner Group E v 3rd placed team - June 29th, 9.30pm

Winner Group I v 3rd placed team - June 30th, 10pm

2nd Group A v 2nd Group B - June 28th, 8pm

Group F winner v 2nd Group C - June 30th, 2am

2nd Group K v 2nd Group L - July 3rd, 12am

Winner Group H v 2nd Group J - July 2nd, 8pm

Winner Group D v 3rd placed team - July 2nd, 1am

Winner Group G v 3rd placed team - July 1st, 9pm

Winner Group C v 2nd Group F - June 29th, 6pm

2nd Group E v 2nd Group I - June 30th, 6pm

Winner Group A v 3rd placed team - July 1st, 2am

Winner Group L v 3rd placed team - July 1st, 5pm

Winner Group J v 2nd Group H - July 3rd, 11pm

2nd Group D v 2nd Group G - July 3rd, 7pm

Winner Group B v 3rd placed team - July 3rd, 4am

Winner Group K v 3rd placed team - July 4th, 2.30am

LAST 16

Round of 32 winner 1 v Round of 32 winner 2 - 4th July, 10pm

Round of 32 winner 3 v Round of 32 winner 4 - 4th July, 6pm

Round of 32 winner 5 v Round of 32 winner 6 - 6th July, 8pm

Round of 32 winner 7 v Round of 32 winner 8 - 7th July, 1am

Round of 32 winner 9 v Round of 32 winner 10 - 5th July, 9pm

Round of 32 winner 11 v Round of 32 winner 12 - 6th July, 1am

Round of 32 winner 13 v Round of 32 winner 14 - 7th July, 5pm

Round of 32 winner 15 v Round of 32 winner 16 - 7th July, 9pm

QUARTER FINALS

Last 16 winner 1 v Last 16 winner 2 - July 9th, 9pm

Last 16 winner 3 v Last 16 winner 4 - July 10th, 8pm

Last 16 winner 5 v Last 16 winner 6 - July 11th, 10pm

Last 16 winner 7 v Last 16 winner 8 - July 12th, 2am

SEMI FINALS

Quarter Final winner 1 v Quarter Final winner 2 - July 14th, 8pm

Quarter Final winner 3 v Quarter Final winner 4 - July 15th, 8pm

THIRD PLACED PLAY-OFF

Semi Finals loser 1 v Semi Finals loser 2 - July 18th, 10pm

FINAL

Semi Finals winner 1 v Semi Final winner 2 - July 19th, 8pm

Thanks for that Worcester.

The game times all being U.K. times is helpful as it doesn't matter what the time zone is as they're all different depending on where they are and now I just have to minus 8 hours.

Not sure at the moment who I think will win this time with so many teams.

Thanks for that Worcester.

The game times all being U.K. times is helpful as it doesn't matter what the time zone is as they're all different depending on where they are and now I just have to minus 8 hours.

Not sure at the moment who I think will win this time with so many teams.

Good tournament for you then. With the earliest kick off being at 5pm our time.

Most games 8pm or later our time so that'll be helpful for you.

I voted for France in the poll. Mbappe can be difficult to manage but he does have the firepower to help them to the trophy.

Ticket sales stuttering,I am not surprised ,prices of tickets will be dropped to make sure there are no big gaps in the stadiums.

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Leagues with the Most Players on the #FIFAWorldCup2026

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Just read interesting article about the tickets very complicated but putting it simply fifa are manipulating the sale of tickets on resale platforms (not the one they own ) as they cannot sell tickets at the prices they want! availability goes up on alternative sites then strangely goes back down but then availability rises on fifa site ..... its seen as a blatant attempt to manipulate prices as they can't sell them on their own site...

Just read interesting article about the tickets very complicated but putting it simply fifa are manipulating the sale of tickets on resale platforms (not the one they own ) as they cannot sell tickets at the prices they want! availability goes up on alternative sites then strangely goes back down but then availability rises on fifa site ..... its seen as a blatant attempt to manipulate prices as they can't sell them on their own site...

Of course they're manipulating it, also the amount of rooms available that hotels in the areas with games have is staggering with prices down on their usual summer prices in some areas of the USA with games. Hotels were expecting to be full for the duration and priced their rooms accordingly but lots are apparently less than half booked with football fans staying away as well as the usual tourist business being down because of the World Cup.

Between FIFA being very greedy & Trump banning travel from some countries as well as the general uneasy feeling in the country they have really screwed the pooch on this one.

Mexico have home advantage, good outside bet.

Spain should adapt to the heat best

I hope France get knocked out early doors

Mexico have home advantage, good outside bet.

Spain should adapt to the heat best

I hope France get knocked out early doors

Agree about Mexico, they're a decent team and are being a bit underrated by some. Got an outside chance, should win their group which helps.

I voted that France would win but it's unpredictable because of the egos in that dressing room, especially Mbappe.

I do think England will do alright because they've got a good manager now, but I don't see them winning it.

Would be nice if Scotland can get out their group, they'll need to win against Haiti in their first game.

Brazil to start slow and gather pace.Ill go for them

Just read interesting article about the tickets very complicated but putting it simply fifa are manipulating the sale of tickets on resale platforms (not the one they own ) as they cannot sell tickets at the prices they want! availability goes up on alternative sites then strangely goes back down but then availability rises on fifa site ..... its seen as a blatant attempt to manipulate prices as they can't sell them on their own site...

Of course they're manipulating it, also the amount of rooms available that hotels in the areas with games have is staggering with prices down on their usual summer prices in some areas of the USA with games. Hotels were expecting to be full for the duration and priced their rooms accordingly but lots are apparently less than half booked with football fans staying away as well as the usual tourist business being down because of the World Cup.

Between FIFA being very greedy & Trump banning travel from some countries as well as the general uneasy feeling in the country they have really screwed the pooch o this one.

Yes well and truly screwed things? But garauntee infantino/trump will spout crap about how brilliant WC was? You should look out for the freebie tickets they'll be offering..

Don’t think I’ve ever been so underwhelmed by a World Cup, just had a look at the opening weeks fixtures, apart from none being that interesting at all the ko times are a nightmare, 11pm, 2am….
I guess it will get interesting by the knockouts…..
Great to hear so many unsold ticket and hotels now discounting after trying to charge ridiculous prices.

Argentina for me.

Don’t think I’ve ever been so underwhelmed by a World Cup, just had a look at the opening weeks fixtures, apart from none being that interesting at all the ko times are a nightmare, 11pm, 2am….
I guess it will get interesting by the knockouts…..
Great to hear so many unsold ticket and hotels now discounting after trying to charge ridiculous prices.

Tournament always gets going in the knockout rounds, that's the way it's always been.

As for kick off times, what did you expect? The tournament is being played in the US, Canada and Mexico. They're rightly not going to have kick off times to suit the European time zone.

How would you feel if the UK hosted a World Cup and all the kick off times were to suit the time zones in the US?

Just read interesting article about the tickets very complicated but putting it simply fifa are manipulating the sale of tickets on resale platforms (not the one they own ) as they cannot sell tickets at the prices they want! availability goes up on alternative sites then strangely goes back down but then availability rises on fifa site ..... its seen as a blatant attempt to manipulate prices as they can't sell them on their own site...

Of course they're manipulating it, also the amount of rooms available that hotels in the areas with games have is staggering with prices down on their usual summer prices in some areas of the USA with games. Hotels were expecting to be full for the duration and priced their rooms accordingly but lots are apparently less than half booked with football fans staying away as well as the usual tourist business being down because of the World Cup.

Between FIFA being very greedy & Trump banning travel from some countries as well as the general uneasy feeling in the country they have really screwed the pooch o this one.

Yes well and truly screwed things? But garauntee infantino/trump will spout crap about how brilliant WC was? You should look out for the freebie tickets they'll be offering..

At the moment they couldn't pay me to go to any of the games, not even those less than an hour away.

Just read interesting article about the tickets very complicated but putting it simply fifa are manipulating the sale of tickets on resale platforms (not the one they own ) as they cannot sell tickets at the prices they want! availability goes up on alternative sites then strangely goes back down but then availability rises on fifa site ..... its seen as a blatant attempt to manipulate prices as they can't sell them on their own site...

Of course they're manipulating it, also the amount of rooms available that hotels in the areas with games have is staggering with prices down on their usual summer prices in some areas of the USA with games. Hotels were expecting to be full for the duration and priced their rooms accordingly but lots are apparently less than half booked with football fans staying away as well as the usual tourist business being down because of the World Cup.

Between FIFA being very greedy & Trump banning travel from some countries as well as the general uneasy feeling in the country they have really screwed the pooch o this one.

Yes well and truly screwed things? But garauntee infantino/trump will spout crap about how brilliant WC was? You should look out for the freebie tickets they'll be offering..

At the moment they couldn't pay me to go to any of the games, not even those less than an hour away.

I've mo interest I'm watching it but guess if come across a game in evening will watch if doing nothing else! The orginisation seems as if its a continuation of the chaos trump as causing around the world...

Just read interesting article about the tickets very complicated but putting it simply fifa are manipulating the sale of tickets on resale platforms (not the one they own ) as they cannot sell tickets at the prices they want! availability goes up on alternative sites then strangely goes back down but then availability rises on fifa site ..... its seen as a blatant attempt to manipulate prices as they can't sell them on their own site...

Of course they're manipulating it, also the amount of rooms available that hotels in the areas with games have is staggering with prices down on their usual summer prices in some areas of the USA with games. Hotels were expecting to be full for the duration and priced their rooms accordingly but lots are apparently less than half booked with football fans staying away as well as the usual tourist business being down because of the World Cup.

Between FIFA being very greedy & Trump banning travel from some countries as well as the general uneasy feeling in the country they have really screwed the pooch o this one.

Yes well and truly screwed things? But garauntee infantino/trump will spout crap about how brilliant WC was? You should look out for the freebie tickets they'll be offering..

At the moment they couldn't pay me to go to any of the games, not even those less than an hour away.

Good move…
Feels all wrong this one, soulless…..

Lets hope England & Scotland do well we all have buddies from those close UK countries

Lets hope England & Scotland do well we all have buddies from those close UK countries

I want England to do well but not for them to win the tournament. Living in England would be hell for me then.

Let's not forget that every opposition next season (other than Swansea and Wrexham) would gloat about it.

Mexico are 80/1, get on that

An analytical look at the expanded groups? Get 6pnts 100% go through.... 4pnts 99.8% go through...3pnts 67% of go through! ....and 2pnts 5%chance of qualifying?
Got to ask the question is expanded WC worth it other than allowing smaller teams like caracou to qualify? It just looks like 3 teams from the groups qualify rather than 2 teams previously...

An analytical look at the expanded groups? Get 6pnts 100% go through.... 4pnts 99.8% go through...3pnts 67% of go through! ....and 2pnts 5%chance of qualifying?
Got to ask the question is expanded WC worth it other than allowing smaller teams like caracou to qualify? It just looks like 3 teams from the groups qualify rather than 2 teams previously...

I don't like any tournament where 3rd placed gets through.

But will say that the World Cup always only gets going in the knockout rounds.

Would expect the likes of France, Spain, England, Argentina, Germany, Brazil etc to win their groups but when they come up against each other it gets interesting then.

This tournament will see the biggest crowds in World Cup history, partly because of bigger stadiums.

A corporate nightmare

Personally, I love the world the World Cup. I grew up watching it and loved the 70s & 80s Brazil teams especially.

I even went to a World Cup which was a fantastic experience.

Like Worcester, I only start taking a real interest from the knock out stages and hopefully we’ll see England knocked right off their entitled perch!

Personally, I love the world the World Cup. I grew up watching it and loved the 70s & 80s Brazil teams especially.

I even went to a World Cup which was a fantastic experience.

Like Worcester, I only start taking a real interest from the knock out stages and hopefully we’ll see England knocked right off their entitled perch!

Totally agree with you.

They probably won't win it but I am slightly worried about the prospect of England doing it. Harry Kane is in the form of his life and they have a proper manager now.

Personally, I love the world the World Cup. I grew up watching it and loved the 70s & 80s Brazil teams especially.

I even went to a World Cup which was a fantastic experience.

Like Worcester, I only start taking a real interest from the knock out stages and hopefully we’ll see England knocked right off their entitled perch!

I recall group games in the past being interesting as there weren’t so many average teams, even last time watching Saudi beat the eventual winners Argentina was great, there were plenty of others too despite Wales terrible showing.
I guess Brazil v Morocco will be interesting and the England matches….

Colombia for me could be dark horses don't like picking the obvious Brazil Argentine france spain.