FIFA has unveiled a 12-group format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will kick off on Thursday, June 11, with host nation Mexico facing South Africa in the opening match at the iconic Mexico City.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marks a historic expansion as it becomes the first edition to feature 48 teams.
The expanded format is expected to increase the number of matches and give more nations the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
The group stage matches will be played across multiple cities in the three host countries, highlighting the first tri-nation hosting arrangement in World Cup history.
The group stage of the competition will run throughout June, with teams battling for qualification into the knockout rounds.
With 12 groups in place, only the top teams, alongside the best-performing runners-up, will advance to the next phase of the tournament.
Following the conclusion of the group stage, the tournament will progress into the knockout rounds, where the intensity is expected to rise as teams compete for a place in the final.
The expanded structure is anticipated to bring more excitement, unpredictability, and global representation.
Groups Confirmed After Play-offs
The 12 groups for the tournament were finalised after the conclusion of the European and inter-continental play-offs, completing the lineup for what is expected to be one of the most inclusive World Cups in history.
Below are the complete 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage Fixtures:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic
Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
See complete 2026 FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Time, Date and Venue Below:
GROUP A
- Mexico vs South Africa – June 11, 20:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City
- Korea Republic vs Czechia – June 12, 03:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara
- Czechia vs South Africa – June 18, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
- Mexico vs Korea Republic – June 19, 02:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara
- Czechia vs Mexico – June 25, 02:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City
- South Africa vs Korea Republic – June 25, 02:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey
GROUP B
- Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina – June 12, 20:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto
- Qatar vs Switzerland – June 13, 20:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
- Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina – June 18, 20:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles
- Canada vs Qatar – June 18, 23:00, BC Place, Vancouver
- Switzerland vs Canada – June 24, 20:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver
- Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar – June 24, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle
GROUP C
- Brazil vs Morocco – June 13, 23:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York
- Haiti vs Scotland – June 14, 02:00, Boston Stadium, Boston
- Scotland vs Morocco – June 19, 23:00, Boston Stadium, Boston
- Brazil vs Haiti – June 20, 02:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
- Scotland vs Brazil – June 24, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami
- Morocco vs Haiti – June 24, 23:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
GROUP D
- USA vs Paraguay – June 13, 02:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles
- Australia vs Türkiye – June 14, 05:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver
- USA vs Australia – June 19, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle
- Türkiye vs Paraguay – June 20, 05:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
- Türkiye vs USA – June 26, 03:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles
- Paraguay vs Australia – June 26, 03:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
GROUP E
- Germany vs Curaçao – June 14, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston
- Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador – June 15, 00:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
- Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire – June 20, 21:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto
- Ecuador vs Curaçao – June 21, 01:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City
- Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire – June 25, 21:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
- Ecuador vs Germany – June 25, 21:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York
GROUP F
- Netherlands vs Japan – June 14, 21:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas
- Sweden vs Tunisia – June 15, 03:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey
- Netherlands vs Sweden – June 20, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston
- Tunisia vs Japan – June 21, 05:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey
- Japan vs Sweden – June 26, 00:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas
- Tunisia vs Netherlands – June 26, 00:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City
GROUP G
- Belgium vs Egypt – June 15, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle
- IR Iran vs New Zealand – June 16, 02:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles
- Belgium vs IR Iran – June 21, 20:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles
- New Zealand vs Egypt – June 22, 02:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver
- Egypt vs IR Iran – June 27, 04:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle
- New Zealand vs Belgium – June 27, 04:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver
GROUP H
- Spain vs Cabo Verde – June 15, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
- Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay – June 15, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami
- Spain vs Saudi Arabia – June 21, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
- Uruguay vs Cabo Verde – June 21, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami
- Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia – June 27, 01:00, Houston Stadium, Houston
- Uruguay vs Spain – June 27, 01:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara
GROUP I
- France vs Senegal – June 16, 20:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York
- Iraq vs Norway – June 16, 23:00, Boston Stadium, Boston
- France vs Iraq – June 22, 22:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
- Norway vs Senegal – June 23, 01:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York
- Norway vs France – June 26, 20:00, Boston Stadium, Boston
- Senegal vs Iraq – June 26, 20:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto
GROUP J
- Argentina vs Algeria – June 17, 02:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City
- Austria vs Jordan – June 17, 05:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
- Argentina vs Austria – June 22, 18:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas
- Jordan vs Algeria – June 23, 04:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area
- Algeria vs Austria – June 28, 03:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City
- Jordan vs Argentina – June 28, 03:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas
GROUP K
- Portugal vs Congo DR – June 17, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston
- Uzbekistan vs Colombia – June 18, 03:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City
- Portugal vs Uzbekistan – June 23, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston
- Colombia vs Congo DR – June 24, 03:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara
- Colombia vs Portugal – June 28, 00:30, Miami Stadium, Miami
- Congo DR vs Uzbekistan – June 28, 00:30, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
GROUP L
- England vs Croatia – June 17, 21:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas
- Ghana vs Panama – June 18, 00:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto
- England vs Ghana – June 23, 21:00, Boston Stadium, Boston
- Panama vs Croatia – June 24, 00:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto
- Panama vs England – June 27, 22:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York
- Croatia vs Ghana – June 27, 22:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
