The countdown to the biggest football tournament on the planet is well and truly on. With the draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 now over a month old, anticipation is building for the first finals to be staged across three nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Tournament Format and Key Dates
The historic tournament kicks off on Thursday, 11 June 2026, with a nostalgic opener at Mexico City's iconic Estadio Azteca. In a repeat of the 2010 World Cup curtain-raiser, Mexico will face South Africa. This marks the first World Cup in North America since the USA hosted in 1994 and introduces a new expanded format of 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four.
The group stage runs until Friday, 27 June, concluding with the final matches in Groups J, K, and L. The action intensifies immediately, with the round of 32 beginning just one day later on Saturday, 28 June at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The knockout phase progresses rapidly: the round of 16 is scheduled for 4-7 July, followed by the quarter-finals on 9-11 July.
The semi-finals will be held on 14 and 15 July, setting the stage for the grand finale. The third-place play-off is on 18 July, with the FIFA World Cup 2026 final itself taking place on Sunday, 19 July at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Navigating the Kick-Off Times for UK Fans
With matches spread across multiple North American time zones, UK fans will need to prepare for a varied and sometimes challenging schedule. Both the opening match and the final are set for a 8pm UK time start. However, this translates to a 1pm local kick-off in Mexico City and a 3pm ET start in New Jersey.
For England supporters, the group stage offers relative convenience. All three of the Three Lions' matches in Group L against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama are scheduled for 9pm or 10pm UK time. Scotland's fans face a tougher schedule, with their opening match against Haiti in Group C kicking off at 2am UK time, and subsequent games at 11pm.
The fate of the home nations in the play-offs will also dictate viewing habits. Should Wales or Northern Ireland qualify via Path A, their group games would all be at 8pm UK time. The Republic of Ireland, if they triumph in Path D, would face a mix of very early and late starts at 3am, 5pm, and 2am.
The Complete Group Stage Line-Up
As of now, 42 of the 48 finalists are confirmed, with the last six spots to be decided in March's play-offs. Defending champions Argentina headline Group J, while hosts USA, Mexico, and Canada all received automatic qualification.
The confirmed groups for the FIFA World Cup 2026 are:
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA Play-off Path D Winner (Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland or North Macedonia).
- Group B: Canada, UEFA Play-off Path A Winner (Italy, Wales, Bosnia & Herzegovina or Northern Ireland), Qatar, Switzerland.
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
- Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Play-off Path C Winner (Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania).
- Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador.
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Play-off Path B Winner (Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden), Tunisia.
- Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand.
- Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
- Group I: France, Senegal, Inter-Confederation Play-off Path 2 Winner (Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname), Norway.
- Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan.
- Group K: Portugal, Inter-Confederation Play-off Path 1 Winner (DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia), Uzbekistan, Colombia.
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.
The stage is set for a spectacular summer of football across North America, promising a festival of the game with more nations than ever before chasing glory.
