The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now clearly mapped out for the home nations, with the finalised tournament draw and schedule locking in dates, times, and host cities for the group stage matches.
England's Group Stage Campaign
Gareth Southgate's side will begin their quest for glory against familiar foes Croatia on Wednesday, June 17. This opening fixture is set for the AT&T Stadium in Dallas and will kick off at a prime-time 9pm for viewers in the United Kingdom.
England's second Group B match sees them take on Ghana in Boston on Monday, June 23, another 9pm UK start. The Three Lions will then conclude their initial phase against Panama on Friday, June 27. That match will be held at the MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey with a slightly later 10pm UK kick-off.
Scotland's Schedule and a Brutal Early Start
Scotland's Tartan Army will need to set their alarms for a punishingly early start to the tournament. Steve Clarke's men open their campaign against Haiti in Boston on Saturday, June 14, with kick-off at 2am UK time.
Their second match, against Morocco on June 19, is also in Boston but at a more sociable 11pm. The group stage concludes with a blockbuster clash against football giants Brazil on Tuesday, June 24 in Miami. This 11pm UK time fixture is a repeat of the memorable 1998 World Cup opener between the two sides.
Provisional Plans for Wales and Northern Ireland
Both Wales and Northern Ireland have provisional schedules, as they are competing for the same final European qualification spot via the play-offs.
Should they qualify, their campaign would be identical. It would start against Canada in Toronto on June 12 at 8pm UK time. A fixture against Switzerland in Los Angeles follows on June 18 (8pm UK), before a final group game against Qatar in Seattle on June 24, also at 8pm UK time.
The full schedule confirms a tournament spread across North America, with matches in major cities from coast to coast. Fans across the UK can now begin planning their viewing schedules for what promises to be a historic and expansive World Cup.
