World Cup 2026 Group Stage nears conclusion as knockout race intensifies

The 2026 World Cup is underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

During December’s World Cup draw, the 42 qualified teams were placed into their respective group, with six additional spots filled by playoff winners.

The United States, as a co-host, was automatically slotted into Group D. It opened its tournament June 12 with a win over Paraguay. The Americans play Australia on Friday before finishing the group stage against Türkiye

Canada is in Group B and made a statement in its second match, crushing Qatar 6-0 after opening with a draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Canadians will finish the group stage against Switzerland.

World Cup 2026 daily schedule | Team schedules | Group tables

Mexico began the tournament with a 2-0 win over South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and followed it up with a 1-0 victory over South Korea. The co-hosts still have Czechia remaining in Group A

Group A standings: Mexico leads with 2 matches, 3:0; South Korea 2 matches, 2:2; Czech Republic 2 matches, 2:3; South Africa 2 matches, 1:3; flags shown. Group A standings: Mexico leads with 2 matches, 3:0; South Korea 2 matches, 2:2; Czech Republic 2 matches, 2:3; South Africa 2 matches, 1:3; flags shown. — Group A

World Cup 2026 groups, schedule, how to watch, results

GROUP B TABLE

Group B standings with flags: 1 Canada, 2 Switzerland, 3 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4 Qatar; MP 2 each; goals for: 7:1, 5:2, 2:5, 1:7; points: 4, 4, 1, 1. Group B standings with flags: 1 Canada, 2 Switzerland, 3 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 4 Qatar; MP 2 each; goals for: 7:1, 5:2, 2:5, 1:7; points: 4, 4, 1, 1. — Group B

Wednesday, June 24, 3 p.m. (Fox): Switzerland vs. Canada, BC Place (Vancouver)

Wednesday, June 24, 3 p.m. (FS1): Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar, Lumen Field (Seattle)

Group C table

Group C standings: Brazil (1), Morocco (2), Scotland (3), Haiti (4) with matches played, goals, and points shown in a table. Group C standings: Brazil (1), Morocco (2), Scotland (3), Haiti (4) with matches played, goals, and points shown in a table. — Group C

Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m. (Fox): Scotland vs. Brazil, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

Wednesday, June 24, 6 p.m. (FS1): Morocco vs. Haiti, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Group D

Thursday, June 25, 10 p.m. (Fox): Türkiye vs. United States, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)

Thursday, June 25, 10 p.m. (FS1): Paraguay vs. Australia, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)

Group E Table

Thursday, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1): Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

Thursday, June 25, 4 p.m. (Fox): Ecuador vs. Germany, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Group F table

Thursday, June 25, 7 p.m. (FS1): Japan vs. Sweden, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)

Thursday, June 25, 7 p.m. (Fox): Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)

Group G

Friday, June 26, 11 p.m. (FS1): Egypt vs. Iran, Lumen Field (Seattle)

Friday, June 26, 11 p.m. (Fox): New Zealand vs. Belgium, BC Place (Vancouver)

Group H

Friday, June 26, 8 p.m. (FS1): Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, NRG Stadium (Houston)

Friday, June 26, 8 p.m. (Fox): Uruguay vs. Spain, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)

Group I

Friday, June 26, 3 p.m. (Fox): Norway vs. France, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts)

Friday, June 26, 3 p.m. (FS1): Senegal vs. Iraq, BMO Field (Toronto)

Group J

Saturday, June 27, 10 p.m. (Fox): Jordan vs. Argentina, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)

Saturday, June 27, 10 p.m. (FS1): Algeria vs. Austria, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)

Group K standings: Colombia 1st, Portugal 2nd, D.R. Congo 3rd, Uzbekistan 4th; MP 2, goals for/against and points shown. Group K standings: Colombia 1st, Portugal 2nd, D.R. Congo 3rd, Uzbekistan 4th; MP 2, goals for/against and points shown. — Group K

Tuesday, June 23, 10 p.m. (FS1): Colombia vs. DR Congo, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)

Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. (Fox): Colombia vs. Portugal, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

Saturday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. (FS1): DR Congo vs. Uzbekistan, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta

Group L standings showing England first, Ghana second, Croatia third, Panama fourth with matches played, goals, and points. Group L standings showing England first, Ghana second, Croatia third, Panama fourth with matches played, goals, and points. — Group L

Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (Fox): Panama vs. England, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Saturday, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1): Croatia vs. Ghana, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

World Cup knockout round schedule

(all times Eastern)

Round of 32

Sunday, June 28, 3 p.m. (Fox): Group A second place vs. Group B second place, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)

Monday, June 29, 1 p.m. (Fox): Group C winner vs. Group F second place, NRG Stadium (Houston)

Monday, June 29, 4:30 p.m. (Fox): Group E winner vs. Group A/B/C/D/F third place, Gillette Stadium (Boston)

Monday, June 29, 9 p.m. (Fox): Group F winner vs. Group C second place, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico)

Tuesday, June 30, 1 p.m (Fox): Group E second place vs. Group I second place, AT&T Stadium (Dallas)

Tuesday, June 30, 5 p.m. (Fox): Group I winner vs. Group C/D/F/G/H third place, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)

Tuesday, June 30, 9 p.m. (Fox): Group A winner vs. Group C/E/F/H/I third place, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)

Wednesday, July 1, 12 p.m. (Fox): Group L winner vs. Group E/H/I/J/K third place, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Wednesday, July 1, 4 p.m. (FS1): Group G winner vs. Group A/E/H/I/J third place, Lumen Field (Seattle)

Wednesday, July 1, 8 p.m. (Fox): Group D winner vs. Group B/E/F/I/J third place, Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco Bay)

Thursday, July 2, 3 p.m. (Fox): Group H winner vs. Group J second place, SoFI Stadium (Inglewood, California)

Thursday, July 2, 7 p.m. (Fox): Group K second place vs. Group L second place, BMO Field (Toronto)

Thursday, July 2, 11 p.m. (FS1): Group B winner vs. Group E/F/G/I/J third place, BC Place (Vancouver)

Friday, July 3, 2 p.m. (Fox): Group D second place vs. Group G second place, AT&T Stadium (Dallas)

Friday, July 3, 6 p.m. (Fox): Group J winner vs. Group H second place, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

Friday, July 3, 9:30 p.m. (Fox): Group K winner vs. Group D/E/I/J/L third place, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

Round of 16

Saturday, July 4, 1 p.m. (Fox): NRG Stadium (Houston)

Saturday, July 4, 5 p.m. (Fox): Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)

Sunday, July 5, 4 p.m. (Fox): MetLife Stadium (New Jersey)

Sunday, July 5, 8 p.m. (Fox): Estadio Azteca (Mexico City)

Monday, July 6, 3 p.m. (Fox): AT&T Stadium (Dallas)

Monday, July 6, 8 p.m. (Fox): Lumen Field (Seattle)

Tuesday, July 7, 12 p.m. (Fox): Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Tuesday, July 7, 4 p.m. (Fox): BC Place (Vancouver)

Quarterfinals

Thursday, July 9, 4 p.m. (Fox): Gillette Stadium (Boston)

Friday, July 10, 3 p.m. (Fox): SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)

Saturday, July 11, 5 p.m. (Fox): Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

Saturday, July 11, 9 p.m. (Fox): Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)

Semifinals

Tuesday, July 14, 3 p.m. (Fox): AT&T Stadium (Dallas)

Wednesday, July 15, 3 p.m. (Fox): Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

Third-place game

Saturday, July 18, 5 p.m. (Fox): Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)

Final

Sunday, July 19, 3 p.m. (Fox): MetLife Stadium (New Jersey)

Andrews Sefa Bamfo

Andrews Sefa Bamfo is a promising young football writer and reporter, recognised as one of the rising talents in African football journalism. He specialises in match reporting, features and on-ground coverage, bringing fresh perspective and energy to the industry.He is educated at the University of Ghana and has gained valuable experience working with one of Ghana’s leading media organisations, TV3, where he developed his skills in both television reporting and football journalism.Andrews’ talent and potential were further recognised when he was selected for the prestigious CAF Young Reporters Programme, where he received advanced media training in partnership with CANAL+. This exposure has helped shape his understanding of modern sports journalism and storytelling.Since then, he has continued to grow in the field and is widely regarded as one of the emerging voices in African football media. He is currently a Staff Writer at African.Football, contributing to the platform’s coverage with insightful reports and engaging content for a global audience.

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