The excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is building as key dates and venues have been announced. The tournament will take place across various locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is notably the first World Cup with 48 teams participating.
World Cup 2026 Schedule: Key Dates and Venues Announced
The World Cup will kick off with the group stage running from June 11 to June 27, 2026. As part of the event, teams will compete in multiple cities, and fans can expect thrilling matchups.
Group Stage Fixtures for England and Scotland
- England’s Group L Matches:
- England vs. Croatia – June 17, Dallas, 9 PM (UK time)
- England vs. Ghana – June 23, Boston, 9 PM (UK time)
- Panama vs. England – June 27, New York-New Jersey, 10 PM (UK time)
- Scotland’s Group C Matches:
- Haiti vs. Scotland – June 14, Boston, 2 AM (UK time)
- Scotland vs. Morocco – June 19, Boston, 11 PM (UK time)
- Scotland vs. Brazil – June 24, Miami, 11 PM (UK time)
Fans from Scotland will need to adjust to late-night viewing for the early games. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland or Wales could face Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar, with potential match times set for 8 PM (UK time) if they qualify.
Potential Matches for the Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland has the opportunity to enter the tournament through play-offs. If successful, they could be placed in Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea. Their match schedule may include kick-offs at unusual hours for fans back home.
Key Dates for the 2026 World Cup
- Group Stage: June 11-27
- Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
- Round of 16: July 4-7
- Quarter-finals: July 9-11
- Semi-finals: July 14-15
- Third-place play-off: July 18
- Final: July 19, New York-New Jersey (MetLife Stadium) at 3 PM local time (8 PM UK time)
FIFA has taken into account several factors while scheduling the matches, including recovery time, climate, and travel distances.
Group Overview
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Republic of Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic |
| B | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Wales/Northern Ireland/Italy/Bosnia-Herzegovina |
| C | Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti |
| D | USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo |
| E | Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao |
| F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Poland/Ukraine/Sweden/Albania |
| G | Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand |
| H | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde |
| I | France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq or Bolivia/Suriname |
| J | Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan |
| K | Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo or Jamaica/New Caledonia |
| L | England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana |
As the tournament draws near, fans worldwide eagerly anticipate seeing their national teams compete on the global stage.
