FIFA 2026 World Cup Schedule

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Here’s a look at the games that will make up B.C. Place’s participation in the tournament, with the Seattle fixtures as an added bonus for anyone willing to cross the border.

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Published Dec 06, 2025 • 4 minute read

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From left: Alexi Lalas and Ronaldo listen as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and host Andrés Cantor applaude as Francesco Totti, and Hristo Stoichkov look on during the match schedule reveal for the 2026 soccer World Cup in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Photo by Chris Carlson /APArticle content

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The World Cup schedule is set. The groups have been drawn. Here’s a look at the games that will make up B.C. Place’s participation in the tournament, with the Seattle fixtures as an added bonus for anyone willing to cross the border.

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Saturday, June 13, TBD
Australia (26) vs. Turkey (25)/Romania(47)/Slovakia(45)/Kosavo(80)
Sure, their name is kind of funny — the Socceroos! — but anyone who has faced down one of those large jumping marsupials built for disembowling in the wild knows the Roos are no joke.
They are ranked higher than three of their four potential opponents in this game (Romania 47, Slovakia (45), Kosavo (80) with only Turkey (25) bettering Australia’s 25th place.
And gut check time — just ask the U.S. how dangerous Australia is. (They play each other in Seattle in the second game, but more on that later).
Australia are used to tough draws, having been put in groups with the likes of France, Argentina and Spain in the past, making 2026 the first time in their seven World Cups they haven’t had a former champ in their group.
The Socceroos are competent offensively — their 16 goals in qualifying was second to Japan’s 30 — but they don’t score a ton, unless their opponents are Indonesia or Palestine.
Their strength lies in being a steely, disciplined side with a well-organized back five. They also beat Canada 1-0 in a friendly last year.
Who their opponent, B.C. Place will get a quality opening match.

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Thursday, June 18
Canada vs. Qatar, 6 p.m.
It’s host versus the former host. Canada’s first game on the West Coast, where they could stay up until the Round of 16.
These two sides played a friendly in the leadup to the 2022 World Cup, with that magical, surging Canadian side posting a comfortable 2-0 win through goals from Cyle Larin and Jonathan David. The Qataris rarely threatened in that game, only managing two shots on target while the Reds had 60 per cent possession.
While the momentum of their qualifying run last time around has been absent, Jesse Marsch still has a side that should handle this game.

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Sunday, June 21
New Zealand vs. Egypt, 9 p.m.
The Kiwis are the lowest-ranked team currently in the World Cup, and Mo Salah and the Pharaohs have to be feeling confident.
Belgium and Iran are also part of the group, giving Egypt a realistic shot of advancing to the knockout round.
The Pharaohs should be crowned kings in this one.

Wednesday, June 24
Switzerland vs. Canada, 3 p.m.
Regardless of who the Reds face out of the European playoff spot in Toronto (their tournament opener in Toronto on June), this could determine their hopes of advancing out of the group.
The Swiss are a team with no glaring weaknesses, and plenty of strengths, including their defence.
Canada will need a positive result against Switzerland and whomever the Euro qualifier will be if they are hoping to get out of Group B.

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Friday June 26
New Zealand vs. Belgium, 11 p.m.
Belgium hasn’t lost a Euro or World Cup qualifying game in a decade, cruising into 2026 with an 6-0-2 mark in the final round. The Kiwis should pose little threat to the eighth-ranked Belgians, who have seen Man City winger Doku take over as the star from venerable midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who will turn 35 during the tournament and is recovering from a hamstring injury.

Round 32

Thursday, July 2, 11 p.m.
Group B winner versus 3rd EFGIJ
Who will top Group B? Switzerland? Canada? Italy? No clue. But it’s the knockout round. Do or die.

Round 16
Tuesday July 7
Winner Game 85 versus winner game 87 (1K vs 3rd DEIJL in KC on Friday July 3
The winner of the playoff game in Vancouver will feature in this match, which will take on the game 87 victor, a fixture that will include the Group K champ.

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Seattle
Monday, June 15, 3 p.m.
Belgium vs. Egypt
Seattle doesn’t get a game until the tournament is five days old, but it’s a good one. Whichever side wins this has the leg up on topping the group. But it’s not the best game you’ll see at Lumen Field.

Friday, June 19, 3 p.m.
USA vs. Australia
These two teams played a friendly earlier this year, with the U.S. winning 2-1.
Defender Chris Richards seethed over the physical nature of the game, which saw 29 fouls but only two yellows — one to Richards.
The Socceroos were “lucky it was a friendly,” he said. “I was ready to go. If (the referee) didn’t give me a yellow in the corner, I probably would’ve killed somebody.”

Bonus: the possibility of seeing Vancouver Whitecaps Sebastian Berhalter or Brian White, should they make the squad.

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Wednesday, June 24, 3 p.m.
Euro Path C vs. Qatar
The Qataris haven’t won a World Cup game yet, and to ask them to do it against the European playoff winner is a tall ask.

Friday, June 26, 11 p.m.
Egypt vs. Iran
Need we delve into the geopolitical ramifications of two nations who have been at odds, including armed conflict, for years? Relations have significantly warmed in recent decades, but it will be a tense battle between two teams from the same region.

Wednesday, July 1, 4 p.m.
Group G winner vs AEHIJ
We should see Belgium in this game, though it could easily be Egypt.

Monday, July 6, 8 p.m.
W81 vs. W82
A round of 16 match. Nothing more needs to be said.

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