{"id":77652,"date":"2025-12-05T19:39:06","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T19:39:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/77652\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T19:39:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T19:39:06","slug":"world-cup-groups-2026-updated-draw-results-teams-pairings-times-match-schedule-and-fixtures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/77652\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup groups 2026: Updated draw results, teams, pairings, times, match schedule and fixtures"},"content":{"rendered":"

As shades of Argentina’s triumph in Qatar remain firmly entrenched in the memory, the 2026 World Cup<\/a> is right around the corner.<\/p>\n

Hosted across North America, 48 teams will descend upon the United States, Canada, and Mexico as the tournament expands the field for the first time in decades.<\/p>\n

While Argentina look to defend their title, some of the world’s best teams will hope to dethrone the South American giants and keep them from being the first country to repeat as World Cup champions since Brazil over 60 years ago.<\/p>\n

The likes of England, France, and Spain will have their eyes on the famous FIFA trophy, while hosts USA will bid to deliver their best ever performance in the tournament’s modern format.<\/p>\n

The Sporting News brings you a look at how the group stage will shape up, and the wider bracket heading into the expanded knockout phase.<\/p>\n

2026 WORLD CUP HQ:\u00a0Live World Cup draw tracker<\/a> |\u00a0Latest World Cup news<\/a> | Full World Cup schedule<\/a><\/p>\n

World Cup 2026 groups<\/p>\n

We already know that Mexico will be in Group A, Canada in Group B, and USA in Group D.<\/p>\n

The remaining layout of the group stage will be determined at the draw on December 5. The Sporting News will update this page as the draw is conducted.<\/p>\n

GroupPot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4AMexicoSouth KoreaSouth AfricaUEFA Playoff DBCanadaSwitzerlandQatarUEFA Playoff ACBrazilMoroccoScotlandHaitiDUSAAustraliaParaguayUEFA Playoff DEGermanyEcuadorIvory CoastCuracaoFNetherlandsJapanTunisiaUEFA Playoff BGBelgiumIranEgyptNew ZealandHSpainUruguaySaudi ArabiaCape VerdeIFranceSenegalNorwayFIFA Playoff 2JArgentinaAustriaAlgeriaJordanKPortugalColombiaUzbekistanFIFA Playoff 1LEnglandCroatiaPanamaGhanaWorld Cup 2026 kickoff times<\/p>\n

This section will be updated when kickoff times are set. FIFA has indicated that the precise World Cup schedule will be announced on Saturday, December 6 at around 12 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n

Stage(s)USA & Canada
(ET)UK
(GMT)Australia
(AEDT)India
(IST)Group stage only\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Group stage only\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Knockouts only\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Group stage only\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Group + Knockouts\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:<\/p>\n

Complete World Cup 2026 match schedule<\/p>\n

The World Cup draw will be held on\u00a0December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n

It will be there that the teams are distributed across the 12 groups and their pathways to a potential final are made clear.<\/p>\n

The hosts have already been pre-assigned certain places in the group stage: Mexico are in Group A, Canada Group B, and the USA in Group D. Additionally, new rules dictate that the world’s top-four sides according to the FIFA rankings \u2014 Spain, Argentina, France and England \u2014 will be on opposite sides of the bracket so they cannot meet until the latter stages.<\/p>\n

World Cup 2026 group stage<\/p>\n

All venues and kickoff times for each group stage match will be officially announced by FIFA one day after the draw, on December 6, 2025.<\/p>\n

Group A tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Mexico000000002.South Africa000000003.South Korea000000004.UEFA Playoff D00000000<\/p>\n

The UEFA Playoff D qualifier will be either Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, or North Macedonia<\/p>\n

Group A fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationThu, Jun. 11\u00a0Mexico vs. South AfricaEstadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX)Thu, Jun. 11\u00a0South Korea\u00a0vs. TBDEstadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX)Thu, Jun. 18\u00a0TBD vs. South AfricaMercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Thu, Jun. 18\u00a0Mexico vs. A3South KoreaEstadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX)Wed, Jun. 24\u00a0TBD vs. MexicoEstadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX)Wed, Jun. 24\u00a0South Africa vs. South KoreaEstadio BBVA (Guadalupe, MEX)Group B\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Canada000000002.UEFA Playoff A000000003.Qatar000000004.Switzerland00000000<\/p>\n

The UEFA Playoff A qualifier will be either Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland, or Bosnia & Herzegovina<\/p>\n

Group B fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 12\u00a0Canada vs. TBDBMO Field (Toronto, CAN)Sat, Jun. 13\u00a0Qatar vs. SwitzerlandLevi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Thu, Jun. 18\u00a0Switzerland vs. TBDSoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Thu, Jun. 18\u00a0Canada vs. QatarBC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Wed, Jun. 24\u00a0Switzerland vs. CanadaBC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Wed, Jun. 24\u00a0TBD vs. QatarLumen Field (Seattle, WA)Group C\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Brazil000000002.Morocco000000003.Haiti000000004.Scotland00000000Group C\u00a0fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationSat, Jun. 13\u00a0Brazil vs. Morocco\u00a0Sat, Jun. 13\u00a0Haiti vs. Scotland\u00a0Fri, Jun. 19\u00a0Brazil vs. Haiti\u00a0Fri, Jun. 19\u00a0Scotland vs. Morocco\u00a0Wed, Jun. 24\u00a0Scotland vs. Brazil\u00a0Wed, Jun. 24\u00a0Morocco vs. Haiti\u00a0Group D\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.United States000000002.Paraguay000000003.Australia000000004.UEFA Playoff C00000000<\/p>\n

The UEFA Playoff C\u00a0qualifier will be either Slovakia, Turkey, Kosovo, or Romania<\/p>\n

Group D fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 12\u00a0United States vs. ParaguaySoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Sat, Jun. 13\u00a0Australia vs. TBDBC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Fri, Jun. 19\u00a0TBD vs. ParaguayLevi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Fri, Jun. 19\u00a0United States vs. AustraliaLumen Field (Seattle, WA)Thu, Jun. 25\u00a0TBD\u00a0vs. United StatesSoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Thu, Jun. 25\u00a0Paraguay vs. AustraliaLevi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Group E tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Germany000000002.Curacao000000003.Ivory Coast000000004.Ecuador00000000Group E\u00a0fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationSun, Jun. 14\u00a0Germany vs. Curacao\u00a0Sun, Jun. 14\u00a0Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador\u00a0Sat, Jun. 20\u00a0Germany vs. Ivory Coast\u00a0Sat, Jun. 20\u00a0Ecuador vs. Curacao\u00a0Thu, Jun. 25\u00a0Ecuador vs. Germany\u00a0Thu, Jun. 25\u00a0Curacao vs. Ivory Coast\u00a0Group F\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Netherlands000000002.Japan000000003.UEFA Playoff B000000004.Tunisia00000000<\/p>\n

The UEFA Playoff B\u00a0qualifier will be either Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania<\/p>\n

Group F fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationSun, Jun. 14\u00a0Netherlands vs. Japan\u00a0Sun, Jun. 14\u00a0TBD\u00a0vs. Tunisia\u00a0Sat, Jun. 20\u00a0Netherlands vs.\u00a0TBD\u00a0Sat, Jun. 20\u00a0Tunisia vs. Japan\u00a0Thu, Jun. 25\u00a0Tunisia vs. Netherlands\u00a0Thu, Jun. 25\u00a0Japan vs.\u00a0TBD\u00a0Group G\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Belgium000000002.Egypt000000003.Iran000000004.New Zealand00000000Group G fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationMon, Jun. 15\u00a0Belgium vs. Egypt\u00a0Mon, Jun. 15\u00a0Iran vs. New Zealand\u00a0Sun, Jun. 21\u00a0Belgium vs. Iran\u00a0Sun, Jun. 21\u00a0New Zealand vs. Egypt\u00a0Fri, Jun. 26\u00a0New Zealand vs. Belgium\u00a0Fri, Jun. 26\u00a0Egypt vs. Iran\u00a0Group H\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Spain000000002.Cape Verde000000003.Saudi Arabia000000004.Uruguay00000000Group H fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationMon, Jun. 15\u00a0Spain vs. Cape Verde\u00a0Mon, Jun. 15\u00a0Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay\u00a0Sun, Jun. 21\u00a0Spain vs. Saudi Arabia\u00a0Sun, Jun. 21\u00a0Uruguay vs. Cape Verde\u00a0Fri, Jun. 26\u00a0Uruguay vs. Spain\u00a0Fri, Jun. 26\u00a0Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia\u00a0Group I\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.France000000002.Senegal000000003.FIFA Playoff 2000000004.Norway00000000<\/p>\n

The FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 2 qualifier\u00a0will be either Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname.<\/p>\n

Group I fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationTue, Jun. 16\u00a0France vs. Senegal\u00a0Tue, Jun. 16\u00a0TBD\u00a0vs. Norway\u00a0\u00a0Mon, Jun. 22\u00a0France vs.\u00a0TBD\u00a0Mon, Jun. 22\u00a0Norway vs. Senegal\u00a0Fri, Jun. 26\u00a0Norway vs. France\u00a0Fri, Jun. 26\u00a0Senegal vs.\u00a0TBD\u00a0Group J\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Argentina000000002.Algeria000000003.Austria000000004.Jordan00000000Group J fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationTue, Jun. 16\u00a0Argentina vs. Algeria\u00a0Tue, Jun. 16\u00a0Austria vs. Jordan\u00a0Mon, Jun. 22\u00a0Argentina vs. Austria\u00a0Mon, Jun. 22\u00a0Jordan vs. Algeria\u00a0Sat, Jun. 27\u00a0Jordan vs. Argentina\u00a0Sat, Jun. 27\u00a0Algeria vs. Austria\u00a0Group K\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Portugal000000002.FIFA Playoff 1000000003.Uzbekistan000000004.Colombia00000000<\/p>\n

The FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 1\u00a0qualifier\u00a0will be either DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.<\/p>\n

Group K fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 17\u00a0Portugal vs.\u00a0TBD\u00a0Fri, Jun. 17\u00a0Uzbekistan vs. Colombia\u00a0Tue, Jun. 23\u00a0Portugal vs. Uzbekistan\u00a0Tue, Jun. 23\u00a0Colombia vs.\u00a0TBD\u00a0Sat, Jun. 27\u00a0Colombia vs. Portugal\u00a0Sat, Jun. 27\u00a0TBD\u00a0vs. Uzbekistan\u00a0Group L\u00a0tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.England000000002.Croatia000000003.Ghana000000004.Panama00000000Group L fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 17\u00a0England vs. Croatia\u00a0Fri, Jun. 17\u00a0Ghana vs. Panama\u00a0Tue, Jun. 23\u00a0England vs. Ghana\u00a0Tue, Jun. 23\u00a0Panama vs. Croatia\u00a0Sat, Jun. 27\u00a0Panama vs. England\u00a0Sat, Jun. 27\u00a0Croatia vs. Ghana\u00a0Ranking of third-place finishers<\/p>\n

The top eight third-place finishers will qualify for the knockout stage, while the bottom four will be eliminated.<\/p>\n

PosTeamPTSGPWDLGFGAGD1.TBD000000002.TBD000000003.TBD000000004.TBD000000005.TBD000000006.TBD000000007.TBD000000008.TBD000000009.TBD0000000010.TBD0000000011.TBD0000000012.TBD00000000World Cup 2026 knockout stageRound of 32DateMatchLocationSun, Jun. 28M1: 2nd, Group A vs. 2nd, Group BSoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Mon, Jun. 29M2: 1st, Group E vs. 3rd place finisherGillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA)Mon, Jun. 29M3: 1st, Group F vs. 2nd, Group CEstadio BBVA (Guadalupe, MEX)Mon, Jun. 29M4: 1st, Group C vs. 2nd, Group FNRG Stadium (Houston, TX)Tue, Jun. 30M5: 1st, Group I vs. 3rd place finisherMetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)Tue, Jun. 30M6: 2nd, Group E vs. 2nd, Group IAT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Tue, Jun. 30M7: 1st, Group A vs. 3rd place finisherEstadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX)Wed, Jul. 1M8: 1st, Group L vs. 3rd place finisherMercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Wed, Jul. 1M9: 1st, Group D vs. 3rd place finisherLevi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Wed, Jul. 1M10: 1st, Group G vs. 3rd place finisherLumen Field (Seattle, WA)Thu, Jul. 2M11: 2nd, Group K vs. 2nd, Group LBMO Field (Toronto, CAN)Thu, Jul. 2M12: 1st, Group H vs. 2nd, Group JSoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Thu, Jul. 2M13: 1st, Group B vs. 3rd place finisherBC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Fri, Jul. 3M14: 1st, Group J vs. 2nd, Group HHard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)Fri, Jul. 3M15: 1st, Group K vs. 3rd place finisherArrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)Fr, Jul. 3M16: 2nd, Group D vs. 2nd, Group GAT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Round of 16DateMatchLocationSat, Jul. 4M1: Winner, R32 M2 vs. Winner, R32 M5Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)Sat, Jul. 4M2: Winner, R32 M1 vs. Winner, R32 M3NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)Sun, Jul. 5M3: Winner, R32 M4 vs. Winner, R32 M6MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)Sun, Jul. 5M4: Winner, R32 M7 vs. Winner, R32 M8Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX)Mon, Jul. 6M5: Winner, R32 M11 vs. Winner, R32 M12AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Mon, Jul. 6M6: Winner, R32 M9 vs. Winner, R32 M10Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)Tue, Jul. 7M7: Winner, R32 M14 vs. Winner, R32 M16Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Tue, Jul. 7M8: Winner, R32 M13 vs. Winner, R32 M15BC Place (Vancouver, CAN)QuarterfinalsDateMatchLocationThu, Jul. 9QF1: Winner, R16 M1 vs. Winner, R16 M2Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA)Fri, Jul. 10QF2: Winner, R16 M5 vs. Winner, R16 M6SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Sat, Jul. 11QF3: Winner, R16 M3 vs. Winner, R16 M4Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)Sat, Jul. 11QF4: Winner, R16 M7 vs. Winner, R16 M8Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)SemifinalsDateMatchLocationTue, Jul. 14SF1: Winner, QF1 vs. Winner, QF2AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Wed, Jul. 15SF2: Winner, QF3 vs. Winner, QF4Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Third place matchDateMatchLocationSat, Jul. 18Loser, SF1 vs. Loser, SF2Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)FinalDateMatchLocationSun, Jul. 19Winner, SF1 vs. Winner, SF2MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)<\/p>\n

MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As shades of Argentina’s triumph in Qatar remain firmly entrenched in the memory, the 2026 World Cup is…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":77653,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[150,152,151],"class_list":{"0":"post-77652","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arlington","8":"tag-arlington","9":"tag-arlington-headlines","10":"tag-arlington-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77652","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=77652"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77652\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/77653"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=77652"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=77652"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=77652"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}