FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups: All 12 Groups, 48 Teams & Key Fixtures

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first 48-team edition in the tournament’s history, and it arrives with a brand-new group format. Instead of eight groups of four, the 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four, labelled A through L, all confirmed by the final draw. Below you will find every group, all 48 teams, the host nations’ groups, and — the part most guides skip — the complete six-match schedule for every single group, with dates, kickoff times in ET and host cities.

Because the 2026 World Cup is co-hosted across three countries — the United States, Canada and Mexico — following the group stage can mean crossing borders and switching networks. This guide walks through the format, the 12 groups and all 72 group-stage fixtures first, then explains how to stay connected on the ground without juggling SIM cards.

How the group stage works

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage divides 48 teams into 12 groups of four, named Group A to Group L. Each team plays the other three sides in its group once, so every team is guaranteed three group matches. With 12 groups playing a single round-robin, the group stage produces 72 matches in total between June 11 and June 27, 2026.

Qualification from the group stage works on two levels. The top two teams in each group advance automatically, accounting for 24 places. Then the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also progress, bringing the total to 32 teams that reach the knockout rounds.

Those 32 teams enter a new stage called the Round of 32, which did not exist in the previous 32-team format. The Round of 32 is the first knockout round of the 2026 World Cup and feeds into the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey on July 19, 2026.

The eight-best-thirds rule is the headline change for fans. Because only four of the 12 third-placed teams miss out, finishing third is no longer an automatic exit — a single point in a tight group can be the difference between going home and reaching the Round of 32. It also means the group stage stays alive to the very last match day, since third place in one group is judged against third place in the other eleven on points, goal difference and goals scored.

All 12 groups at a glance

The 12 FIFA World Cup 2026 groups, from Group A to Group L, are set out in full in the table below. Each row lists the four teams drawn into that group, exactly as confirmed in the final draw, with the three co-host nations — Mexico, Canada and the United States — placed in Groups A, B and D respectively.

The seven pre-tournament favorites are spread across the draw: holders Argentina sit in Group J, France in Group I, Spain in Group H, England in Group L, Brazil in Group C, Germany in Group E and Portugal in Group K. That spread means no two of the traditional powers can meet before the knockout rounds, and it leaves room for a host nation or a dark horse to top several of the groups.

Every group and all six fixtures, explained

Each of the 12 FIFA World Cup 2026 groups pairs four teams in a single round-robin of six matches, and several feature one of the pre-tournament favorites — Argentina, France, Spain, England, Brazil, Germany or Portugal. The group-by-group rundown below names the four teams in each group, flags which sides are among the favorites or carry host-nation advantage, and lists all six group fixtures with the date, kickoff time in US Eastern Time (ET) and host city. Times are shown in ET because 14 of the 16 host cities sit in US and Canadian time zones; convert to your own time zone when planning travel.

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic and Czechia Host nation: Mexico

Group A is the home of co-host Mexico, who open the entire FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Mexico are joined by South Africa, Korea Republic and Czechia in a group that pairs a three-time host nation with three seasoned confederation qualifiers. With home advantage and the ~2,240 m altitude of Mexico City on their side, Mexico are among the favorites to claim one of the two automatic places, while every other side will eye a best-third-placed route into the Round of 32.

All six Group A matches (dates and times in ET):

Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland Host nation: Canada

Group B features co-host Canada alongside Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland. Canada play opening-week home matches across their Toronto and Vancouver venues, where familiar conditions could prove decisive. Switzerland arrive as the most experienced European side in the group, so second place and a possible best-third-placed ticket may both come down to the final round of fixtures.

All six Group B matches (dates and times in ET):

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland

Group C brings together Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. Brazil are among the favorites for the tournament as a whole, while Morocco arrive as one of the most respected sides outside the traditional powers after their recent deep runs. Haiti and Scotland will look to spring surprises and chase one of the eight best-third-placed berths in a group with no easy fixtures.

All six Group C matches (dates and times in ET):

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye Host nation: United States

Group D is the home of co-host the United States, drawn with Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. The United States play home matches in front of large crowds across US host cities, which adds a clear edge in an otherwise balanced group. Türkiye and Australia are both capable of taking points off anyone, so expect three competitive match days where every result shapes the top-two places and the best-third race.

All six Group D matches (dates and times in ET):

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador

Group E pairs Germany with Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Germany are among the favorites and will be expected to top the group, but it still carries real banana skins: Ivory Coast and Ecuador are well-drilled qualifiers, and a single round-robin leaves little room for slip-ups. Curaçao bring debutant energy that can unsettle bigger names in the expanded 48-team format.

All six Group E matches (dates and times in ET):

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia

Group F lines up Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. The Netherlands and Japan are both capable of deep runs, which makes this one of the more evenly contested groups on paper. Sweden and Tunisia will aim to grab points early and stay in contention for a best-third-placed spot through to the final match day.

All six Group F matches (dates and times in ET):

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand

Group G features Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand. Belgium bring a core of experienced internationals, while Egypt and Iran are perennial confederation contenders who rarely make it easy. New Zealand will look to upset the order and make the most of a format that now rewards strong third-placed teams.

All six Group G matches (dates and times in ET):

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay

Group H is headlined by Spain, alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Spain are among the favorites, but Uruguay are a heavyweight in their own right, which makes the top-two battle here especially intriguing. Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia will fight for every point and a possible best-third-placed route into the knockouts.

All six Group H matches (dates and times in ET):

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway

Group I puts France with Senegal, Iraq and Norway. France are among the favorites, while Senegal are one of the strongest African sides in the field. Norway and Iraq will try to turn the group into a four-way scrap where a single result can reshape the standings going into the last round.

All six Group I matches (dates and times in ET):

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan

Group J is led by holders Argentina, drawn with Algeria, Austria and Jordan. As the reigning champions, Argentina are among the favorites to win the group, but Austria are an organised European side and Algeria a proven qualifier. Jordan will relish the stage and chase a best-third-placed finish in their group-stage campaign.

All six Group J matches (dates and times in ET):

Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia

Group K features Portugal with DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia. Portugal are among the favorites, yet Colombia are a genuine contender for the top two, setting up a compelling fight at the front of the group. DR Congo and Uzbekistan add pace and unpredictability across all three match days.

All six Group K matches (dates and times in ET):

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama

Group L closes the alphabet with England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. England are among the favorites and Croatia remain a tournament-tested side, so the marquee meetings here could decide who finishes top. Ghana and Panama will look to disrupt the seeding and claim a best-third-placed berth.

All six Group L matches (dates and times in ET):

Co-host groups to watch

The three co-host groups at the FIFA World Cup 2026 are Group A (Mexico), Group B (Canada) and Group D (the United States), and each host nation plays opening-week matches at home. Mexico in Group A open the entire tournament on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the only stadium reused from past World Cups (1970 and 1986).

The United States in Group D play home matches across US host cities, with Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye completing the group; their opener is United States vs Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. Canada in Group B play opening-week home fixtures starting with Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto, drawn alongside Qatar and Switzerland. For traveling fans, these three groups are the most likely to involve matches in more than one host country, so they are worth planning your connectivity around.

Following the groups on the ground

Because the FIFA World Cup 2026 is spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, no single Simbye plan covers all three host nations — the right eSIM depends on where your matches are. The good news is that 11 of the 16 host cities are in the United States, so most fans will spend the bulk of their trip on US soil.

For the US games, the Simbye USA Unlimited eSIM is the standout choice. It runs on AT&T 5G nationwide across the United States and gives you a real US phone number, unlimited data, unlimited calls to 100+ countries and unlimited SMS — ideal for booking tickets, hotels, restaurants and rideshare during a packed match schedule, and for instant QR-code setup when stadium Wi-Fi saturates within minutes of kickoff as 60,000 to 80,000 fans connect at once. Pricing is matched to trip length: $24.95 for 10 days, $33.95 for 20 days, or $43.95 for 30 days. The USA Unlimited plan covers the United States only, so pair it with the plans below if your itinerary crosses into Canada or Mexico.

Get the USA Unlimited eSIM →

Catching the Canada matches in Group B? Those games are played in Toronto and Vancouver, and for fans staying in the USA and Canada the Simbye North America eSIM (USA + Canada, data-only) keeps you online across both countries: 5GB for $17.95, 10GB for $24.95, or 20GB for $38.95.

Heading to the Mexico matches in Group A? Those are staged in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, and you will want a dedicated Simbye Mexico eSIM for that leg, starting at 5GB for $14.95 or 10GB for $24.95. Planning to cross between two or more host countries? Simply add the eSIM you need for each leg of the trip — there is no all-in-one plan for all three nations, and we would rather recommend the right plan per country than oversell a single one.

Prefer to build a plan yourself or manage everything from your phone? The Simbye app lets you browse, buy and activate eSIMs in minutes. Download it on the App Store or Google Play.

Group-stage key dates and how to watch

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage is played from June 11 to June 27, 2026, across all 16 host cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The opening match, Mexico vs South Africa, kicks off the schedule at 3 p.m. ET on June 11 at Estadio Azteca, with Korea Republic vs Czechia at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara the same evening at 10 p.m. ET. The final group fixtures land on June 27, when each group’s last two matches are scheduled simultaneously to keep qualification fair.

After the group stage closes, the knockout rounds follow quickly: the Round of 32 runs from June 28 to July 3, the Round of 16 from July 4 to 7, the quarter-finals from July 9 to 11, the semi-finals on July 14 and 15, the third-place play-off on July 18 in Miami, and the final on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium. For the venues behind each match and a day-by-day fixture list, see our World Cup 2026 host cities and stadiums guide and our World Cup 2026 schedule and fixtures guide.

Coverage is split by country: in the United States, matches air on FOX and FS1 in English and on Telemundo and Universo in Spanish; in Canada on TSN and CTV in English and RDS in French; in Mexico on Televisa and TV Azteca; and in the United Kingdom on the BBC and ITV. Match tickets are sold only through official channels at FIFA.com/tickets — resale outside official channels can void entry. Exact kickoff times are confirmed stage by stage, so check official sources such as FIFA.com closer to each match day.

Frequently asked questions

How many groups are there at the FIFA World Cup 2026?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has 12 groups, labelled A to L, with four teams in each group. This replaces the eight-group format used at previous tournaments and is part of the expansion to 48 teams.

How many teams play at the World Cup 2026?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 features 48 teams, the largest field in the tournament’s history, up from 32 at Qatar 2022. The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four.

How many matches are played in the World Cup 2026 group stage?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage has 72 matches in total — six matches in each of the 12 groups, played between June 11 and June 27, 2026. Each of the 48 teams plays three group games.

How do teams qualify from the group stage in 2026?

At the FIFA World Cup 2026, the top two teams in each of the 12 groups advance automatically, and the eight best third-placed teams across all groups also progress. That makes 32 teams in total, who move into a new knockout Round of 32.

Which group is the United States in at the World Cup 2026?

The United States is in Group D at the FIFA World Cup 2026, alongside Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. As a co-host, the United States plays home matches across US host cities, opening against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.

Which group is Mexico in at the World Cup 2026?

Mexico is in Group A at the FIFA World Cup 2026, together with South Africa, Korea Republic and Czechia. Mexico, as a co-host, opens the tournament on June 11 against South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Which group is Canada in at the World Cup 2026?

Canada is in Group B at the FIFA World Cup 2026, drawn with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland. Canada, as a co-host, plays opening-week home matches in Toronto and Vancouver, starting against Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 12.

Which group has the holders Argentina at the World Cup 2026?

Argentina, the reigning champions, are in Group J at the FIFA World Cup 2026, alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Argentina are among the pre-tournament favorites to win the group.

When does the World Cup 2026 group stage start and finish?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage runs from June 11 to June 27, 2026, with 72 matches across the 12 groups. The opening match is Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11, and the Round of 32 begins on June 28.

What time are the World Cup 2026 group matches?

FIFA World Cup 2026 group matches are spread through the day, with kickoffs commonly between early afternoon and late evening US Eastern Time. The opening match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on June 11; exact times for each fixture are listed by group above, so convert from ET to your local time zone when planning.

Related World Cup 2026 guides

• Best eSIM for the FIFA World Cup 2026: USA, Canada & Mexico (plans & prices)
• FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities: all 16 stadiums, airports & connectivity
• FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule: all 104 matches, dates & knockout rounds

About the author — Maria Vergadoro is the Customer Care lead at Simbye, where she helps travelers stay connected across 150+ destinations with eSIM data, calls and local numbers.