FIFA World Cup 2026 : Schedule, Groups, and Key Details of Qatar
The FIFA World Cup 2026 schedule has been officially announced, along with the confirmed teams and group stage matchups. This edition will be the Largest in football history, featuring 48 teams competing across three host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The World Cup will start from 11 June and will end on 19 July.
This milestone marks a major transformation in the competition, expanding its global reach and introducing a new format.
FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualified Teams
Team 1 | Team 2 | Team 3 |
|---|---|---|
United States (Host) | Canada (Host) | Mexico (Host) |
Argentina | Brazil | France |
England | Spain | Germany |
Portugal | Netherlands | Belgium |
Italy | Croatia | Denmark |
Switzerland | Poland | Serbia |
Morocco | Senegal | Nigeria |
Egypt | Algeria | Tunisia |
South Africa | Ghana | Cameroon |
Japan | South Korea | Iran |
Saudi Arabia | Australia | Qatar |
UAE | Iraq | Uzbekistan |
USA Slot 1 | USA Slot 2 | USA Slot 3 |
Europe Slot 1 | Europe Slot 2 | Europe Slot 3 |
Africa Slot 1 | Africa Slot 2 | Africa Slot 3 |
Asia Slot 1 | Asia Slot 2 | Asia Slot 3 |
FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualified Teams
Co-Host Nations
AFC (Asia)
Australia, Iraq, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
CAF (Africa)
Algeria, Cabo Verde, Congo DR, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Concacaf
Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
CONMEBOL (South America)
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
OFC (Oceania)
New Zealand
UEFA (Europe)
Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye
All 48 teams have now secured their places, marking the first time the FIFA World Cup will feature such an expanded lineup.
Qualification places for the 2026 FIFA
Each region has been assigned a specific number of direct qualification spots, along with additional opportunities through the intercontinental play-off tournament:
In addition, the three host nations automatically qualify for the tournament.
Qatar is hosting Gluf Club Champions League final in Doha.
Qatar is in which FIFA WC group and which teams will they play against?
Qatar is in Group B. Its opponents will be:
Qatar Schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026™
Qatar found out its three group-stage opponents during the World Cup draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on December 5. The team will compete in the group stage with the following fixtures:
Fans can refer to the official schedule for a complete list of matches and timings.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament Dates and Format
The tournament will kick off on June 11, 2026, and conclude with the final on July 19, 2026.
For the first time, the competition will include:
The top two teams from each group, along with the best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament Format
The 48 qualified teams are divided into 12 groups of four teams each. During the group stage, each team will play three matches against the other teams in their group. The outcomes of these matches will determine which teams move on to the knockout round.
From the group stage, 32 teams will advance:
If teams finish with the same points, the tiebreakers will be applied in the following order:
Pathway to Semifinals
FIFA has also introduced two separate knockout paths to ensure the highest-ranked teams do not meet before the semifinals. For instance:
Additionally, teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn in the same group, except for European teams.
FIFA World Cup 2026 groups
Group A
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Mexico | vs South Africa | 11 June, 3 p.m. |
Korea Republic | vs Czechia | 11 June, 10 p.m. |
Czechia | vs South Africa | 18 June, 12 p.m. |
Mexico | vs Korea Republic | 18 June, 9 p.m. |
Czechia | vs Mexico | 24 June, 9 p.m. |
South Africa | vs Korea Republic | 24 June, 9 p.m. |
Group B
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Canada | vs Bosnia-Herzegovina | 12 June, 3 p.m. |
Qatar | vs Switzerland | 13 June, 3 p.m. |
Switzerland | vs Bosnia-Herzegovina | 18 June, 3 p.m. |
Canada | vs Qatar | 18 June, 6 p.m. |
Switzerland | vs Canada | 24 June, 3 p.m. |
Bosnia-Herzegovina | vs Qatar | 24 June, 3 p.m. |
Group C
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Brazil | vs Morocco | 13 June, 6 p.m. |
Haiti | vs Scotland | 13 June, 9 p.m. |
Scotland | vs Morocco | 19 June, 6 p.m. |
Brazil | vs Haiti | 19 June, 8:30 p.m. |
Scotland | vs Brazil | 24 June, 6 p.m. |
Morocco | vs Haiti | 24 June, 6 p.m. |
Group D
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
United States | vs Paraguay | 12 June, 9 p.m. |
Australia | vs Türkiye | 13 June, 12 a.m. |
United States | vs Australia | 19 June, 3 p.m. |
Türkiye | vs Paraguay | 19 June, 11 p.m. |
Türkiye | vs United States | 25 June, 10 p.m. |
Paraguay | vs Australia | 25 June, 10 p.m. |
Group E
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Germany | vs Curaçao | 14 June, 1 p.m. |
Ivory Coast | vs Ecuador | 14 June, 7 p.m. |
Germany | vs Ivory Coast | 20 June, 4 p.m. |
Ecuador | vs Curaçao | 20 June, 8 p.m. |
Curaçao | vs Ivory Coast | 25 June, 4 p.m. |
Ecuador | vs Germany | 25 June, 4 p.m. |
Group F
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Netherlands | vs Japan | 14 June, 4 p.m. |
Sweden | vs Tunisia | 14 June, 10 p.m. |
Netherlands | vs Sweden | 20 June, 1 p.m. |
Tunisia | vs Japan | 20 June, 12 a.m. |
Japan | vs Sweden | 25 June, 7 p.m. |
Tunisia | vs Netherlands | 25 June, 7 p.m. |
Group G
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Belgium | vs Egypt | 15 June, 3 p.m. |
Iran | vs New Zealand | 15 June, 9 p.m. |
Belgium | vs Iran | 21 June, 3 p.m. |
New Zealand | vs Egypt | 21 June, 9 p.m. |
Egypt | vs Iran | 26 June, 11 p.m. |
New Zealand | vs Belgium | 26 June, 11 p.m. |
Group H
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Spain | vs Cape Verde | 15 June, 12 p.m. |
Saudi Arabia | vs Uruguay | 15 June, 6 p.m. |
Spain | vs Saudi Arabia | 21 June, 12 p.m. |
Uruguay | vs Cape Verde | 21 June, 6 p.m. |
Cape Verde | vs Saudi Arabia | 26 June, 8 p.m. |
Uruguay | vs Spain | 26 June, 8 p.m. |
Group I
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
France | vs Senegal | 16 June, 3 p.m. |
Iraq | vs Norway | 16 June, 6 p.m. |
France | vs Iraq | 22 June, 5 p.m. |
Norway | vs Senegal | 22 June, 8 p.m. |
Norway | vs France | 26 June, 3 p.m. |
Senegal | vs Iraq | 26 June, 3 p.m. |
Group J
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Argentina | vs Algeria | 16 June, 9 p.m. |
Austria | vs Jordan | 16 June, 12 a.m. |
Argentina | vs Austria | 22 June, 1 p.m. |
Jordan | vs Algeria | 22 June, 11 p.m. |
Jordan | vs Argentina | 27 June, 10 p.m. |
Algeria | vs Austria | 27 June, 10 p.m. |
Group K
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
Portugal | vs DR Congo | 17 June, 1 p.m. |
Uzbekistan | vs Colombia | 17 June, 10 p.m. |
Portugal | vs Uzbekistan | 23 June, 1 p.m. |
Colombia | vs DR Congo | 23 June, 10 p.m. |
Colombia | vs Portugal | 27 June, 7:30 p.m. |
DR Congo | vs Uzbekistan | 27 June, 7:30 p.m. |
Group L
Teams | Match | Date & Time (Local / GMT+3) |
|---|---|---|
England | vs Croatia | 17 June, 4 p.m. |
Ghana | vs Panama | 17 June, 7 p.m. |
England | vs Ghana | 23 June, 4 p.m. |
Panama | vs Croatia | 23 June, 7 p.m. |
Panama | vs England | 27 June, 5 p.m. |
Croatia | vs Ghana | 27 June, 5 p.m. |
Group Stage Overview
Following the official draw, all teams have been placed into 12 groups. Each team will play three matches during the group stage.
The groups feature:
The group stage will run from June 11 to June 27, after which the knockout rounds will begin.
Match Schedule and Fixtures – FIFA 2026
Matches will take place across multiple cities in the three host countries, offering fans a wide variety of venues and experiences.
With matches scheduled almost every day, fans can enjoy continuous football action throughout the tournament.
Final Match Details
The FIFA World Cup 2026™ will conclude with the grand final on:
This highly anticipated final will crown the champions of the largest World Cup tournament in history.
In 2025 Qatar hosted 3 matches of FIFA Intercontinental Cup and FIFA Arab Cup.
How to Watch the FIFA 2026 WC Matches
Fans worldwide will be able to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 through:
Viewing options may vary depending on your location, so it is best to check local listings for accurate broadcast details.
A Historic Expansion to 48 Teams
For the first time, the FIFA World Cup will feature 48 national teams, an increase from the previous 32-team format. This expansion reflects FIFA’s vision to make football more inclusive and accessible to nations worldwide.
The tournament will follow a new structure:
This updated format ensures more matches and greater opportunities for teams to advance.
Increased Global Representation
The expansion to 48 teams allows for stronger representation from all continents. More qualification slots have been allocated across different regions, giving emerging football nations a better chance to compete on the world stage.
Highlights include:
This approach enhances diversity and competitiveness within the tournament.
Qualification Journey Completed
Teams from around the world competed through intense regional qualifiers and playoffs to secure their spots in the tournament. The final lineup of 48 teams reflects a balanced mix of established football powers and rising nations.
This qualification process ensures high competition levels, with only the most deserving teams making it to the final stage.
A New Era for International Football
The confirmation of all 48 teams marks the beginning of a new chapter in football history. With more teams, more matches, and greater global participation, the FIFA World Cup is expected to deliver an exciting and inclusive experience for fans worldwide.
This expanded format will:
