The Road to Glory: A Complete Guide to the 2026 World Cup Group Stage Schedule
The anticipation is building! As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, fans worldwide are eager to no when their favorite teams will clash on the pitch.This expanded tournament, co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, promises a spectacle unlike any other. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the group stage schedule, designed to help you plan your viewing and follow every thrilling moment.
We’ll cover each group, detailing the matchups, dates, times (all Eastern Time), and host cities. Consider this your essential guide to navigating the opening phase of the competition.
Understanding the format
First, let’s quickly recap the format. the 48 participating teams are divided into 12 groups of four. Each team plays the others in their group once, resulting in three matches per team.
The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage. This expanded format means more opportunities for your nation to shine and more exciting football for you to enjoy.
Group-by-Group Breakdown
let’s dive into the schedule, group by group. Remember, all times are Eastern Time.
* June 14: United States vs. Wales (Los Angeles),9pm ET
* June 14: Uruguay vs. Slovenia (Seattle), 3pm ET
* June 20: United states vs. Slovenia (Los Angeles), 3pm ET
* June 20: Wales vs. uruguay (Vancouver, Canada), 9pm ET
* June 25: Slovenia vs. Wales (Seattle), 11pm ET
* June 25: Uruguay vs. United states (Vancouver, Canada), 11pm ET
Group B
* June 15: England vs. Iran (Los Angeles), 9pm ET
* June 15: Belgium vs. Egypt (Seattle), 3pm ET
* June 21: Belgium vs. Iran (Los Angeles),3pm ET
* June 21: Egypt vs. New Zealand (Vancouver, Canada), 9pm ET
* June 26: Egypt vs. Iran (Seattle), 11pm ET
* June 26: New Zealand vs. Belgium (Vancouver, Canada), 11pm ET
Group C
* June 15: Spain vs. Cape Verde (Atlanta), 12pm ET
* June 15: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (Miami), 6pm ET
* June 21: Spain vs. Saudi Arabia (atlanta), 12pm ET
* June 21: Uruguay vs. Cape Verde (Miami), 6pm ET
* June 26: Cape Verde vs.Saudi Arabia (Houston), 8pm ET
* June 26: uruguay vs. Spain (Guadalajara, Mexico), 8pm ET
Group D
* June 16: France vs. Senegal (New york/New Jersey), 3pm ET
* June 16: playoff Winner vs. Norway (Boston), 6pm ET
* June 22: France vs.Playoff Winner (Philadelphia), 5pm ET
* June 22: Norway vs. Senegal (new York/New Jersey), 8pm ET
* June 26: Norway vs. France (Boston), 3pm ET
* June 26: Senegal vs. Playoff Winner (Toronto), 3pm ET
Group E
* June 16: Argentina vs. Algeria (Kansas City, mo.), 9pm ET
* June 16: Austria vs. Jordan (San Francisco),12am ET
* June 22: Argentina vs. Austria (Dallas), 1pm ET
* June
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