World Cup 2026 Schedule Updated w/ Groupings

The updated match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 2026 brings exciting news, particularly for host nations Canada, Mexico, and the United States. With the latest version, these countries can now clearly see their potential match routes, depending on whether they finish first or second in their respective groups.

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• Group Stage Matches
  • World Cup Simulator
• Full Schedule
  • Group A
  • Group B
  • Group C
  • Group D
  • Group E
  • Group F
  • Group G
  • Group H
  • Group I
  • Group J
  • Group K
  • Group L
  • Knockout Rounds
  • Immediate thoughts on the Groups
• Looking At Host Group Assignments:
  • Host Nations’ Routes:
  • Earliest Host Nation Matchups (1st & 2nd Place Only)
• Generic Group Insights
  • Group G: Potentially the Best Group Draw in 2026 World Cup
  • Group I: Most Objectively Fair Group in 2026 World Cup
  • Best Knockout Travel Paths For Group WINNERS:
  • Worst Knockout Travel Paths For Group WINNERS:
  • Host Nations Group Winners Travel Path
• Stay Up to Date With New Info

Group Stage Matches

The December 5th Draw has concluded and we have learned all of our groups and matches.

The specific stadium assignments and kickoff times are to be decided by FIFA on December 6th.

World Cup Simulator

Click into the buttons below. This is meant to be a fun way to help guess and identify where teams will play for knockout rounds, given there are 495 combinations for 3rd place finishes.

It’s at no cost and a fun way to choose Group Winners, 3rd Place, Knockouts and share with friends.

Full Schedule

Here’s a way to filter by Host City, Team or Group (Round).

Group A

• Mexico / South Africa / South Korea / UEFA Playoff Winner D

Group A Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group A
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group B

• Canada / UEFA Playoff Winner A / Qatar / Switzerland

Group B Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group B
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group C

• Brazil / Morocco / Haiti / Scotland

Group C Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group C
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group D

• United States / Paraguay / Australia / UEFA Playoff Winner C

Group D Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group D
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group E

• Germany / Curaçao / Côte d’Ivoire / Ecuador

Group E Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group E
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group F

• Netherlands / Japan / UEFA Playoff Winner B / Tunisia

Group F Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group F
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group G

• Belgium / Egypt / Iran / New Zealand

Group G Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group G
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group H

• Spain / Cape Verde / Saudi Arabia / Uruguay

Group H Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group H
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group I

• France / Senegal / Intercontinental Playoff Winner 2 / Norway

Group I Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group I
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group J

• Argentina / Algeria / Austria / Jordan

Group J Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group J
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group K

• Portugal / Intercontinental Playoff Winner 1 / Uzbekistan / Colombia

Group K Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group K
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Group L

• England / Croatia / Ghana / Panama

Group L Tickets…

• Official Source – FIFA.com/tickets
• Official Resale – FIFA.com/tickets
• Open 3rd Party Marketplace – LiveFootballTickets for Group L
  • If you are wanting to go an unofficial route and assume your own risk, do your research.
  • For example, at least a platform like LiveFootballTickets.com offers a 150% refund policy.

Knockout Rounds

Immediate thoughts on the Groups

• Hardest Group: Group I, where you feel sorry for the intercontinental winner. Between France, Senegal and Norway you have legitimate favorites + many people’s top darkhorses.
• Most Exciting Group Stage Match: France vs Senegal. Solid teams. France often struggles in the group stage and…memories of 2002.
• Toss Up Group: B…it would be tough to place money on the final standings here.
• Most Intriguing Match: Netherlands vs Japan is one we have circled and Brazil vs Haiti is special due to the connection Haitians feel towards the Brazilian team.
• Most Anticipated Match: 👀Argentina vs Portugal in R16 in Kansas City if both win their groups and progress!

Looking At Host Group Assignments:

• Group A: Mexico / South Korea / South Africa / Euro Playoff Winner
• Group B: Canada / Euro Playoff Winner / Qatar / Swizterland
• Group D: USA / Paraguay / Australia / Euro Playoff Winner

Host Nations’ Routes:

The strategic placement of these matches offers home-field advantages that could significantly benefit the host nations. For instance, Mexico’s early rounds in Mexico City and Canada’s in Vancouver provide a familiar and supportive environment while USA can stay on the West Coast time zone as they strive for the quarterfinals.

The Group Winners of Groups C, F, H and J will not play a 3rd place team (remember, the “Top 4 of 3rd place teams make the Round of 32). The draw will significantly the knockout rounds.

Earliest Host Nation Matchups (1st & 2nd Place Only)

When would hosts USA, Mexico or Canada face one another if we assume they all finish 1st or 2nd in their groups?

Key Takeaways From Combinations

Host Buzzkill: 

• June 28th: Mexico 2nd + Canada 2nd = M73 Round of 32 in Los Angeles 

Earliest USA clash: 

• July 11th: USA 2nd + Canada 1st = M100 Quarterfinal in Kansas City

Most common: 

• Finals in New York New Jersey (6 scenarios lead here)

Generic Group Insights

These thoughts are based on non-competitive insights. That is regardless of teams, these aspects may provide an edge.

Group G: Potentially the Best Group Draw in 2026 World Cup

Disregarding the actual teams and competitive nature this group offers the following for teams and fans:

• Only group where it’s possible that all 4 teams get exactly equal advantages regarding indoor stadiums
  • Every team potentially can receive 2 indoor matches + 1 outdoor match
  • M15, M39 (LA – indoor)
  • M40, M64 (Vancouver – indoor)
  • M16, M63 (Seattle – outdoor)
• Only 3 Host Cities for Travel:
  • Los Angeles (2x), Seattle (2x), Vancouver (2x)
• All Western Region:
  • Group Winner stays West for R32, R16 & QF
• Max travel: 1,740km (moderate)

For fans: If your team draws Group G, only 3 cities makes trip planning easiest, in one of the most beautiful regions of the tournament and likely incredible weather and/or indoor matches.

Group I: Most Objectively Fair Group in 2026 World Cup

• ✅ All outdoor (equal at 0 indoor for everyone)
• ✅ Shortest travel (550km max)
• ✅ Winners stay Eastern through Quarterfinals
• ✅ 4 cities easy to navigate (Boston, NYC, Philly, Toronto)

Why it’s #1: True equality as everyone plays in nearly identical conditions, shortest travel, knockout path advantage

Best Knockout Travel Paths For Group WINNERS:

Four Group Winners get to remain in the same “Region” through the Quarterfinals.

Eastern Region Path:

• Group E: Boston → Philadelphia → Boston (all Eastern)
• Group I: New York/NJ → Philadelphia → Boston (all Eastern)

Western Region Path:

• Group D (USA’s Group): San Francisco → Seattle → Los Angeles
• Group G: Seattle → Seattle → Los Angeles

Worst Knockout Travel Paths For Group WINNERS:

These Group Winners have to change regions EVERY knockout round through the Quarterfinals:

• Group H: Central → Western → Central → Western
• Group K: Eastern → Central → Western → Central

Host Nations Group Winners Travel Path

• 🇲🇽 Mexico (Group A): Stays Central for R32+R16, then flies to Miami (2,065km) for Quarterfinals
• 🇨🇦 Canada (Group B): Stays Western for R32+R16, then flies to Kansas City (2,684km) for Quarterfinals
• 🇺🇸 USA (Group D): Stays Western all the way to Quarterfinals

Stay Up to Date With New Info

• Visit the Host City Guides for 2026
• Use the subscribe option below to receive email updates on new posts and curated info
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• If you’d like to discuss a collaboration, send a message 
• We started launching a new site in Matchday Guide. Idea is a place to find info on ticket options, stadium tours, traditions, pubs, etc. Take a look and send us your thoughts!