World Cup 2026 Group C draw: Updated teams, match schedule, fixtures, stadiums and odds for Brazil originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.JUMP TO:Group C fixtures and scheduleWho is in World Cup Group C?Odds to win Group CGroup C path in World Cup knockout bracketThe 2026 FIFA World Cup is gearing up to be one of the biggest football tournaments in the history of the sport.As the first World Cup expanded to a field of 48 nations, the amount of matches to be played across the competition will skyrocket from 64 to 104, bringing fans nearly double the action.Top sides from across the globe will challenge for the famous trophy. Lionel Messi and Argentina will hope to defend their crown, while the likes of Spain, England, France, and others eye a changing of the guard.The Sporting News gives you an overview of Group C at the 2026 World Cup, which will be filled out with four participants at the draw on December 5.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Live World Cup draw tracker | Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup scheduleWorld Cup Group C scheduleGroup C tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Brazil000000002.Morocco000000003.C3000000004.Scotland00000000Group C fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationSat, Jun. 13Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA)Sat, Jun. 13MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)Fri, Jun. 19Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)Fri, Jun. 19Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, MA)Wed, Jun. 24Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)Wed, Jun. 24Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)BUY NOW:Get tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on StubHubWorld Cup Group C teamsBrazilA nation steeped in footballing history, Brazil are the most successful side in the competition with five titles and remain the only country to have featured at every World Cup.Their route to the next tournament, however, was anything but smooth. Brazil finished only fifth in South American qualifying, behind Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia and Uruguay. Since the last World Cup, the Selecao have gone through two permanent managers and an interim before Carlo Ancelotti finally took charge. Appointed in May 2025, the Italian appears to have steadied the ship and given the team a clearer identity.Vinicius Junior remains the star attraction, even if he has yet to consistently match his Real Madrid form on the international stage. That has opened the door for Chelsea’s Estevao to emerge as the side’s main creative force. The 18-year-old is the top scorer of the Ancelotti era so far, with five goals in 11 appearances.The Brazilian squad also leans on the quality of Rodrygo of Real Madrid, Raphinha from Barcelona, and a strengthened defensive core featuring Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes, Real Madrid’s Eder Militao, PSG’s Marquinhos and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.Among Brazilian fans and the local media, there is still uncertainty over whether Neymar will make next year’s World Cup. Despite his recent struggles, he is still regarded as the standout figure of his generation. The prevailing feeling is that if he’s fit, the former PSG and Barcelona star will remain firmly in Ancelotti’s plans.Current FIFA world ranking: 5thRegional ranking: 2nd (Conmebol)World Cup titles: 5World Cup appearances (last): 22 (2022)How qualified: 5th in South American qualifying: 8W-6L-4DCoach: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy) since May 2025Key player(s): Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Estevao (Chelsea), Alisson (Liverpool)MoroccoThe World Cup in North America will be Morocco’s seventh appearance on football’s biggest stage, and, for the first time, their third in a row. The Atlas Lions stormed through Group E in CAF qualifying, becoming the first African nation to punch their ticket after demolishing Niger 5-0 on September 5.At the expanded 48-team tournament, Morocco will have one mission in mind: to show the world that their historic fourth-place finish at Qatar 2022 was no one-off miracle. Walid Regragui’s men want to keep the momentum rolling, fuel the pride of millions back home, and carry that fire forward as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 tournament.There’s no question that Moroccan football is enjoying its brightest chapter. A World Cup semifinal in 2022, an Under-20 crown just weeks ago, and a surge of achievements across African, Arab, and global competitions, from the men’s and women’s teams to futsal, all point to a genuine golden age.And for the older generation, this renaissance feels especially sweet. They lived through the long years of heartbreak, the failed campaigns, the barren spells without World Cup or AFCON success, and the early exits that became all too familiar. The current dominance across the board feels long overdue and richly deserved.Current FIFA world ranking: 11Regional ranking: 1st (CAF)World Cup titles: 0World Cup appearances (last): 6 (Qatar 2022)How qualified: CAF Group E winners: W8-L0-D0Coach: Walid Regragui (France) since August 2022Key player(s): Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahce), Noussair Mazraoui (Man United)ScotlandThe long wait is finally over for Scotland after they qualified for their first men’s World Cup since France 1998 in the most dramatic of circumstances.Needing to beat Denmark in their final qualifier in November, Scotland were pegged back after a stunning early overhead kick from talisman Scott McTominay, only to score twice in injury time to seal a breathtaking 4-2 victory — the final goal coming via Kenny McLean’s chip from the halfway line.Coach Steve Clarke now has the job of ending another hoodoo by masterminding a first-ever foray into the knockout stages of a major tournament. Scotland have exited in the groups of all eight previous World Cup appearances, as well as four campaigns at the European Championship.Clarke’s record stands up to scrutiny: he is the longest-serving Scotland manager in terms of games played (74), and that victory over Denmark saw him surpass Craig Brown for most wins in charge (33). He will also become the first man to lead the country at three major tournaments.Clarke has developed a pragmatic style that manages to get the best out of star players like McTominay, John McGinn and captain Andy Robertson, while also blooding youngsters such as Ben Gannon-Doak, who could have a big part to play next year.Current FIFA world ranking: 36thRegional ranking: 19th (UEFA)World Cup titles: 0World Cup appearances (last): 8 (France 1998)How qualified: UEFA Group C winners: 4W-1L-1DCoach: Steve Clarke (Scotland) since May 2019Key player(s): Scott McTominay (Napoli), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John McGinn (Aston Villa)MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:Who will win the World Cup in 2026?Updated FIFA World RankingsHow World Cup qualifying worksExplaining the expanded World Cup bracketFull list of teams to qualify for 2026 World CupWorld Cup Group C odds and predictionsHere are the odds for each team in Group C to win and qualify from the group, with odds according to DraftKings in the United States.These odds will be updated once the draw has completed and the participants are known.TeamGroup WinnerTo QualifyWin titleC1C2C3C4World Cup 2026 bracket for Group CThe winner of Group C will enter the knockout stage bracket on the bottom half, scheduled to take on the runner-up from Group F. They will be one of just four group winners to be paired with a group runner-up in the Round of 32, while the other eight group winners are paired against a third-place qualifier.Consequently, the Group C runner-up enters the top half of the bracket, slated to meet the winner of Group F, who is also one of the four unlucky winners.The third-place finisher in Group C, like all third-place qualifiers, has three potential places in the knockout stage bracket they could be sorted into should they qualify as one of the eight third-place qualifiers. A Group C third-place qualifier could end up facing:Winner of Group EWinner of Group IWinner of Group AUntil all third-place qualifiers are known, it is impossible to predict where or when they could potentially play should this come to pass. There are 495 mathematical combinations of third place qualifiers, all of which have been spelled out in advance. Every potential outcome can be found in Annex C (pg. 80) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup regulations.Round 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)MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:Last time the World Cup was in United StatesRevisiting the first World Cup in 1930Most World Cup wins by countryFuture World Cup locations for 2030 and beyondGuide to host countries, cities for 2026 World Cup