World Cup groups 2026: Updated draw results, teams, pairings, times, match schedule and fixtures originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.As shades of Argentina’s triumph in Qatar remain firmly entrenched in the memory, the 2026 World Cup is right around the corner.Hosted across North America, 48 teams will descend upon the United States, Canada, and Mexico as the tournament expands the field for the first time in decades.While Argentina look to defend their title, some of the world’s best teams will hope to dethrone the South American giants and keep them from being the first country to repeat as World Cup champions since Brazil over 60 years ago.The likes of England, France, and Spain will have their eyes on the famous FIFA trophy, while hosts USA will bid to deliver their best ever performance in the tournament’s modern format.The Sporting News brings you a look at how the group stage will shape up, and the wider bracket heading into the expanded knockout phase.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Live World Cup draw tracker | Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup scheduleWorld Cup 2026 groupsWe already know that Mexico will be in Group A, Canada in Group B, and USA in Group D.The remaining layout of the group stage will be determined at the draw on December 5. The Sporting News will update this page as the draw is conducted.GroupPot 1Pot 2Pot 3Pot 4AMexicoBCanadaCDUSAEFGHIJKLWorld Cup 2026 kickoff timesThis section will be updated when kickoff times are set. FIFA has indicated that the precise World Cup schedule will be announced on Saturday, December 6 at around 12 p.m. ET.Stage(s)USA & Canada (ET)UK (GMT)Australia (AEDT)India (IST)Group stage onlyGroup stage onlyKnockouts onlyGroup stage onlyGroup + KnockoutsMORE 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 CupComplete World Cup 2026 match scheduleThe World Cup draw will be held on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.It will be there that the teams are distributed across the 12 groups and their pathways to a potential final are made clear.The hosts have already been pre-assigned certain places in the group stage: Mexico are in Group A, Canada Group B, and the USA in Group D. Additionally, new rules dictate that the world’s top-four sides according to the FIFA rankings — Spain, Argentina, France and England — will be on opposite sides of the bracket so they cannot meet until the latter stages.World Cup 2026 group stageGroup A tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Mexico000000002.A2000000003.A3000000004.A400000000Group A fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationThu, Jun. 11Mexico vs. A2Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX)Thu, Jun. 11A3 vs. A4Estadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX)Thu, Jun. 18A4 vs. A2Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Thu, Jun. 18Mexico vs. A3Estadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX)Wed, Jun. 24A4 vs. MexicoEstadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX)Wed, Jun. 24A2 vs. A3Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, MEX)Group B tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.Canada000000002.B2000000003.B3000000004.B400000000Group B fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 12Canada vs. B2BMO Field (Toronto, CAN)Sat, Jun. 13B3 vs. B4Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Thu, Jun. 18B4 vs. B2SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Thu, Jun. 18Canada vs. B3BC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Wed, Jun. 24B4 vs. CanadaBC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Wed, Jun. 24B2 vs. B3Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)Group C tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.C1000000002.C2000000003.C3000000004.C400000000Group 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)Group D tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.United States000000002.D2000000003.D3000000004.D400000000Group D fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 12United States vs. D2SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Sat, Jun. 13D3 vs. D4BC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Fri, Jun. 19D4 vs. D2Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Fri, Jun. 19United States vs. D3Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)Thu, Jun. 25D4 vs. United StatesSoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Thu, Jun. 25D2 vs. D3Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Group E tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.E1000000002.E2000000003.E3000000004.E400000000Group E fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationSun, Jun. 14Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)Sun, Jun. 14NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)Sat, Jun. 20BMO Field (Toronto, CAN)Sat, Jun. 20Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)Thu, Jun. 25Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)Thu, Jun. 25MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)Group F tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.F1000000002.F2000000003.F3000000004.F400000000Group F fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationSun, Jun. 14AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Sun, Jun. 14Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, MEX)Sat, Jun. 20NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)Sat, Jun. 20Estadio BBVA (Guadalupe, MEX)Thu, Jun. 25AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Thu, Jun. 25Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)Group G tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.G1000000002.G2000000003.G3000000004.G400000000Group G fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationMon, Jun. 15SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Mon, Jun. 15Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)Sun, Jun. 21SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, CA)Sun, Jun. 21BC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Fri, Jun. 26Lumen Field (Seattle, WA)Fri, Jun. 26BC Place (Vancouver, CAN)Group H tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.H1000000002.H2000000003.H3000000004.H400000000Group H fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationMon, Jun. 15Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)Mon, Jun. 15Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Sun, Jun. 21Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)Sun, Jun. 21Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Fri, Jun. 26NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)Fri, Jun. 26Estadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX)Group I tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.I1000000002.I2000000003.I3000000004.I400000000Group I fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationTue, Jun. 16MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)Tue, Jun. 16Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)Mon, Jun. 22MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)Mon, Jun. 22Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)Fri, Jun. 26Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)Fri, Jun. 26BMO Field (Toronto, CAN)Group J tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.J1000000002.J2000000003.J3000000004.J400000000Group J fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationTue, Jun. 16Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, MO)Tue, Jun. 16Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Mon, Jun. 22AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Mon, Jun. 22Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, CA)Sat, Jun. 27Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)Sat, Jun. 27Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Group K tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.K1000000002.K2000000003.K3000000004.K400000000Group K fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 17NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)Fri, Jun. 17Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, MEX)Tue, Jun. 23NRG Stadium (Houston, TX)Tue, Jun. 23Estadio Akron (Zapopan, MEX)Sat, Jun. 27Hard Rock Stadium (Miami, FL)Sat, Jun. 27Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA)Group L tablePosTeamPTSGPWLDGFGAGD1.L1000000002.L2000000003.L3000000004.L400000000Group L fixturesDateTime (ET)MatchLocationFri, Jun. 17BMO Field (Toronto, CAN)Fri, Jun. 17AT&T Stadium (Arlington, TX)Tue, Jun. 23Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, MA)Tue, Jun. 23BMO Field (Toronto, CAN)Sat, Jun. 27MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)Sat, Jun. 27Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia, PA)Ranking of third-place finishersThe top eight third-place finishers will qualify for the knockout stage, while the bottom four will be eliminated.PosTeamPTSGPWDLGFGAGD1.TBD000000002.TBD000000003.TBD000000004.TBD000000005.TBD000000006.TBD000000007.TBD000000008.TBD000000009.TBD0000000010.TBD0000000011.TBD0000000012.TBD00000000World Cup 2026 knockout stageRound 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