The 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage now includes 48 nations, expanding to include an additional 16 nations from the earlier count.
The tournament revamp has changed the format and increased the number of games to 104 from 64 over the 39-day tournament this year. The expansion has resulted in 12 different four-team groups, with the highest scoring two sides in each of them progressing to an additional knockout round of 32 created to accommodate the new inclusions.
Canada will play host to 13 games distributed between two sites, the United States will host 78 matches in 11 sites, and Mexico will host 12 matches in three sites. All the matches in the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final round will take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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Here are some FIFA World Cup group-stage games that are worth paying attention to:
Brazil vs. Morocco (Group C)
June 13, 6 p.m. ET
Brazil, a country that’s known for winning more World Cups than any other country, will face the nation whose team managed to reach the knockout stage after a very difficult group in 2022. Morocco threw in the towel during the semifinal, losing the third-place game to Croatia.
Netherlands vs. Japan (Group F)
June 14, 4 p.m. ET
Ranked No. 8 in the FIFA rankings, the Dutch team has one of the top defenders of all times – Virgil van Dijk – and will play against a country that has a player nicknamed “the Japanese Messi.”
Takefusa Kubo could be a breakout player in a tough Group F.
France vs. Senegal (Group I)
June 16, 3 p.m. ET
In what could be the last World Cup for Senegal’s Sadio Mané, the nation finds itself in a tough group but has a strong showing. France, on the other hand, is loaded with all-stars and experience.
England vs. Croatia (Group L)
June 17, 4 p.m. ET
A rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal, these two football nations will face each other in what could become one of the most interesting matches of the group stage. Eight years ago, Croatia beat England before losing to France in the final.
You will see Croatia’s greatest-ever player, Luka Modrić, and the national team play against the all-star English lineup featuring players like Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.
Germany vs. Ecuador (Group E)
June 25, 4 p.m. ET
Germany, which has struggled to make it out of the group stage in recent World Cups, will face Ecuador in a battle for the top 16 teams.
The two nations have faced each other twice on the international stage before, with Germany winning both times.
U.S. vs. Turkiye (Group D)
June 25, 10 p.m. ET
The U.S. will have home field advantage, but the Turks are not a team to take lightly. This would be the last game for both teams in the group stage, determining who advances and their positions in the knockout stage.
France vs. Norway (Group I)
June 26, 3 p.m. ET
In this match, the French roster stacked with all-stars like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé will face Norway, which is making its first World Cup appearance since 1998.
The latter will need Norwegian striker Erling Haaland to be at his peak to stand a chance.
Spain vs. Uruguay (Group H)
June 26, 8 p.m. ET
Spain, considered one of the world’s best teams, will play against the country that beat the overwhelming favourite, Brazil, in the 1950 World Cup final game. Spain is currently stacked with talent like Lamine Yamal and Rodri.
Portugal vs. Colombia (Group K)
June 27, 7:30 p.m. ET
In a match that could be Cristiano Ronaldo’s final World Cup tournament ever, Portugal has to move past the group stage to beat the country that has Luis Díaz, a player to watch for who was the right-winger for his club team Bayern Munich.
With files from The Associated Press
