2026 World Cup: dates, groups, full schedule and broadcast channels
With less than 50 days to go until the kick-off of the 2026 World Cup—the most eagerly awaited event by millions of fans around the globe—action begins Thursday, June 11, across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In this context, Foot Africa presents its readers with the complete group stage match schedule, including GMT kick-off times and the main broadcast channels for the tournament.
According to the results of the draw, held on December 5 in Washington, the opening match will see Mexico take on South Africa on June 11 at 19:00 GMT at Mexico City Stadium, kicking off Group A.
2026 World Cup Groups
The 12 groups are drawn as follows:
- Group A: South Korea, Czech Republic, Mexico, South Africa
- Group B: Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Qatar
- Group C: Morocco, Scotland, Brazil, Haiti
- Group D: Australia, Turkey, United States, Paraguay
- Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
- Group F: Netherlands, Tunisia, Japan, Sweden
- Group G: Egypt, Iran, Belgium, New Zealand
- Group H: Uruguay, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
- Group I: Senegal, Norway, France, Iraq
- Group J: Algeria, Austria, Argentina, Jordan
- Group K: Colombia, Uzbekistan, Portugal, DR Congo
Group L: England, Panama, Croatia, Ghana
Which channels are broadcasting the 2026 World Cup?
For television coverage, beIN SPORTS holds exclusive rights in the Middle East and North Africa via its pay channels and MAX offering.
In sub-Saharan Africa, New World TV is the main rights holder, while SuperSport will broadcast matches on its pay channels.
In South Africa, select matches will be available free-to-air on SABC, while SportyTV will stream the entire tournament on its digital platforms.
Several international broadcasters will also air the competition, including M6 and W9 in France, ARD and ZDF in Germany, BBC and ITV in the United Kingdom, FOX and Telemundo in the United States, and RAI Sport in Italy.
Full group stage schedule (GMT times)
Thursday, June 11, 2026
Mexico vs South Africa — 19:00 GMT
South Korea vs Czech Republic — 02:00 GMT (Friday)
Friday, June 12, 2026
Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 19:00 GMT
United States vs Paraguay — 01:00 GMT (Saturday)
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Qatar vs Switzerland — 19:00 GMT
Brazil vs Morocco — 22:00 GMT
Haiti vs Scotland — 01:00 GMT
Australia vs Turkey — 04:00 GMT
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Germany vs Curaçao — 17:00 GMT
Netherlands vs Japan — 20:00 GMT
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador — 23:00 GMT
Sweden vs Tunisia — 02:00 GMT (overnight Sunday to Monday)
Monday, June 15, 2026
Spain vs Cape Verde — 16:00 GMT
Belgium vs Egypt — 19:00 GMT
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — 22:00 GMT
Iran vs New Zealand — 01:00 GMT
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
France vs Senegal — 19:00 GMT
Argentina vs Algeria — 01:00 GMT
Austria vs Jordan — 04:00 GMT
Iraq vs Norway — 04:00 GMT
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Portugal vs DR Congo — 17:00 GMT
England vs Croatia — 20:00 GMT
Ghana vs Panama — 23:00 GMT
Uzbekistan vs Colombia — 02:00 GMT
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Czech Republic vs South Africa — 16:00 GMT
Canada vs Qatar — 22:00 GMT
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina — 01:00 GMT
Mexico vs South Korea — 01:00 GMT
Friday, June 19, 2026
United States vs Australia — 19:00 GMT
Scotland vs Morocco — 22:00 GMT
Brazil vs Haiti — 00:30 GMT
Turkey vs Paraguay — 02:00 GMT
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Netherlands vs Sweden — 17:00 GMT
Germany vs Ivory Coast — 20:00 GMT
Ecuador vs Curaçao — 00:00 GMT
Tunisia vs Japan — 04:00 GMT
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Spain vs Saudi Arabia — 16:00 GMT
Belgium vs Iran — 19:00 GMT
Uruguay vs Cape Verde — 22:00 GMT
New Zealand vs Egypt — 01:00 GMT
Monday, June 22, 2026
France vs Iraq — 21:00 GMT
Argentina vs Austria — 17:00 GMT
Norway vs Senegal — 00:00 GMT
Jordan vs Algeria — 03:00 GMT
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Portugal vs Uzbekistan — 17:00 GMT
England vs Ghana — 20:00 GMT
Panama vs Croatia — 23:00 GMT
Colombia vs DR Congo — 02:00 GMT
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Scotland vs Brazil — 22:00 GMT
Morocco vs Haiti — 22:00 GMT
Switzerland vs Canada — 19:00 GMT
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar — 01:00 GMT
Czech Republic vs Mexico — 01:00 GMT
South Africa vs South Korea — 02:00 GMT
Thursday, June 25, 2026
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast — 20:00 GMT
Ecuador vs Germany — 20:00 GMT
Japan vs Sweden — 23:00 GMT
Tunisia vs Netherlands — 23:00 GMT
Turkey vs United States — 02:00 GMT
Paraguay vs Australia — 02:00 GMT
Friday, June 26, 2026
Norway vs France — 19:00 GMT
Senegal vs Iraq — 19:00 GMT
Egypt vs Iran — 23:00 GMT
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia — 00:00 GMT
Uruguay vs Spain — 00:00 GMT
New Zealand vs Belgium — 03:00 GMT
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Panama vs England — 21:00 GMT
Croatia vs Ghana — 21:00 GMT
DR Congo vs Uzbekistan — 21:00 GMT
Colombia vs Portugal — 23:30 GMT
Algeria vs Austria — 02:00 GMT
Jordan vs Argentina — 02:00 GMT
You can download the 2026 World Cup match schedule in PDF via this link.
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