Forget everything you know about the old 8-group system. The 2026 expansion introduces a completely revamped layout designed for maximum drama:
- 12 Groups: The tournament starts with 12 groups of four teams each.
- The Round of 32: In a World Cup first, a new knockout round is being introduced. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed sides, will advance to the Round of 32.
- The Ultimate Test: Any team aiming to lift the iconic trophy on July 19 will now have to survive an extra knockout match, playing a total of 8 games instead of the traditional 7.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Key Tournament Dates
Mark your calendars! With football playing nearly every single day, here is how the knockout brackets shape up:
- Group Stage: June 11–27
- Round of 32: June 28 – July 4
- Round of 16: July 4–7
- Quarter-finals: July 9–12
- Semi-finals: July 14–15
- Third-place Playoff: July 18
- The World Cup Final: July 19 (MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey)
Live Tournament Tracker: Group Stage Results
(Note: Kick-off times listed in SA Time)
Matchday 1 Results & Schedule
Thursday, June 11
- Group A: Mexico 2-0 South Africa 🇿🇦 (Mexico City)
Friday, June 12
- Group A: South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic (Guadalajara)
- Group B: Canada 1-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Toronto)
Saturday, June 13
- Group D: USA 4-1 Paraguay (Los Angeles)
- Group B: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland (Santa Clara)
Sunday, June 14
- Group C: Brazil 1-1 Morocco (New Jersey)
- Group C: Haiti 0-1 Scotland (Boston)
- Group D: Australia 2-0 Turkey (Vancouver)
- Group E: Germany 7-1 Curaçao (Houston) 🔥
- Group F: Netherlands 2-2 Japan (Dallas)
Monday, June 15
- Group E: Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador (Philadelphia)
- Group F: Sweden 5-1 Tunisia (Monterrey)
- Group H: Spain vs Cape Verde (Atlanta) – 18:00
- Group G: Belgium vs Egypt (Seattle) – 21:00
Tuesday, June 16
- Group H: Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (Miami) – 00:00
- Group G: Iran vs New Zealand (Los Angeles) – 03:00
- Group I: France vs Senegal (New Jersey) – 21:00
Wednesday, June 17
- Group I: Iraq vs Norway (Boston) – 00:00
- Group J: Argentina vs Algeria (Kansas City) – 03:00
- Group J: Austria vs Jordan (Santa Clara) – 06:00
- Group K: Portugal vs DR Congo (Houston) – 19:00
- Group L: England vs Croatia (Dallas) – 22:00
Thursday, June 18
- Group L: Ghana vs Panama (Toronto) – 01:00
- Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia (Mexico City) – 04:00
