The World Cup is slated to kick off on Thursday in Mexico City; however, political tensions and off-field controversies are dominating the build-up to the tournament.
Organisers are experiencing several challenges just a day before start, with 48 teams which are set to participate in one of the highly-anticipated events across the US, Mexico, and Canada.
The opening match will see Mexico face South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
One of the majorly highlighted points is a dispute involving Iran that claims the United States has withdrawn ticket allocations for its supporters and imposed visa restrictions on federation staff. Neither FIFA nor US organisers have responded publicly.
In Mexico City, authorities are dealing with ongoing protests by teachers’ unions and activists demanding wage reforms and justice for missing persons, with increased security arrangements being observed before the opening match.
Elsewhere, Somali referee Omar Artan returned home after being denied entry to the US, while England are closely managing Bukayo Saka’s fitness after his Achilles injury.
Teams continue final preparations with warm-up matches to spike the adrenaline levels of all the football enthusiasts.
World cup schedule 2026
Group Stage
Thursday, June 11
Mexico v South Africa - Group A – Mexico City Stadium
Korea Republic v Czechia – Group A - Estadio Guadalajara
Friday, June 12
Canada v Bosnia and Herzegovina - Group B – Toronto Stadium
USA v Paraguay - Group D – Los Angeles Stadium
Saturday, June 13
Haiti v Scotland – Group C - Boston Stadium
Australia v Türkiye – Group D - BC Place Vancouver
Brazil v Morocco – Group C - New York New Jersey Stadium
Qatar v Switzerland – Group B - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Sunday, June 14
Côte d'Ivoire v Ecuador – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium
Germany v Curaçao – Group E - Houston Stadium
Netherlands v Japan – Group F - Dallas Stadium
Sweden v Tunisia – Group F - Estadio Monterrey
Monday, June 15
Saudi Arabia v Uruguay – Group H - Miami Stadium
Spain v Cabo Verde – Group H - Atlanta Stadium
IR Iran v New Zealand – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium
Belgium v Egypt – Group G - Seattle Stadium
Tuesday, June 16
France v Senegal – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium
Iraq v Norway – Group I - Boston Stadium
Argentina v Algeria – Group J - Kansas City Stadium
Austria v Jordan – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Wednesday, June 17
Ghana v Panama – Group L - Toronto Stadium
England v Croatia – Group L - Dallas Stadium
Portugal v Congo DR – Group K - Houston Stadium
Uzbekistan v Colombia – Group K - Mexico City Stadium
Thursday, June 18
Czechia v South Africa – Group A - Atlanta Stadium
Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina – Group B - Los Angeles Stadium
Canada v Qatar - Group B – BC Place Vancouver
Mexico v Korea Republic - Group A - Estadio Guadalajara
Friday, June 19
Brazil v Haiti – Group C - Philadelphia Stadium
Scotland v Morocco – Group C - Boston Stadium
Türkiye v Paraguay – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
USA v Australia - Group D – Seattle Stadium
Saturday, June 20
Germany v Côte d'Ivoire – Group E - Toronto Stadium
Ecuador v Curaçao – Group E - Kansas City Stadium
Netherlands v Sweden – Group F - Houston Stadium
Tunisia v Japan – Group F - Estadio Monterrey
Sunday, June 21
Uruguay v Cabo Verde – Group H - Miami Stadium
Spain v Saudi Arabia – Group H - Atlanta Stadium
Belgium v IR Iran – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium
New Zealand v Egypt – Group G - BC Place Vancouver
Monday, June 22
Norway v Senegal – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium
France v Iraq – Group I - Philadelphia Stadium
Argentina v Austria – Group J - Dallas Stadium
Jordan v Algeria – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Tuesday, June 23
England v Ghana – Group L - Boston Stadium
Panama v Croatia – Group L - Toronto Stadium
Portugal v Uzbekistan – Group K - Houston Stadium
Colombia v Congo DR – Group K - Estadio Guadalajara
Wednesday, June 24
Scotland v Brazil – Group C - Miami Stadium
Morocco v Haiti – Group C - Atlanta Stadium
Switzerland v Canada - Group B – BC Place Vancouver
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Qatar – Group B - Seattle Stadium
Czechia v Mexico - Group A – Mexico City Stadium
South Africa v Korea Republic – Group A - Estadio Monterrey
Thursday, June 25
Curaçao v Côte d'Ivoire – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium
Ecuador v Germany – Group E - New York New Jersey Stadium
Japan v Sweden – Group F - Dallas Stadium
Tunisia v Netherlands – Group F - Kansas City Stadium
Türkiye v USA - Group D – Los Angeles Stadium
Paraguay v Australia – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Friday, June 26
Norway v France – Group I - Boston Stadium
Senegal v Iraq – Group I - Toronto Stadium
Egypt v IR Iran – Group G - Seattle Stadium
New Zealand v Belgium – Group G - BC Place Vancouver
Cabo Verde v Saudi Arabia – Group H - Houston Stadium
Uruguay v Spain – Group H - Estadio Guadalajara
Saturday, June 27
Panama v England – Group L - New York New Jersey Stadium
Croatia v Ghana – Group L - Philadelphia Stadium
Algeria v Austria – Group J - Kansas City Stadium
Jordan v Argentina – Group J - Dallas Stadium
Colombia v Portugal – Group K - Miami Stadium
Congo DR v Uzbekistan – Group K - Atlanta Stadium
Round of 32
Sunday, June 28
Match 73 – Group A runners-up v Group B runners-up - Los Angeles Stadium
Monday, June 29
Match 74 – Group E winners v Group A/B/C/D/F third place - Boston Stadium
Match 75 – Group F winners v Group C runners-up - Estadio Monterrey
Match 76 – Group C winners v Group F runners-up - Houston Stadium
Tuesday, June 30
Match 77 – Group I winners v Group C/D/F/G/H third place - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 78 – Group E runners up v Group I runners-up - Dallas Stadium
Match 79 – Group A winners v Group C/E/F/H/I third place - Mexico City Stadium
Wednesday, July 1
Match 80 – Group L winners v Group E/H/I/J/K third place - Atlanta Stadium
Match 81 – Group D winners v Group B/E/F/I/J third place - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Match 82 – Group G winners v Group A/E/H/I/J third place - Seattle Stadium
Thursday, July 2
Match 83 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up - Toronto Stadium
Match 84 – Group H winners v Group J runners-up - Los Angeles Stadium
Match 85 – Group B winners v Group E/F/G/I/J third place - BC Place Vancouver
Friday, July 3
Match 86 – Group J winners v Group H runners-up - Miami Stadium
Match 87 – Group K winners v Group D/E/I/J/L third place - Kansas City Stadium
Match 88 – Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up - Dallas Stadium
Round of 16
Saturday, July 4
Match 89 – Winner match 74 v Winner match 77 - Philadelphia Stadium
Match 90 – Winner match 73 v Winner match 75 - Houston Stadium
Sunday, July 5
Match 91 – Winner match 76 v Winner match 78 - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 92 – Winner match 79 v Winner match 80 - Mexico City Stadium
Monday, July 6
Match 93 – Winner match 83 v Winner match 84 - Dallas Stadium
Match 94 – Winner match 81 v Winner match 82 - Seattle Stadium
Tuesday, July 7
Match 95 – Winner match 86 v Winner match 88 - Atlanta Stadium
Match 96 – Winner match 85 v Winner match 87 - BC Place Vancouver
Quarter Finals
Thursday, July 9
Match 97 – Winner match 89 v Winner match 90 - Boston Stadium
Friday, July 10
Match 98 – Winner match 93 v Winner match 94 - Los Angeles Stadium
Saturday, July 11
Match 99 – Winner match 91 v Winner match 92 - Miami Stadium
Match 100 – Winner match 95 v Winner match 96 - Kansas City Stadium
Semi Finals
Tuesday, July 14
Match 101 – Winner match 97 v Winner match 98 - Dallas Stadium
Wednesday, July 15
Match 102 – Winner match 99 v Winner match 100 - Atlanta Stadium
Bronze Final
Saturday, July 18
Match 103 – Runner-up match 101 v Runner-up match 102 - Miami Stadium
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final
Sunday, July 19
Match 104 – Winner match 101 v Winner match 102 - New York New Jersey Stadium
