10 must-watch group stage matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
· Yahoo Sports
The wait is finally over. The 2026 FIFAWorld Cup has arrived, and now the time has come for 48 teams to battle for glory.
For the first time ever, four dozen countries will compete across North America, creating a month-long spectacle stretching from Mexico City and L.A. to Toronto and NYC.
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More teams. More games. More storylines. More upsets. There’s never been a better time to be a soccer fan.
But with 104 matches spread over 39 days, and 12 groups loaded with talent, where do you even begin? Here are the 10 group-stage matches every fan should have circled on their calendar over the next few weeks.
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TOLUCA, MEXICO – JUNE 04: Luis Chávez of Mexico celebrates with teammates after scoring the team’s fifth goal during the international friendly match between Mexico and Serbia at Nemesio Diez Stadium on June 04, 2026 in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)1. Mexico vs South Africa
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET
The tournament opens with a rematch of the 2010 World Cup, where El Tri tied hosts South Africa 1-1. Mexico didn’t make it past the group stage in either of the last two World Cups and hasn’t won an elimination game since 1986. But now they’ll be on Mexican soil playing in front of 87,000 home fans at Estadio Azteca. The stadium will be rocking, and Mexico will need to walk out with a win.
2. United States vs Paraguay
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Kickoff: 9:00 p.m. ET
Much like Mexico, this will be Team USA’s home opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The United States are favorites, but Paraguay could easily pull off the upset. They beat Uruguay and Mexico last year, tied Colombia and Japan, and only narrowly lost to Morocco in March, one of the World Cup dark horses. This isn’t a team the U.S. can sleep on, and anything less than a win would ignite instant panic for the co-hosts.
3. Brazil vs. Morocco
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. ET
As noted above, Morocco is one of the dark horses picked to make a deep run. Brazil is one of the tournament favorites. Surprisingly, though, the Seleção have made it past the quarterfinals just once in the last two decades, while the Atlas Lions made it to the semifinals just four years ago in Qatar. A win for either team here would be massive. And it will all be under the bright lights of MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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TOKYO, JAPAN – MAY 31: Maya Yoshida of Japan skakes hands with Yuto Nagatomo after the international friendly match between Japan and Iceland at MUFG Stadium on May 31, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)4. Netherlands vs Japan
Date: Sunday, June 14, 2026
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET
Group F is one of the hardest to predict. Some analysts have the Netherlands, others have Japan. These are two of the most talented and well-rounded rosters in the 2026 World Cup, and the two go head-to-head in the first weekend of the tournament at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The group winner could very well be decided three days into the tournament.
5. England vs. Croatia
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET
England is still recovering from the last time they met Croatia in a World Cup. In Russia in 2018, the Three Lions made it all the way to the semifinals, their first 28 years, only for an aging Croatia team to knock them out in extra time. Croatia haven’t gotten any younger, but they’re experienced and match up well against England. The two familiar opponents go head-to-head in the first game of their group stage matchups at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
6. Canada vs. Switzerland
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET
Co-hosts Canada were drawn into Group B alongside Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar, but it’s Switzerland they really have to worry about. The Swiss are the heavy favorites in the group, but by the time these two teams meet, they both could realistically be 2-0, and the game will be held at BC Place in Vancouver. Can Canada pull off the upset and steal the top spot in the group in front of their home crowd?
7. Germany vs. Ecuador
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Kickoff: 4:00 p.m. ET
Much like the Netherlands and Japan in Group F, Germany and Ecuador are the two teams everyone’s betting on to win Group E. Germany are the favorites, but Ecuador has quickly emerged as a dark horse pick in the tournament. Unlike Group F, these two group favorites meet in the final group match. Both will leave it all on the line Thursday afternoon at MetLife Stadium.
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OSLO, NORWAY – MARCH 31: Erling Haaland of Norway reacts during the international friendly match between Norway and Switzerland at Ullevaal Stadion on March 31, 2026 in Oslo, Norway. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)8. Norway vs. France
Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET
France are World Cup favorites. Norway is the most popular dark horse pick. It’s Kylian Mbappe vs. Erling Haaland. It’s the Vikings vs. Les Bleus. And it’ll probably be for the top spot in the group, all at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Need I say more?
9. Spain vs. Uruguay
Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Spain got arguably the easiest draw in the tournament, landing in Group H with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. They’re nearly four-goal favorites in both matchups. The issue? Uruguay are near three-goal favorites against them, too. Both teams are almost guaranteed to be 2-0 by this point, and neither team will have really been tested. Could La Celeste pull off the upset in front of a rowdy crowd in Guadalajara, Mexico?
10. Colombia vs. Portugal
Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
In case you haven’t noticed the trend here … Group K should be a cakewalk for both Los Cafeteros and Seleção das Quinas, and the two sides meet on the last day of the group stage matches at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Cristiano Ronaldo’s side will be favored, but don’t sleep on James Rodriguez and Colombia. They’ve done this before.
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