World Cup 2026

2026 World Cup: Calendar, full match schedule, groups, teams and kick-off times in the U.S.

The final playoff spots are secured, and the full 2026 World Cup group-stage lineup is now officially complete.

The final playoff spots are secured, and the full 2026 World Cup group-stage lineup is now officially complete.
JULIO CESAR AGUILAR
Calum Roche
Managing Editor AS USA
Sports-lover turned journalist, born and bred in Scotland, with a passion for football (soccer). He’s also a keen follower of NFL, NBA, golf and tennis, among others, and always has an eye on the latest in science, tech and current affairs. As Managing Editor at AS USA, uses background in operations and marketing to drive improvements for reader satisfaction.
Update:

The 2026 World Cup is now fully set after the final six berths were decided through intense international and European playoffs, completing the full group-stage lineup for the tournament.

Which teams came through World Cup playoffs?

The international playoff featured Bolivia, Suriname, Jamaica, New Caledonia, the Republic of the Congo and Iraq, who played their games on Mexican soil.

In the European playoff, traditional powers and historic national teams, Türkiye, Romania, Italy, Northern Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania, Czechia, Ireland, Slovakia, Kosovo, Wales, and Bosnia and Herzegovina took part.

The playoff semifinals and finals produced thrilling games, several having to be settled by penalty shootouts, reflecting just how tight the competition was. No team wanted to be left out of the World Cup, raising the tension and drama in every decisive game.

The final teams to book their place in the tournament were Sweden, Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Iraq, completing the 2026 World Cup field.

With all qualifiers confirmed, the full group-stage picture for the 2026 World Cup is now set across all 12 groups.

What are the 2026 World Cup groups?

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia

Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, Qatar

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden

Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Republic of the Congo

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

Next stop: Canada, Mexico or the USA... with the whole world watching.

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