2026 World Cup international friendlies: Who plays today, Wednesday, June 10?
On the eve of the 2026 World Cup, pre-tournament favorites are among the national teams in action today.
Two major contenders round off their World Cup preparations today, as the tournament kickoff looms large.
Seleção and Thee Lions complete World Cup warm-ups
In Leiria, Portugal hosts Nigeria in its send-off game, as the Seleção gears up for its latest bid to lift a first global title. Today’s clash, played at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, comes four days after Roberto Martínez’s team beat Chile 2-1 in a friendly in Oeiras, where both teams finished with 10 men.
Drawn in Group K, Portugal begins its 2026 World Cup campaign on Wednesday, June 17, facing DR Congo at Houston’s NRG Stadium. The Portuguese also come up against Uzbekistan and Colombia in the round-robin stage.
Meanwhile, England concludes its pre-World Cup schedule today with an Orlando clash against Costa Rica. Out to end a 60-year wait for silverware this summer, the Three Lions face their second Florida friendly in five days, after a 1-0 win over New Zealand in Tampa on Saturday.
Like Portugal, England plays its first game of the 2026 World Cup in Texas on June 17. Led by Thomas Tuchel, the 1966 champions take on Croatia in Dallas, before also facing Group L games against Ghana and Panama.
Any other World Cup teams in action?
Today’s slate of international friendlies also features Algeria, a team preparing for its first World Cup appearance since 2014. The Desert Warriors meet Bolivia in Lawrence, Kansas, six days before a brutally exacting tournament opener.
On June 16, the Algerians meet Argentina, the defending champions, in Group J in Kansas City, Missouri. Vladimir Petkovic’s men have also been drawn with Austria and Jordan in the group stage in North America.
Today’s international friendlies - full schedule for Wednesday, June 10:
- 12 noon ET: Pakistan vs Afghanistan (National Stadium, Maldives)
- 3:45 p.m. ET: Portugal vs Nigeria (Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria)
- 4:00 p.m. ET: England vs Costa Rica (Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL)
- 8:00 p.m. ET: Bolivia vs Algeria (Rock Chalk Park, Lawrence, KS)
2026 World Cup: almost go time North America
We’re now just a day away from the start of the 2026 World Cup. Co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, the finals get underway tomorrow, Thursday, June 11, when the Mexicans take on South Africa in the opening game at the Estadio Azteca (3:00 p.m. ET).
Before El Tri plays Bafana Bafana in Mexico City, the opening ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET at the Azteca, where Colombian pop icon Shakira will be performing her official World Cup song, “Dai Dai”.
The 2026 World Cup favorites - the odds:
- Spain: +450
- France: +500
- England: +700
- Argentina: +900
- Brazil: +900
- Portugal: +900
Betting info per Oddschecker.
Watch - The World Cup ad mistake:
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