2026 FIFA World Cup · Kicks off Jun 11, 2026

2026 World Cup Schedule, Squads & Predictions

— 16 Days to Kick-Off

48 teams · 12 groups · 104 matches · Kicks off Jun 11, 2026

Opening Match Preview Full Schedule

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Group Preview

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Pre-tournament · Standings will update from Jun 11, 2026 after each match is played.

Customs and immigration arrivals hall at Toronto Pearson airport, a 2026 World Cup host-nation gateway where entry and visa checks decide who gets in

Story · World Cup Desk Story Jun 11, 2026

World Cup 2026 Visa Issues: Who's Being Turned Away

A referee chosen for the tournament was put back on a plane in Miami despite valid US visas and a diplomatic passport. An Iraqi striker spent hours in a back room at Chicago O'Hare. Iran moved their whole operation to Mexico after support staff were refused entry. As the first 48-team, three-country World Cup kicks off, the story that keeps moving has nothing to do with form or fixtures — it is about who gets past the airport. FIFA has been blunt: it runs the tournament, not anyone's border. This is what the visa and entry problems mean for the referees, players and ticket-holders caught in them — and what you should do if you already have a seat booked.

Read full story → 6 min read · Updated daily

Today's Watch · Jun 11, 2026

Portugal edge Nigeria 2-1, Azteca erupts for the opener, USA hosts Paraguay tomorrow

Portugal 2-1 Nigeria — Conceição seals it. Portugal closed out their pre-tournament preparations with a 2-1 win over Nigeria in Leiria on June 10. Pedro Neto opened the scoring before Akor Adams levelled for Nigeria, but substitute Francisco Conceição netted the winner to hand Roberto Martínez a confidence-boosting result. Rafael Leão featured throughout, confirming his return after a one-match suspension, while Cristiano Ronaldo started — reassurance for Portugal fans ahead of their Group C opener against DR Congo on June 17. The clean bill of health across the squad is exactly what Martínez wanted from a final run-out. (ESPN / FOX Sports)

Kickoff is here — Azteca opens the tournament. The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins today at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The opening ceremony starts 90 minutes before kick-off (approximately 17:30 UTC), featuring Shakira and Burna Boy performing the official anthem 'Dai Dai' live for the first time, alongside J Balvin, Tyla, Alejandro Fernández, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, and Maná. The match itself — Mexico vs. South Africa — kicks off at 19:00 UTC (1 p.m. CT), a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener. This is the first tournament with 48 teams and the first co-hosted by three nations. (ESPN / Al Jazeera / Billboard)

Co-hosts on deck — USA and Canada open June 12. Both remaining co-hosts make their tournament debuts on Friday June 12. Canada face Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto (19:00 UTC / 3 p.m. ET) in Group B, while the USA host Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood in Group D (01:00 UTC June 13 / 9 p.m. ET June 12). Paraguay's creative engine Julio Enciso was stretchered off in their final warm-up against Nicaragua and remains a fitness doubt, which could ease the defensive burden on Mauricio Pochettino's side. Prediction markets price the USA-Paraguay match as close to a coin flip. (ESPN / RotowWire / US Soccer)

Key Storylines

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Mexico · Host Nation

Can El Tri finally get past the Round of 16 — at home, at altitude?

Aguirre returns for a third stint, opens the World Cup at the Azteca, and faces a Group A built for a deep run. The semi-final Mexico has never reached is on the table.

Read full preview →

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USA · Host Nation

Can the USA ride home-crowd fever to a historic deep run?

Hosting on home soil in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. Pulisic leads a generation with everything to prove.

Read full preview →

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South Africa · 16-Year Return

Bafana are back. Mexico vs South Africa — again.

South Africa qualified for World Cup 2026 after 16 years away. The June 11 opener at Azteca rematches the 2010 Tshabalala-vs-Mexico draw at Soccer City.

Read full preview →

Tournament Contenders · FIFA Rank

Group A · Mexico Group G · Belgium Group K · Portugal vs Colombia Argentina team profile FIFA Fan Festival · 16 cities Japan tactical preview Portugal tactical preview Iran Group G preview

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New · Interactive Tool

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Rank all 12 groups, pick every knockout from R32 to the MetLife final on Jul 19.

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