All Groups
12 groups, 48 teams. Explore squads and find each group's schedule.
All 12 World Cup 2026 groups are listed below — from Group A through Group L. The 48 qualified nations are split into 12 four-team groups for the opening phase of the tournament, with the top two finishers from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to the new Round of 32. Click any group to open its standings, full fixture list and team profiles.
Matches
Each group plays six matches during the group stage between June 11 and June 27, 2026 — that's 72 group-stage fixtures in total. Browse each group below for its full schedule, or open the complete group stage schedule for a chronological view. Match cards link to the group page, both team pages and the host stadium.
How groups feed into the knockout phase
The top two teams in every group qualify directly for the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also advance — giving 32 teams in the knockout phase, two-thirds of the original field. This is the first World Cup with a Round of 32 in the bracket.
Group
Each of the 12 groups contains four national teams that play a round-robin: every team faces the other three exactly once. Draws were made on December 5, 2025 based on the FIFA World Ranking, with seeding pots and geographic spreading rules to ensure balanced groups.
Standout storylines across the 12 groups
Group A opens the tournament with co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca. Group C delivers a Brazil vs Morocco rematch of the 2022 quarter-final upset. Group I sets up a Mbappé vs Haaland clash between France and Norway. Group L pairs England and Croatia in a heavyweight first-day rematch of their 2018 semi-final.
Matches Today
Today's group-stage fixtures will be highlighted on this page once the tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026. When matches are scheduled for the current day, they appear at the top with kickoff time, both teams, host stadium and city. If no group fixture is taking place today, the section shows the next confirmed matches from the group calendar so you always know what's next on the schedule.
Standings
Group standings will update on each group page once the first matches are played. The table tracks games played, wins, draws, losses, goals scored, goals conceded, goal difference and total points. Live qualification status (qualified / could qualify / eliminated) appears once enough matchdays are complete.
Tie-breakers in the standings
If teams finish level on points, the order is decided by: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) head-to-head results between the tied teams, 4) disciplinary points (fewer is better), and 5) a FIFA ranking-based draw. This is the standard FIFA tournament tie-breaker order.
Results
Match results are added to each group page after the final whistle of every fixture. The standings table reflects each result immediately. Until June 11, 2026, every group fixture is shown as a scheduled match with confirmed date, kickoff time and host venue.
Match Schedule
Group play runs across three matchdays. Matchday 1 covers June 11–17, matchday 2 runs June 18–23, and the final matchday is June 24–27. On matchday 3, both fixtures within each group kick off simultaneously to prevent any team from gaining an advantage from knowing the other group result — a FIFA rule introduced after the infamous Disgrace of Gijón in 1982.
Where to find each group's schedule
Click any group card below for that group's six-match schedule. For a chronological view of all 72 group-stage fixtures, see the group stage schedule page. For the entire tournament including knockouts, the full World Cup 2026 match schedule lists every fixture in date order.
Match Chart
The group-stage flow feeds directly into the playoff bracket. After June 27, the 12 group winners, 12 runners-up and the eight best third-placed teams are seeded into the Round of 32. Teams from the same group cannot meet again in the Round of 32 — bracket placement guarantees an opponent from a different group.
Match List
Every group fixture in the site is a clickable preview page. Match cards show the date, kickoff time, both teams' flags, host stadium and city. Filter the full list by stage (group, playoffs) or by host country — USA, Mexico or Canada — to find the fixtures you want to follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many groups are at World Cup 2026?
There are 12 groups (Group A through Group L), each with four national teams. This is the new format for the expanded 48-team World Cup, replacing the previous eight groups of four.
How can I find my team's group?
Open the teams index page and click your team's card — the team page shows the group letter and links to the full group page. You can also browse the group cards below if you know the group letter.
When are group standings updated?
Group standings update on each group page after the final whistle of every match. The table tracks points, goal difference and qualification status across the three matchdays.
How do teams qualify for the knockout stage from their group?
The top two teams in each group qualify directly for the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups also advance — meaning 32 teams in the knockout phase.
Which group has the toughest draw?
Most fans point to Group C (Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti) and Group I (France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway) as the most challenging. Group J (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan) is the defending champions' group. Every group has its own storyline — click through below to explore.