World Cup 2026 fixtures and group standings

The 2026 World Cup commenced with 48 nations divided into 12 groups, marking the first time this format has been adopted in the tournament’s long history. Co-hosts Mexico, USA, and Canada were designated as the top seeds in Groups A, B, and D respectively. Scotland found themselves in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti, while England was placed in Group L with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.

Each group's top two teams are set to qualify for the World Cup's inaugural round of 32, alongside the eight best third-placed teams. Some teams could potentially advance with just three points, intensifying the competition. This tournament features a total of 104 matches, an increase of 40 contests from the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The opening matches took place at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, renowned for hosting some of Diego Maradona’s most famous moments during the 1986 World Cup. The stadium has seen two historic World Cup finals: Brazil’s triumph over Italy in 1970, highlighted by Carlos Alberto’s iconic team goal, and Argentina’s 3-2 victory against West Germany in 1986, where Jorge Burruchaga scored the decisive goal in the 84th minute.

Mexico and Canada were set to host 13 games each, while the United States was prepared to host 78 matches. From the quarter-finals onward, all remaining matches were scheduled to take place in the US, culminating in the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

As the tournament progresses, discussions surrounding who might win the World Cup have already begun, with varied opinions on teams like England's new generation, Argentina’s reigning champions, France’s depth, and Spain’s emerging young talent all having legitimate claims to lift the trophy.