FIFA World Cup 2026 Teams & Fixtures

The spectacle of the FIFA World Cup, the biggest and most prestigious football tournament, is fast approaching and is ready to captivate the globe with a record-breaking 48 nations.

A feast of football will be served up with 104 matches, up from the 64 games played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar when 32 teams battled it out for glory.

The 2026 World Cup runs from 11 June until 19 July, which is expected to attract a much larger global audience than the five billion who were captivated by Qatar 2022.

South Africa, despite a disappointing AFCON 2025 campaign, will fancy their chances of a decent run at the World Cup. While Argentina’s goal is to become only the third defending champions to retain the Jules Rimet trophy.

The World Cup 2026 will be the first time that the tournament has been co-hosted by three countries, with matches to be played across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The adidas TRIONDA ball at the World Cup finals pays homage to the co-hosts. It features blue, green and red colours as well as a maple leaf for Canada, an eagle for Mexico and a star for the United States.

Although 42 teams have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, the final six berths will be determined at the FIFA Play-Off tournaments on 31 March.

There are 16 European sides fighting for the four UEFA slots, with six nations grappling for two places in Inter-Continental competitions. The half-a-dozen teams will receive US$1.5 million to cover preparation costs.

FIFA has hiked the prize money for the tournament, with the champions to collect a staggering US$50m and the runner-up to receive US$33m.

World Cup 2026 Teams

Co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the US automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup. While there were twists, turns and surprises during qualifying across Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America, Oceania and South America.

The bookmakers have stuck to their guns about their favourite teams to triumph. This follows the top seven FIFA rankings to put Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain in the mix at short odds.

There are four nations that will make their FIFA World Cup debut — namely Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — that have very generous pre-tournament odds to progress from their group.

This could increase to six World Cup debutants as New Caledonia and Suriname are both through to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Offs in late March.

Africa/CA

CAF were assigned nine direct places to the 2026 World Cup, with one FIFA Inter-Continental Tournament qualifying spot for African teams to win a slot at the World Cup finals.

DR Congo will tackle the FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Offs at Estadio Guadalajara, Mexico. They face the winner of the Jamaica vs New Caledonia tie in a one-off match on 31 March that decides who goes through to the 2026 World Cup finals.

The nine CAF nations that have qualified for World Cup 2026 are:

• Algeria

• Cape Verde

• Egypt

• Ghana

• Ivory Coast

• Morocco

• Senegal

• South Africa

• Tunisia

Asia/AFC

AFC were given eight direct slots to World Cup 2026, with one FIFA Inter-Continental Tournament qualifier berth for Asian teams to try and reach the World Cup finals.

Iraq have reached the FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Offs. They will play either Bolivia or Suriname at Estadio Monterrey in Mexico on 31 March, with the winner progressing to the 2026 World Cup.

The eight AFC nations that have qualified for the World Cup finals are:

• Australia

• Iran

• Japan

• Jordan

• Korea Republic

• Qatar

• Saudi Arabia

• Uzbekistan

Europe/UEFA

UEFA was handed 12 direct slots for the 2026 World Cup, with 16 European sides still in the running to win one of the remaining four places to compete in the highly lucrative tournament.

Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales remain in the mix to secure a World Cup 2026 berth.

These nations will each play a semi-final game on 26 March, with the eight winners progressing to their respective final on 31 March when victory will ensure a berth at the 2026 World Cup.

The 12 UEFA nations already qualified for the FIFA World Cup are:

• Austria

• Belgium

• Croatia

• England

• France

• Germany

• Netherlands

• Norway

• Portugal

• Scotland

• Spain

• Switzerland

North and Central America/CONCACAF

CONCACAF were given six direct places to the World Cup 2026, which included automatic berths for co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The two North and Central nations of Jamaica and Suriname could still reach the World Cup finals, but would both need to win back-to-back FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Offs on Mexican soil in late March to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.

DR Congo will play the winner of the Jamaica vs New Caledonia showdown at Estadio Guadalajara, with Iraq to face either Bolivia or Suriname at Estadio Monterrey.

The six CONCACAF nations already through to the World Cup finals are:

• Canada

• Curacao

• Haiti

• Mexico

• Panama

• United States of America

Oceania/OFC

OFC received one direct spot to the World Cup finals and was given one FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournament qualifier slot.

New Caledonia are the surprise package from Oceania to qualify for the FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Offs. They face Jamaica, with the winner to play DR Congo on 31 March in a one-off game at Estadio Guadalajara in Mexico that determines who will reach the 2026 World Cup.

The only OFC team guaranteed World Cup 2026 participation is:

• New Zealand

South America/CONMEBOL

CONMEBOL were awarded six direct places to the World Cup finals, and one FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournament spot.

Bolivia need to win back-to-back FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Offs at Estadio Monterrey, Mexico in late March. The South America side will tackle Suriname, with the winner to face Iraq.

The six CONMEBOL nations through to the World Cup finals are:

• Argentina

• Brazil

• Colombia

• Ecuador

• Paraguay

• Uruguay

World Cup 2026 Groups

The group stage comprises 12 groups, each with four nations. The top two teams from each group and the eight best 3^rd-placed sides will advance to the last 32 for the largest-ever World Cup finals knockout format.

Bettors should take note that only Argentina, Brazil, Germany and Spain have won the World Cup when it has been hosted outside their continental confederation.

Group A

Teams: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and UEFA Play-Off D winner (Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or Republic of Ireland).

Mexico are the overwhelming favourites to win their group, followed by a European side. Bookmakers rate South Korea above unfancied South Africa to snatch a 3^rd-placed berth.

Recent wobbles by Mexico mean that the co-host could be humbled by an opponent from UEFA, which makes for a mouthwatering showdown at the Mexico City Stadium on 25 June.

Although El Tri head coach Javier Aguirre is experienced on the big stage, his Mexico sides tumbled at the last 16 stage when he was their manager at both the 2002 and 2010 World Cup finals. Mexico surprisingly failed to navigate out of the group at the last World Cup.

Bafana Bafana players have the advantage in their final group game, as they are more used to playing at a higher altitude than South Korea when they meet inside Mexico’s Estadio Guadalajara on 25 June.

Group B

Teams: Canada, Qatar, Switzerland and UEFA Play-Off A winner (Bosnia & Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland or Wales).

The bookies have remarkably priced the last-gasp European qualifier ahead of Switzerland to finish top of the group. This should make it a mouthwatering UEFA clash of the titans inside the Los Angeles Stadium on 18 June, which could determine the group winner.

Switzerland tend to be as reliable as clockwork at major tournaments, aside from their blip 6-1 reversal to Portugal in the 2022 World Cup.

Co-host Canada is heavily favoured over minnows Qatar, who lost all three games as hosts of the 2022 World Cup. Former Premier League head coach Jesse Marsch oversees Les Rouges and has already led the side to fourth at the 2024 Copa America.

Canada’s prolific unbeaten record in Toronto could ultimately prove to be a decisive factor in reaching the knockout round of 32.

Group C

Teams: Brazil, Haiti, Morocco and Scotland.

The eye-pleasing silky skills of Brazil have elevated the nation as virtually untouchable as group winners with bookmakers. Brazil were beaten by Croatia in a quarter-final penalty shootout at Qatar 2022.

Morocco, the surprise package at the 2022 World Cup by reaching the semi-finals, fourth, recently finished AFCON 2025 runner-up on home soil without finding their rhythm. They will find Brazil a tough nut to crack unless they move through the gears and replicate their usual high pressing tactics.

Scotland, who outplayed Denmark with a thrilling 4-2 UEFA World Cup qualifier success, will be making their first World Cup finals appearance since 1998. The bookies are offering low odds on the Tartan Army to progress from the group, wary that the Scots can be a real threat on the big stage.

Minnows Haiti have qualified for only their second FIFA World Cup. The Caribbean team is led by French tactician Sebastien Migne, but they have been drawn in an extremely tough group.

Bookmakers don’t them much of a chance at the tournament, having never won a World Cup finals match, with extremely high odds on Haiti to reach the last 32.

Group D

Teams: Australia, Paraguay and UEFA Play-Off C winner (Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia or Turkey), USA.

On paper this is the tightest group, with the United States installed as the favourites to win the group with bookies as they will play all three matches on home turf and be supported by vociferous fans.

There’s not much to choose between the co-host, a yet to be determined European nation and Paraguay. These could turn out to be cat-and-mouse matches, with the trio of teams heavily reliant on bagging a comfortable victory over resilient Australia.

The Aussies cannot be discounted from progressing. They were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Argentina in their 2022 World Cup last 16 clash. Australia will arrive brimming with confidence following an impressive seven wins last year, which included triumphs over Canada and Japan.

Yet the Socceroos recently suffered friendly defeats to Colombia, the United States and Venezuela. These are the only reversals that Tony Popovic has tasted since being appointed Aussie head coach in September 2024.

Group E

Teams: Curacao, Ecuador, Germany and Ivory Coast.

Germany are strong favourites to top their group, even though they fell at the group stage in the 2022 World Cup despite nabbing two last-gasp goals to beat Costa Rica 4-2.

Ecuador looked to be one of the most solid sides during their group games at the last World Cup finals, but came a cropper against the physicality of Senegal to lose 2-1 and exit the tournament.

The South Americans may find their African opponents too hot to handle when they tackle the Ivory Coast in Philadelphia on 15 June.

Caribbean minnows Curacao are perceived by the bookies as simply making up the numbers on their World Cup debut.

They could turn out to be the whipping boys of the group with former Netherlands manager Dick Advocaat having stepped down for personal reasons in February. Newly installed head coach Fred Rutten has to pick up the pieces for the first non-sovereign national team from the Americas to qualify for a FIFA World Cup.

Group F

Teams: Japan, Netherlands, Tunisia and UEFA Play-Off B winner (Albania, Poland, Sweden or Ukraine).

It seems like a fascinating contest between Japan and the Netherlands, who each topped their respective group at the 2022 World Cup.

The pair each exited the last World Cup finals after failing their penalty shootout contests. Japan lost to Croatia in the last 16 following a 1-1 stalemate, while Netherlands were quarter-finals victims to Argentina after a 2-2 draw.

Netherlands are favoured by the bookmakers to top the group as they are on the ascendancy.

In contrast Tunisia are expected to be eliminated in the group stage by the bookies. Although that is probably based on their tepid AFCON 2025 displays, beaten on spot-kicks by 10-man Mali in the last 16.

Tunisia gave manager Sami Trabelsi the boot during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and after the tournament replaced him with former France international Sabri Lamouchi.

The European last-gasp qualifier is more likely to reach the World Cup knockout stage than Tunisia according to the latest betting odds.

Group G

Teams: Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand.

Belgium have yet to win a major trophy, but they could theoretically start off at a canter and still win their group. This is a dream draw for Belgium boss Rudi Garcia, who only took the reins in January 2025.

The Red Devils are expected to have little trouble dispatching Egypt, Iran and New Zealand before tackling the knockout stages.

Yet Belgium stuttered last year, and at the 2022 World Cup finished third in their group behind table-topping Morocco and runner-up Croatia. Although that was no mean feat as Croatia and Morocco both reached the Qatar 2022 semi-finals.

Egypt, beaten in their AFCON 2025 semi-final by eventual champions Senegal, have yet to win a FIFA World Cup from three appearances.

That dismal record could alter as the bookies are offering shorter odds on the African nation than Iran and New Zealand to progress to the 2026 World Cup knockout stages.

Despite Iran’s 2-0 success over Wales in the last World Cup finals, defeats to England and the United States saw them eliminated at the group stage for the third tournament on the spin.

New Zealand will make only their third FIFA World Cup appearance this year. They suffered hefty defeats to Brazil, Scotland and the Soviet Union on their debut in 1982.

The All Whites went toe to toe with stalemates against Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia at their last World Cup in 2010. Under head coach Darren Bazeley there is a belief that they can make an impact. Yet they are on a winless streak of seven games, which includes defeats to Colombia, Ecuador, Poland and Ukraine.

Group H

Teams: Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Uruguay.

Spain expected to breeze through this group, with Uruguay recently blowing hot and cold while newcomers Cape Verde as well as Saudi Arabia are unfancied by bookies. Even though Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard brilliantly masterminded the 2-1 upset of Argentina at the last World Cup finals.

The Spanish are looking solid, with a new generation of young players such as whizzy winger Lamine Yamal brimming with confidence, creativity and pace. FIFA ranked no.1 Spain are strong favourites with bookies to lift the 2026 World Cup trophy.

Uruguay narrowly missed out on reaching the World Cup 2022 knockout stages, but they stand a great chance to make amends.

Cape Verde stunned many Africans by qualifying for their inaugural FIFA World Cup, yet they could soon surprise a global audience.

The former Portuguese colony is not a pushover, having picked up respective draws against Egypt and Iran last November than both ended in a penalty shootout defeat.

This group could be full of thrills ‘n’ spills as the four sides battle it out, with punters advised to strongly consider Over/Under betting markets.

Group I

Teams: FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off 2 winner (Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname), France, Norway and Senegal.

This group does not seem as clear cut as the bookmakers make it out to be, offering short odds on France to finish first and very long odds on the Play-Off qualifier.

There appear to be fascinating clashes in this group despite France being formidable and full of flair.

Norway appear to be fearless, largely helped by Erling Haaland’s firepower as well as boasting a remarkable unbeaten record of having never lost to Brazil that spans four meetings.

Senegal should be self-assured having scooped their second Africa Cup of Nations title. The West African side beat host nation Morocco 1-0 in extra time of January’s controversial final.

Group J

Teams: Algeria, Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

Defending champions Argentina can be slick, yet there were shockwaves across the globe after they were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their opening group game at Qatar 2022.

That’s why Argentina are only joint fourth alongside Brazil (9.50 odds) to clinch the coveted 2026 World Cup trophy. Spain (5.50) sit as favourites ahead of England (7.00) and France (9.00).

Bookmakers place Algeria and Austria neck-and-neck to top the group but are dismissive about the chances for FIFA World Cup debutants Jordan.

Yet Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami guided his troops to the FIFA 2025 Arab Cup final, where they fell 3-2 after extra time to Morocco in Qatar.

Algeria, AFCON 2025 quarter-finalists, return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014. Austria have waited since 1998 to book a FIFA World Cup berth, and under manager Ralf Rangnick have become a formidable opponent.

There should be some intriguing matches in Group J. Apart from Argentina, it is a virtually unknown quantity on such a big stage for the other three teams.

Group K

Teams: Colombia, FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off 1 winner (DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia), Portugal and Uzbekistan.

Portugal are tipped by the bookies to top the group, and lie as the seventh favourite team to win the tournament. At the 2022 World Cup they were stunned 2-1 by South Korea in their group game and slipped up 1-0 in their quarter-final to Morocco.

This will be the last World Cup finals for Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be pushing hard to capture the Jules Rimet trophy at the grand age of 41.

Copa America runner-up Colombia, who sit just outside the top 10 FIFA ranking, are a major threat to Portugal and thumped Mexico 4-0 in a friendly last October. Colombia against Portugal could be a blockbuster game.

Bookmakers are offering very generous odds on the last-gasp qualifier of DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia to win the group.

Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debut, having qualified for the first time in eight attempts since they became an independent nation in 1991.

Former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro, who as a player lifted the 2006 World Cup in Germany, was appointed Uzbekistan head coach in October. He has won three of his four games in charge, including a 2-0 triumph over Egypt. Bettors may fancy a punt on the Central Asia team, as bookies are offering extremely generous odds.

Group L

Teams: Croatia, England, Ghana and Panama.

England, among the favourites to triumph at the 2026 World Cup after impressing under head coach Thomas Tuchel during the qualifying campaign, have been drawn in a group with their nemesis Croatia.

Croatia edged past England 2-1 in 2018 World Cup semi-final during extra time, but tasted a 1-0 defeat in their last meeting at Euro 2020. When these European titans clash it tends to be a tight contest, which should result in a cracker inside the Dallas Stadium on 17 June.

Ghana, who failed to qualify for AFCON 2025 for the first time in 20 years, have slipped down the FIFA ranking under head coach Otto Addo. The Black Stars will need to dramatically lift their game to beat either England or Croatia.

Panama may be a long shot to progress from the group, yet they have emerged as a leading Central America team. They qualified for their maiden World Cup finals in 2018, missed out on reaching Qatar 2022, but have since built up a strong reputation.

Los Canaleros finished runner-up at both the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League. They will warm up for the 2026 World Cup with back-to-back friendlies against Bafana Bafana in South Africa at the end of March. This pair of matches will allow punters to evaluate whether it is worth a bet on Panama.

World Cup 2026 Game Schedule

The first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 nations kicks off with 12 groups comprising four nations. A total of 16 teams will be eliminated after the 72 group games, with a knockout basis for the remaining 32 matches.

Group Games

The 72 round-robin matches at the 2026 World Cup will be played in Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11-27 June.

Last 32

The top two nations from each group, along with the best eight 3^rd-placed teams, will advance to the 2026 World Cup round of 32. These knockout games will take place in Canada, Mexico and the US between 28 June and 4 July.

Last 16

The remaining 16 nations will battle it for a quarter-final berth in Canada, Mexico and the United States from 4-7 July.

Quarter-finals

A semi-final spot is up for grabs when the last eight teams meet on US soil from 9-11 July.

Semi-finals

With four teams vying for glory, the two hotly contested games will be played on 14 July and 15 July.

3^rd Place Play-off

The two losing World Cup 2026 semi-finalists will meet to fight it out for the bronze medal in Miami.

Final

The finalists will be gunning for glory in the showpiece match in New York/New Jersey on 19 July.

World Cup 2026 Venues

The 16 World Cup 2026 venues are divided between co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States. Canada and Mexico will each host 13 matches, leaving the remaining 91 games to be played on US soil.

While the Canada and Mexico venues are home to top-tier football clubs, the stadiums in the United States tend to vary between hosting football and American Football matches.

As National Football League (NFL) pitches are 20 metres narrower than FIFA’s standard dimensions, some pitches in the US have been raised to create more space.

Temporary grass replaces artificial turf for the duration of the 2026 World Cup at Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey and Seattle in the United States as well as in Vancouver, Canada.

FIFA insisted that stadiums ditch any sponsorship names, resulting in generic titles for venues during the tournament. Although BC Place Vancouver remains in use, which earned the name after being funded by the British Columbia’s provincial government.

Canada

Canada will host 13 matches. The national team will play all three of their group games on home soil in Toronto and Vancouver, with Canadian supporters renowned for being both patriotic and vociferous.

They are unbeaten in a competitive match at Toronto Stadium, having played virtually half of their international games since it opened in 2007.

Canada will be aiming to extend this impressive record when they face either Bosnia & Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland or Wales in their opening group game.

The ground, home to top-flight American Football and football clubs, has a roof canopy and steep stands at both ends. The South Stand supporters are well known for their rhythmic drumming, relentlessly blasting out their national anthem and waving large flags.

BC Place Vancouver will host Canada’s group games against Qatar and Switzerland, with a temporary grass surface in place of artificial turf. The stadium boasts the world’s largest fully retractable roof, but no air conditioning.

Dedicated home supporters tend to bring the West Stands at BC Place Vancouver to life with constant chanting and singing during games.

Mexico

Football matches in Mexico are comparable to a vibrant party, with loyal supporters passionate about El Tri and producing rhythmic chants. High energy from fans will be in abundance inside and outside the stadiums, which has the potential to intimidate opponents and their followers.

Mexico’s three venues of Estadio Guadalajara (over 1,600m above sea level), Estadio Monterrey (1,800m) and Mexico City Stadium (2,200m) offer Javier Aguirre’s side an advantage. This is because at high attitude the ball can move rapidly and players can easily tire.

Although there will be sweltering heat in Mexico, June kicks off rainy season. Monterrey, just 90 miles away from the USA border, is expected to be the hottest Mexican venue during the 2026 World Cup.

Four group stage matches will be held at Estadio Guadalajara, which is built on an artificial hill and sports a spherical design that resembles a volcano. The red seating looks like a crater and a white roof on pillars to evoke a cloud above the lava.

Mexico City Stadium has undergone major renovations since May 2024, but it should be completed by March to host five 2026 World Cup games and produce its trademark electrifying ambiance. Constant chants from fans frequently noisily echo around the venue during matches.

Mexico will tackle South Africa in the tournament’s curtain raiser at Mexico City Stadium on 11 June, where there will be thinner air due to pollution in the Mexico capital. These sides clashed in the 2010 World Cup, which finished with a 1-1 stalemate in Johannesburg.

Mexico City Stadium will become the first venue to play host at three World Cups. Pele dazzled during Brazil’s 4-1 demolition of Italy in the 1970 World Cup final, and Maradona marvelled as Argentina edged West Germany 3-2 in the 1986 World Cup final.

The co-hosts play their other two group games on home soil, against South Korea at Estadio Guadalajara before returning to Mexico City to face the winner of UEFA’s Play-Off that could be Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or the Republic of Ireland.

United States

Games at all 11 host cities across the US will be boasted by the noise and enthusiasm of the American Outlaws, the country’s largest football supporter group.

The co-host will play their three group matches on the West Coast of the US, their game at the Seattle Stadium sandwiched between the two contests inside the Los Angeles Stadium.

USA’s opening clash, when they will tackle Paraguay, is scheduled for the 2020-built oval-shaped Los Angeles Stadium. The iconic arena cost US$5.5 billion, making it the world’s most expensive sports stadium. Home fans during matches are either reserved or highly charged with relentless chanting.

The US tackle Australia inside the horseshoe-shaped Seattle Stadium for their second group game. The stadium’s partial roof is designed to amplify the noise from fans onto the pitch.

The venue was criticised for the grass that replaced their artificial surface to host the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup games. A built-in irrigation system will be introduced to improve the bounce of the ball on the pitch for the 2026 World Cup from the debacle of the matches there for last year’s Club World Cup.

Houston Stadium became the inaugural American Football venue to introduce a retractable roof back in 2002. It is equipped with climate control, which should benefit both fans and players. Grass will be laid in March to replace their artificial grass surface.

Philadelphia Stadium is an environmentally friendly venue, with more than 10,000 solar panels, but can be an intimidating environment for opponents and their supporters as home fans frequently ensure they build up a hostile atmosphere.

The San Francisco Bay Area Stadium cost US$1.3bn to build. It opened in 2014 but lacks a roof or shade even after last year’s renovation. The eastern side of the pitch will be affected if there’s strong sunlight during 2026 World Cup games, which punters should consider before placing a bet.

Boston Stadium, Kansas City Stadium, Los Angeles Stadium and Miami Stadium will each host a quarter-final tie.

Boston Stadium, home to American Football and football teams, is an open air venue and has been built on the site of the demolished Foxborough Stadium that was used for six 1994 World Cup matches. A high-definition video board was introduced as part of the venue’s recent US$250m renovation.

Kansas comes to life for gridiron games. The stadium design ensures acoustics amplify the noise from fans and channels towards the pitch, which can terrorise teams.

The state-of-art venues of Atlanta Stadium and Dallas Stadium, which both feature air conditioning, will host the semi-final showdowns.

Atlanta Stadium, home to both American Football and football clubs, is renowned for enthusiastic fans who constantly chant, produce melodramatic smoke and relentlessly wave flags during matches.

The venue allows natural light through a circular opening at the top of its dome, although it has a retractable roof. It also features a giant 360-degree wraparound video screen.

The Dallas Stadium, known for passionate sports fans, will host nine World Cup matches.

Miami Stadium is an open-air venue with high energy during sports events. It has hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix since 2022, but it doesn’t have either air conditioning or a roof. Despite the high probability of stifling heat, Miami will host the 3^rd/4^th Play-off match on 18 July.

The 2026 World Cup final will be played at the iconic New York New Jersey Stadium, home to NFL titans NY Giants and NY Jets.

What Are South Africa’s Odds To Win The World Cup?

Bafana Bafana should arrive at the 2026 World Cup brimming with confidence, having topped their World Cup qualifying and pipped powerhouse Nigeria.

Understandably they are a very long shot to win the illustrious tournament, and it would take a monumental miracle to lift the trophy.

South Africa have only competed in a hat-trick of World Cup finals, but have never advanced from the group stages following appearances in 1998, 2002 and 2010.

SA head coach Hugo Broos relied on a squad that was packed with locally based players who ply their trade in the Betway Premiership at AFCON 2025.

They showed cohesion to edge past Angola 2-1 and Zimbabwe 3-2 in their group games but fell 1-0 to Egypt. Bafana Bafana were eliminated in the last 16, bowing out 2-1 to Cameroon.

The current squad seems settled under Broos. Goalkeeper and skipper Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns) was nominated for the 2024 prestigious Ballon d’Or awards, the world’s highest accolade for the sport off the pitch.

Versatile Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns) frequently slots in at right-back. He’s often used as a box-to-box midfielder or right winger because of his agility and pace.

Romania-based Siyabonga Ngezana (FCSB), awarded the 2023 Best South African Footballer in Europe accolade, and Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates) both possess a strong physical presence at centre-back.

In the middle of the pitch attacking midfield/winger Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates) bamboozles opponents with his combination of dazzling dribbles, finishing skills and pinpoint crosses. Midfielder Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) is known for his excellent ball control and passing ability.

Burnley striker Lyle Foster offers more than just goalscoring prowess. He fuses creativity, passes and possession to try and cause chaos for opponents. Foster was involved in four of South Africa’s five goals in the AFCON 2025 group games, scoring twice and providing two goal assists. Yet he drew a blank as the lone target man against Cameroon.

Broos, who represented Belgium as a player at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, has been attributed with SA’s resurgence in recent years. He has restructured his ageing squad by introducing emerging stars, with the underdogs likely to show bite at World Cup 2026.

With a 16-year from absence from the lucrative showpiece spectacle, when they were the 2010 hosts, South Africa will fancy their chances of making the World Cup knockout stages for the first time.

They have been drawn in Group A along with mighty Mexico, savvy South Korea and either Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or Republic of Ireland. Yet they are the least fancied of the four teams to top the group by the bookies.

Bettors are advised to consider Over/Under bets for this group as well as wagers on Both Teams To Score (BTTS), which can keep punters on the edge of their seat until the final whistle.

Game Schedule for Bafana Bafana

South Africa will be based in the Mexican city of Pachuca for their three group games, which was selected to acclimatise with high altitude and to minimalise travel to matches.

The SA squad will be accommodated at the Camino Real Pachuca, a few kilometres from their training venue of Universidad del Futbol.

Bafana Bafana warmed up for the 2026 World Cup by reaching the last 16 at AFCON 2025. Their World Cup campaign kicks off against Mexico in Mexico City on 11 June. A draw is priced at 4.20, with victory over the co-host a whopping 6.80.

Although a yet to be determined qualifier from Europe tackles Bafana Bafana a week later, the South African side are viewed as underdogs for this clash by bookmakers.

Broos’ troops polish off their group games against South Korea in Guadalajara on 25 June, which on paper is Bafana Bafana’s best chance of registering a 2026 World Cup victory.

The top two nations from each group progress to the last 32, with the eight best 3^rd-placed teams also reaching the knockout stages.

Should Bafana Bafana finish as group runner-up, they will be back in action against the Group B runner-up. Canada, Switzerland, Qatar or either qualifier Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia or Turkey would be SA’s opponent in Los Angeles on 28 June.

If South Africa sensationally top the group, they will face a 3^rd-placed group team in Mexico City on 1 July.

Finishing as one of the best 3^rd-placed nations would result in a more testing tie, although this will be largest-ever number of teams in the World Cup knockout stages.

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