Sports

SEE FULL LIST: Fixtures for 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage

Published

2 months ago

April 1, 2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on Thursday, June 11, with host nation Mexico taking on South Africa in Mexico City, as the expanded 48-team tournament begins its group stage across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The competition, which for the first time features 12 groups of four teams each, will run through the end of June before the knockout rounds begin.

The 12 groups for the tournament, confirmed after the conclusion of both the European and inter-continental play-offs, are as follows:

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic

Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Below is the complete list of group stage fixtures:

GROUP A

Mexico vs South Africa — June 11, 20:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City

Korea Republic vs Czechia — June 12, 03:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

Czechia vs South Africa — June 18, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

Mexico vs Korea Republic — June 19, 02:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

Czechia vs Mexico — June 25, 02:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City

South Africa vs Korea Republic — June 25, 02:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey

GROUP B

Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina — June 12, 20:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

Qatar vs Switzerland — June 13, 20:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina — June 18, 20:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Canada vs Qatar — June 18, 23:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

Switzerland vs Canada — June 24, 20:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar — June 24, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

GROUP C

Brazil vs Morocco — June 13, 23:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Haiti vs Scotland — June 14, 02:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Scotland vs Morocco — June 19, 23:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Brazil vs Haiti — June 20, 02:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Scotland vs Brazil — June 24, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami

Morocco vs Haiti — June 24, 23:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

GROUP D

USA vs Paraguay — June 13, 02:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Australia vs Türkiye — June 14, 05:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

USA vs Australia — June 19, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

Türkiye vs Paraguay — June 20, 05:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Türkiye vs USA — June 26, 03:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Paraguay vs Australia — June 26, 03:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

GROUP E

Germany vs Curaçao — June 14, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Côte d’Ivoire vs Ecuador — June 15, 00:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Germany vs Côte d’Ivoire — June 20, 21:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

Ecuador vs Curaçao — June 21, 01:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

Curaçao vs Côte d’Ivoire — June 25, 21:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Ecuador vs Germany — June 25, 21:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

GROUP F

Netherlands vs Japan — June 14, 21:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Sweden vs Tunisia — June 15, 03:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey

Netherlands vs Sweden — June 20, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Tunisia vs Japan — June 21, 05:00, Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey

Japan vs Sweden — June 26, 00:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Tunisia vs Netherlands — June 26, 00:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

GROUP G

Belgium vs Egypt — June 15, 20:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

IR Iran vs New Zealand — June 16, 02:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

Belgium vs IR Iran — June 21, 20:00, Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles

New Zealand vs Egypt — June 22, 02:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

Egypt vs IR Iran — June 27, 04:00, Seattle Stadium, Seattle

New Zealand vs Belgium — June 27, 04:00, BC Place Vancouver, Vancouver

GROUP H

Spain vs Cabo Verde — June 15, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay — June 15, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami

Spain vs Saudi Arabia — June 21, 17:00, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

Uruguay vs Cabo Verde — June 21, 23:00, Miami Stadium, Miami

Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia — June 27, 01:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Uruguay vs Spain — June 27, 01:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

GROUP I

France vs Senegal — June 16, 20:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Iraq vs Norway — June 16, 23:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

France vs Iraq — June 22, 22:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

Norway vs Senegal — June 23, 01:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Norway vs France — June 26, 20:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Senegal vs Iraq — June 26, 20:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

GROUP J

Argentina vs Algeria — June 17, 02:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

Austria vs Jordan — June 17, 05:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Argentina vs Austria — June 22, 18:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Jordan vs Algeria — June 23, 04:00, San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco Bay Area

Algeria vs Austria — June 28, 03:00, Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City

Jordan vs Argentina — June 28, 03:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

GROUP K

Portugal vs Congo DR — June 17, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Uzbekistan vs Colombia — June 18, 03:00, Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City

Portugal vs Uzbekistan — June 23, 18:00, Houston Stadium, Houston

Colombia vs Congo DR — June 24, 03:00, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara

Colombia vs Portugal — June 28, 00:30, Miami Stadium, Miami

Congo DR vs Uzbekistan — June 28, 00:30, Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta

GROUP L

England vs Croatia — June 17, 21:00, Dallas Stadium, Dallas

Ghana vs Panama — June 18, 00:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

England vs Ghana — June 23, 21:00, Boston Stadium, Boston

Panama vs Croatia — June 24, 00:00, Toronto Stadium, Toronto

Panama vs England — June 27, 22:00, New York/New Jersey Stadium, New York

Croatia vs Ghana — June 27, 22:00, Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia

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Sports

Somalian referee who was elected best in Africa denied entry to US for World Cup Duties

Published

7 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

World Cup referee Omar Artan has been denied entry to the United States, just three days before the tournament is set to begin. The Somali official was poised to become the first-ever referee from his country to take charge of a match at a Fifa World Cup.

Artan, 34, was named the best African referee for 2025 by the Confederation of African Football and has previously officiated at the Africa Cup of Nations. He reportedly encountered difficulties securing a visa but benefited from support from the Somali embassy in Nairobi, which enabled him to obtain a diplomatic passport.

He travelled from Kenya through Turkey to Miami, after FIFA confirmed last week that his visa situation had been “fully resolved” and that he would be available to officiate at the tournament. Denied entry to the US, he has now returned to Istanbul.

The Somali is one of eight referees from CAF selected by FIFA to officiate at the World Cup. There are also eight from the AFC, nine from Concacaf, one from the OFC, 12 from Conmebol, and 15 from Uefa. Those from Uefa countries include Poland’s Szymon Marciniak, who refereed the 2022 World Cup final, as well as England’s Anthony Taylor and Michael Oliver. In total, 170 referees, assistant referees, and video assistant referees will take charge of the record 104 matches across the three host nations.

It currently remains unclear what will happen if Artan is not permitted entry in time for the tournament. The Somali FA and FIFA have been contacted for comment.

The US travel ban has already caused issues for some players expected to feature in the World Cup. Despite not qualifying for the tournament, Somalia features on the travel ban list. Switzerland striker Breel Embolo was initially barred from flying to the country due to travel issues related to a 2018 court ruling; he was convicted in 2023 of making multiple threats and handed a suspended fine. Those issues have since been resolved, and he has arrived in San Diego.

Iran have been forced to change their plans for the tournament and will now be based in Mexico. The squad will only be allowed into the US on matchdays and must leave on the same day.

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Sports

Galatasaray ask Osimhen to lure Lookman

Published

10 hours ago

June 9, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Galatasaray have enlisted the help of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen in their pursuit of fellow Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, asking the striker to use his influence to convince his international teammate to make the move to Istanbul this summer, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

According to Turkish football outlet Fotomac, the Turkish champions are understood to be seriously interested in signing Lookman from Atlético Madrid, where the 28-year-old has been one of the club’s most impressive performers since joining from Atalanta in a deal worth €35m in the January transfer window. Lookman contributed five goals and four assists in 24 appearances for Diego Simeone’s side, helping them reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and the final of the Copa del Rey with crucial goals against Barcelona in both competitions.

Galatasaray’s decision to approach Osimhen as an informal mediator reflects the scale of the challenge they face in pulling off the transfer.

Atlético Madrid, who have already lost Antoine Griezmann and are navigating exit talks involving Julian Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth, would be deeply reluctant to sanction another high-profile departure.

Lookman’s versatility and productivity make him precisely the type of player Simeone is unlikely to release without significant resistance.

The financial obstacle is equally daunting.

Lookman’s salary in Spain is understood to be considerably higher than what Galatasaray currently pay most of their players outside of Osimhen’s exceptional €21m-per-year arrangement, and closing that gap would require a creative financial structure.

Osimhen’s relationship with Galatasaray is no secret. The 27-year-old has spoken warmly of the club and its supporters since arriving on loan in 2024/25 before his €75m permanent move was completed last summer.

Lookman has previously been linked with Inter Milan, Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray at various points in his career. Whether Galatasaray can structure an offer compelling enough to turn Atlético Madrid’s head, with or without Osimhen’s persuasion, remains the central question of what appears a complex and difficult deal.

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Sports

Leao set to miss Eagles friendly after red card

Published

1 day ago

June 8, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Portugal winger Rafael Leão is expected to miss his country’s final World Cup build-up game against Nigeria on Wednesday after being sent off in Saturday’s friendly against Chile, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Leão was dismissed shortly before half-time for punching Chile defender Ivan Román in the face.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Portugal secured a 2-1 victory courtesy of second-half goals from Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes before Román halved the deficit in stoppage time.

The AC Milan forward was handed a starting berth after missing several of the club’s recent matches through suspension and selection decisions by coach Max Allegri.

As a result of his latest dismissal, Leão is expected to miss Wednesday’s friendly against Nigeria if handed the standard one-match suspension.

His suspension could however extend into their group games at the World Cup, potentially missing the games against DR Congo and Uzbekistan.

The clash against Nigeria at the at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria will be Portugal’s third tune up game before departing for the World Cup having won 2-0 against co-hosts USA and Chile as well.

For Nigeria, it will mark the end of a rebuilding window under coach Eric Chelle.

Last Wednesday, the Super Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw by Poland in Warsaw.

Before then, they had beaten Zimbabwe and Jamaica enroute to retaining the Unity Cup title in London.

The last time both countries met before the 2022 World Cup, Portugal beat Nigeria 4-0.

Like it was four years ago, the Super Eagles have missed out on another edition of the tournament, marking their first time they will be missing consecutive tournaments since their first appearance in 1994.

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