Sports

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

Published

6 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

punch.ng

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

Post Views: 357

Sports

Coach Jesus reveals why I picked Ronaldo for Portugal squad

Published

1 day ago

September 18, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Portugal’s new head coach Jorge Jesus has explained why he named Cristiano Ronaldo in his first national team squad, stressing that current form, not past achievements, will decide the 41-year-old’s place.

Jesus included the Al-Nassr forward in the 25-man group for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Wales, Norway and Denmark.

According to football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano on X on Friday, speaking after announcing the squad on Friday, the coach said:

“His performance is what matters. The past doesn’t count.

“Cristiano is a player like all the others. If he is performing well, he will play. If he isn’t, he won’t.

“He has a different status and has won five Ballon d’Or awards, but does that influence my decisions? No.

“But is he a different player? Absolutely.”

The call-up ends speculation that Ronaldo’s international career may have ended after Portugal’s World Cup exit earlier this summer. Jesus previously coached Ronaldo at Al-Nassr and takes charge of Portugal for the first time against Wales on September 24.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 26

Sports

Saudi Pro League bans club over ‘Jota’ chants, after Ronaldo demands action

Published

3 days ago

September 17, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun have been ordered to play two home league matches behind closed doors after supporters taunted Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves with chants about the death of his close friend and former teammate Diogo Jota.

As reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, Al-Taawoun have also been fined 100,000 Saudi Riyals (£20,000) over the incident.

Supporters repeatedly shouted “Jota” at Neves before Al-Hilal’s 6–0 victory on Saturday.

The chants referred to Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward who died in a car crash at the age of 28 last July.

Jota and Neves were close friends after playing together at Wolverhampton Wanderers and for Portugal.

Neves now wears the number 21 shirt for Portugal in Jota’s memory and has a tattoo on his calf showing the pair embracing.

He was also a pallbearer at Jota’s funeral.

After the match, Neves condemned the supporters’ behaviour.

“I just hope they don’t go to pray later after what they did,” he told reporters.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi club Al-Nassr and was an international teammate of Jota, had also reacted strongly to the incident.

The five-time ballon D’or winner called for lifetime bans to be issued to the chanting fans

The Saudi Pro League’s decision means Al-Taawoun will serve two home-match stadium closures in addition to the financial penalty.

In a statement, Al-Taawoun said: “Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and does not represent the club, its fans, or the values for which the club is known.

“Sports competition cannot be a justification for insulting, belittling, or bullying others at the expense of anyone’s feelings.”

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 50

Sports

Boehly steps down as Chelsea chairman

Published

3 days ago

September 17, 2026

Newsbreak365_Admin

Todd Boehly has stepped down as Chelsea chairman after selling his stake in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital, which has now taken full control.

Boehly and director Mark Walter sold their shares in a deal that hands Clearlake complete ownership. Boehly, Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss previously each held a 12.8% stake, while Clearlake owned 61.5%. The club confirmed Wyss will remain an important stakeholder and partner in the ownership group.

Clearlake, led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano, paid approaching £1 billion for the stakes, which represent about a quarter of the club. Club sources put Chelsea’s overall value at around £5 billion.

Boehly has held the chairman role since 2022, when the consortium bought Chelsea for £2.3 billion from Roman Abramovich following UK government sanctions. He will leave the position as part of the transaction.

In a statement on Thursday, Boehly said: “It has been an honour to serve as Chelsea chairman. I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans. I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the club. I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”

Eghbali and Feliciano thanked Boehly for his “time and contribution” as chairman, adding that he “will always be a part of the Chelsea story and family.” They said their focus remains on investing in the club’s infrastructure, sporting performance, player development and delivering long-term success for supporters.

A club statement confirmed there will be “no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy” following the deal. Boehly and Walter have also sold their shareholding in Chelsea’s partner club, French side Strasbourg.

Talks within the ownership group began after a rift that first became apparent in 2024, with both sides previously exploring options to buy each other out. BBC Sport reported in August that Boehly and Walter were considering selling their stakes.

Since the 2022 takeover, Chelsea’s highest Premier League finish has been fourth in 2024-25, a season in which they also won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup. The club finished 10th last season and appointed Xabi Alonso as manager in the summer. The ownership period has been marked by high player turnover and a strategy focused on signing young players to long-term contracts. Plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge or move to a new stadium had at times created tension between Boehly’s camp and Clearlake.

Walter, co-owner and chief executive of Guggenheim Partners, last month sold the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion. US federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission are separately investigating companies in his business empire.

Source: punchng.com

FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

TIKTOK

YOUTUBE

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM

Post Views: 42