FIFA 2026 World Cup schedule with Australian times and dates

Those group stage games will be played from June 12 to June 28, 2026 (all times and dates AEST), with Mexico to open the tournament at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca against South Africa – a repeat of the 2010 opener.

The knockout stage begins with the round of 32 from June 29, all leading up to the World Cup final on July 20 at New York/New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

All times and dates AEST.

WORLD CUP 2026 GROUPS

Group A

Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia

Group B

Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C

Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D

USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye

Group E

Germany, Curacao, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador

Group F

Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia

Group G

Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H

Spain, Cabo 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

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WHO WILL THE TEAMS ADVANCING FROM EACH GROUP PLAY IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGE?

Group A (Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group C/E/F/H/I – July 1, Mexico City

Runner-Up vs Group B Runner-Up – June 29, Los Angeles

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group E/G – June 30, Boston or July 2, Seattle

Group B (Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group E/F/G/I/J – July 3, Vancouver

Runner-Up vs Group A Runner-Up – June 29, Los Angeles

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group D/E – June 30, Boston or July 2, San Francisco

Group C (Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland)

Winner vs Group F Runner-Up – June 30, Houston

Runner-Up vs Winner Group F – June 30, Monterrey

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/E/I

Group D (USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group B/E/F/I/J – July 2, San Francisco

Runner-Up vs Group G Runner-Up – July 4, Dallas

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group E/I/K

Group E (Germany, Curacao, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group A/B/C/D/F – June 30, Boston

Runner-Up vs Group I Runner-Up – July 1, Dallas

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/G/K/L

Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia)

Winner vs Group C Runner-Up – June 30, Monterrey

Runner-Up vs Winner Group C – June 30, Houston

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/E/I

Group G (Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group A/E/H/I/J – July 2, Seattle

Runner-Up vs Group D Runner-Up – July 4, Dallas

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group B/I – July 3, Vancouver or July 1, New York

Group H (Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay)

Winner vs Group J Runner-Up – July 3, Los Angeles

Runner-Up vs Winner Group J – July 4, Miami

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/G/I/L

Group I (France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group C/D/F/G/H – July 1, New York

Runner-Up vs Group E Runner-Up – July 1, Dallas

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/G/K/L

Group J (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan)

Winner vs Group H Runner-Up – July 4, Miami

Runner-Up vs Group H Winner – July 3, Los Angeles

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group B/D/G/K/L

Group K (Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group D/E/I/J/L – July 4, Kansas City

Runner-Up vs Group L Runner-Up – July 3, Toronto

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group L – July 2, Atlanta

Group L (England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama)

Winner vs Third Placer from Group E/H/I/J/K – July 2, Atlanta

Runner-Up vs Group K Runner-Up – July 3, Toronto

Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group K – July 4, Kansas City

Group Winner, Runner-Up plus eight best-ranked Third Place finishers all advance

HOW ARE THE THIRD-PLACERS ADVANCING TO THE KNOCKOUT STAGE DETERMINED?

A 48-team World Cup being cut down to a 32-team knockout stage will see the eight best third-place teams from the 12 groups advancing.

This means the knockout stage matches cannot be pre-determined – instead, the bracket has 495 possible combinations based on which groups provide the best third-place teams.

For example, if groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H provide the best third-placers, ahead of groups I, J, K and L, that would be one scenario and see a pre-determined arrangement of round of 32 match-ups – and so on.

For what it’s worth, third-placers will likely only need three points and a non-negative goal difference from their three group stage matches to advance, based on simulations.

For Australia in Group D, if they finish third they can be drawn against the winner of Group E, I or K.

But some scenarios are more common than others. In around 64% of scenarios the Socceroos would face the Group E winner (expected to be Germany or Ecuador), in 30% would face the Group I winner (France or Norway), and in around 6% would face the Group K winner (Portugal or Colombia).

Some group winners cannot be drawn at all, because they’re locked in to face the runner-up of another group instead – this is the case with Groups C and F (whose winners will face each other’s runner-ups), and with Groups H and J.

Who the third-placers are most likely to face in the knockouts

If qualifying from Group A: 95.2% G winner (Belgium favourite), 4.8% E winner (Germany favourite)

If qualifying from Group B: 99.7% D winner (USA favourite), 0.3% E winner (Germany favourite)

If qualifying from Group C: 70% E winner (Germany favourite), 29.4% A winner (Mexico favourite), 0.6% I winner (France favourite)

If qualifying from Group D: 64.2% E winner (Germany favourite), 30% I winner (France favourite), 5.8% K winner (Portugal favourite)

If qualifying from Group E: 55.2% A winner (Mexico favourite), 14.5% K winner (Portugal favourite), 11.8% D winner (USA favourite), 8.5% L winner (England favourite), 7.9% B winner (Switzerland favourite), 1.8% G favourite (Belgium favourite)

If qualifying from Group F: 83.6% I winner (France favourite), 10.6% E winner (Germany favourite), 3.3% D winner (USA favourite), 1.5% B winner (Switzerland favourite), 0.9% A winner (Mexico favourite)

If qualifying from Group G: 78.8% B winner (Switzerland favourite), 21.2% I winner (France favourite)

If qualifying from Group H: 58.8% A winner (Mexico favourite), 25.8% G winner (Belgium favourite), 14.5% I winner (France favourite)

If qualifying from Group I: 34.2% L winner (England favourite), 27.6% K winner (Portugal favourite), 15.8% D winner (USA favourite), 12.4% G winner (Belgium favourite), 5.8% A winner (Mexico favourite), 4.2% B winner (Switzerland favourite)

If qualifying from Group J: 57.6% B winner (Switzerland favourite), 19.4% D winner (USA favourite), 14.8% G winner (Belgium favourite), 6.1% L winner (England favourite), 2.1% K winner (Portugal favourite)

If qualifying from Group K: 100% L winner (England favourite)

If qualifying from Group L: 100% K winner (Portugal favourite)

WHO ELSE CAN AUSTRALIA FACE IN THE KNOCKOUTS?

If the Socceroos finish second in their group, they will play the Group G runner-up on July 4 in Dallas.

That group is expected to be topped by Belgium, with Egypt, Iran and lowly New Zealand the other contenders – meaning Mo Salah’s nation would be the most likely opponent coming into the tournament.

The winner of that round-of-32 game would then face either the Group J winner (likely Argentina) or the Group H runner-up in the round of 16.

If the Socceroos manage to win Group D, they will face a third-place team from either Group B, E, F, I or J – but in most scenarios it would be B (should they provide a third-placer).

That would see the Aussies face one of Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar or Switzerland on July 2 in San Francisco.

The winner of that game is then likely to face the Group G winner (Belgium favoured) in the round of 16.

HOW CAN I WATCH THE WORLD CUP IN AUSTRALIA?

SBS is the Australian broadcaster of all 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, meaning they can be watched free on TV via SBS, or streaming via SBS On Demand.

Coverage of Australia’s group stage game begins at 1pm on Sunday June 14 for Socceroos vs Turkiye, 4am on Saturday June 20 for Socceroos vs USA, and 11am on Friday June 26 for Socceroos vs Paraguay.

The commentators will be David Basheer and Luke Wilkshire.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE

All times and dates AEST

Friday, 12 June 2026

Match 1 – Group A – Mexico vs South Africa – 5am, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Match 2 – Group A – South Korea vs Czechia – 12pm, Estadio Akron, Guadalajara

Saturday, 13 June 2026

Match 3 – Group B – Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – 5am, BMO Field, Toronto

Match 4 – Group D – USA vs Paraguay – 11am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Sunday, 14 June 2026

Match 8 – Group B – Qatar vs Switzerland – 5am, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)

Match 7 – Group C – Brazil vs Morocco – 8am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)

Match 5 – Group C – Haiti vs Scotland – 11am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)

Match 6 – Group D – Australia vs Turkiye – 2pm, BC Place, Vancouver

Monday, 15 June 2026

Match 10 – Group E – Germany vs Curacao – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston

Match 11 – Group F – Netherlands vs Japan – 6am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Match 9 – Group E – Cote d’Ivoire vs Ecuador – 9am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Match 12 – Group F – Sweden vs Tunisia – 12pm, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Match 14 – Group H – Spain vs Cabo Verde – 2am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Match 16 – Group G – Belgium vs Egypt – 5am, Lumen Field, Seattle

Match 13 – Group H – Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay – 8am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Match 15 – Group G – Iran vs New Zealand – 11am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Match 17 – Group I – France vs Senegal – 5am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)

Match 18 – Group I – Iraq vs Norway – 8am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)

Match 19 – Group J – Argentina vs Algeria – 11am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Match 20 – Group J – Austria vs Jordan – 2pm, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)

Thursday, 18 June 2026

Match 23 – Group K – Portugal vs DR Congo – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston

Match 22 – Group L – England vs Croatia – 6am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Match 21 – Group L – Ghana vs Panama – 9am, BMO Field, Toronto

Match 24 – Group K – Uzbekistan vs Colombia – 12pm, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Friday, 19 June 2026

Match 25 – Group A – Czechia vs South Africa – 2am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Match 26 – Group B – Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Match 27 – Group B – Canada va Qatar – 8am, BC Place, Vancouver

Match 28 – Group A – Mexico vs South Korea – 11am, Estadio Akron, Guadalajara

Saturday, 20 June 2026

Match 32 – Group D – USA vs Australia – 5am, Lumen Field, Seattle

Match 30 – Group C – Scotland vs Morocco – 8am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)

Match 29 – Group C – Brazil vs Haiti – 11am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Match 31 – Group D – Turkiye vs Paraguay – 2pm, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)

Sunday, 21 June 2026

Match 35 – Group F – Netherlands vs Sweden – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston

Match 33 – Group E – Germany vs Cote d’Ivoire – 6am, BMO Field, Toronto

Match 34 – Group E – Ecuador vs Curacao – 9am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Match 36 – Group F – Tunisia vs Japan – 12pm, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey

Monday, 22 June 2026

Match 38 – Group H – Spain vs Saudi Arabia – 2am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Match 39 – Group G – Belgium vs Iran – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Match 37 – Group H – Uruguay vs Cabo Verde – 8am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Match 40 – Group G – New Zealand vs Egypt – 11am, BC Place, Vancouver

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Match 43 – Group J – Argentina vs Austria – 3am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Match 42 – Group I – France vs Iraq – 7am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Match 41 – Group I – Norway vs Senegal – 10am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)

Match 44 – Group J – Jordan vs Algeria – 1pm, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Match 47 – Group K – Portugal vs Uzbekistan – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston

Match 45 – Group L – England vs Ghana – 6am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)

Match 46 – Group L – Panama vs Croatia – 9am, BMO Field, Toronto

Match 48 – Group K – Colombia vs DR Congo – 12pm, Estadio Akron, Guadalajara

Thursday, 25 June 2026

Match 51 – Group B – Switzerland vs Canada – 5am, BC Place, Vancouver

Match 52 – Group B – Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar – 5am, Lumen Field, Seattle

Match 49 – Group C – Scotland vs Brazil – 8am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Match 50 – Group C – Morocco vs Haiti – 8am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Match 53 – Group A – Czechia vs Mexico – 11am, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Match 54 – Group A – South Africa vs South Korea – 11am, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey

Friday, 26 June 2026

Match 55 – Group E – Curacao vs Cote d’Ivoire – 6am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Match 56 – Group E – Ecuador vs Germany – 6am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)

Match 57 – Group F – Japan vs Sweden – 9am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Match 58 – Group F – Tunisia vs Netherlands – 9am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Match 59 – Group D – Turkiye vs USA – 12pm, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Match 60 – Group D – Paraguay vs Australia – 12pm, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)

Saturday, 27 June 2026

Match 61 – Group I – Norway vs France – 5am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)

Match 62 – Group I – Senegal vs Iraq – 5am, BMO Field, Toronto

Match 65 – Group H – Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia – 10am, NRG Stadium, Houston

Match 66 – Group H – Uruguay vs Spain – 10am, Estadio Akron, Guadalajara

Match 63 – Group G – Egypt vs Iran – 1pm, Lumen Field, Seattle

Match 64 – Group G – New Zealand vs Belgium – 1pm, BC Place, Vancouver

Sunday, 28 June 2026

Match 67 – Group L – Panama vs England – 7am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)

Match 68 – Group L – Croatia vs Ghana – 7am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Match 71 – Group K – Colombia vs Portugal – 9:30am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Match 72 – Group K – DR Congo vs Uzbekistan – 9:30am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Match 69 – Group J – Algeria vs Austria – 12pm, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

Match 70 – Group J – Jordan vs Argentina – 12pm, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

ROUND OF 32

Monday, 29 June 2026

Match 73 – Runner-Up Group A vs Runner-Up Group B – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Match 76 – Winner Group C vs Runner-Up Group F – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston

Match 74 – Winner Group E vs Third-Place Group A/B/C/D/F(Could be Australia) – 6:30am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)

Match 75 – Winner Group F vs Runner-Up Group C – 11am, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Match 78 – Runner-Up Group E vs Runner-Up Group I – 3am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Match 77 – Winner Group I vs Third-Place Group C/D/F/G/H (Could be Australia) – 7am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)

Match 79 – Winner Group A vs Third-Place Group C/E/F/H/I – 11am, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Match 80 – Winner Group L vs Third-Place Group E/H/I/J/K – 2am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

Match 82 – Winner Group G vs Third-Place Group A/E/H/I/J – 6am, Lumen Field, Seattle

Match 81 – Winner Group D (Could be Australia) vs Third-Place Group B/E/F/I/J – 10am, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)

Friday, 3 July 2026

Match 84 – Winner Group H vs Runner-Up Group J – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Match 83 – Runner-Up Group K vs Runner-Up Group L – 9am, BMO Field, Toronto

Match 85 – Winner Group B vs Third-Place Group E/F/G/I/J – 1pm, BC Place, Vancouver

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Match 88 – Runner-Up Group D (Could be Australia) vs Runner-Up Group G – 4am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Match 86 – Winner Group J vs Runner-Up Group H – 8am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Match 87 – Winner Group K vs Third-Place Group D/E/I/J/L (Could be Australia) – 11:30am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

ROUND OF 16

Sunday, 5 July 2026

Match 90 – Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston

Match 89 – Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 – 7am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (Potential Australia path as third-placer)

Monday, 6 July 2026

Match 91 – Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 – 6am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)

Match 92 – Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 – 10am, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Match 93 – Winner Match 83 vs Winner March 84 – 5am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Match 94 – Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 – 10am, Lumen Field, Seattle (Potential Australia path as group winner)

Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Match 95 – Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 – 2am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (Potential Australia path as group runner-up)

Match 96 – Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 – 6am, BC Place, Vancouver (Potential Australia path as third-placer)

QUARTER-FINALS

Friday, 10 July 2026

Match 97 – Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 – 6am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston) (Potential Australia path as third-placer)

Saturday, 11 July 2026

Match 98 – Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (Potential Australia path as group winner)

Sunday, 12 July 2026

Match 99 – Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 – 7am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

Match 100 – Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 – 11am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (Potential Australia path as group runner-up or third-placer)

SEMI-FINALS

Wednesday, 15 July 2026

Match 101 – Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 – 5am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)

Thursday, 16 July 2026

Match 102 – Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 – 5am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

THIRD-PLACE GAME

Sunday, 19 July 2026

Match 103 – Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 – 7am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami

WORLD CUP FINAL

Monday, 20 July 2026

Match 104 – Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 – 5am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)