The 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost here, with the opening game of Mexico vs South Africa kicking off at 5am AEST on June 12.
See when the Socceroos play along with the Aussie schedule for every other game.
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Below, we list the 2026 World Cup schedule with AEST times and dates for both the group stage and knockout stage.
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The 48 tournament entrants have been divided into four groups of 12 teams for the group stage.
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)
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)