World Cup Preparation and Opening Schedule

With just days to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, teams are participating in friendlies to prepare for the expanded 48-team tournament, On Sunday, June 7, key matches include Morocco vs. Norway in Harrison, New Jersey, and Colombia vs. Jordan in San Diego. The U.S. men’s national team opens against Paraguay on June 12, and the World Cup final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, according to USA Today.

The tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The opening match on June 11 will be between co-host Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca, a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg. Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 13 in Toronto.

Group Stage Format and Standings

With 12 groups in the 2026 World Cup, the top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the Round of 32, while the eight best third-place teams will also advance. This is a new format in World Cup history, expanding the number of teams from 32 to 48, according to NBC Sports.

Group A consists of Czechia. Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa; Group B includes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland; the United States is placed in Group D with Australia, Paraguay, and Turkey. South Korea and Mexico will face off in the same group as South Africa.

For fans in South Korea. The team will play against Czechia on June 12, Mexico on June 19, and South Africa on June 25, all at 10 a.m. local time. These matches are expected to be serious for the team’s chances of advancing given the expanded qualification rules, according to Source 3.

International Preparation and Fan Engagement

In preparation for the U-20 Women’s World Cup in September, Brazil’s team is training in Portugal with a schedule mirroring the World Cup group stage. The team has already played friendlies against Finland and South Korea and will face Portugal on June 9, according to OneFootball.

In Vietnam, a 59.4cm x 42cm poster detailing the full World Cup schedule will be given out as a free gift in newspapers starting June 8. The poster includes all 104 matches and will also be distributed at a talk show titled “2026 World Cup – Scale and Differences” in Ho Chi Minh City. The event features commentary from former national team language assistant Le Huy Coa, singer Tien Vuong, and commentator Tao Uyen, according to Source 5.