Everything you need to know: 2026 World Cup
From the official Chelsea FC website:
On the eve of the 2026 World Cup getting underway, we have all the information you might need over the course of the tournament, from formats to fixtures and plenty more besides.
Co-hosts Mexico play South Africa in the opening game on Thursday night, in a repeat of the 2010 curtain-raiser. It will be the first of a record 104 matches at this World Cup, a figure that has increased because of the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.
Here we provide a Chelsea-centric look at the finer details of the World Cup that may prove useful…
Where is the World Cup?
The tournament is being jointly hosted by America, Canada and Mexico. The matches will be played across 16 cities – 11 from the US, two in Canada and three in Mexico. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will all be held in the US.
The 16 host cities are: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Guadalajara, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Monterrey, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver.
When is the World Cup?
The World Cup runs from Thursday 11 June through to Sunday 19 July, making it the longest edition of the World Cup ever.
What is the World Cup format?
With 16 additional countries participating, there will be a new format for this summer’s tournament.
The 48 teams have been split into 12 groups of four. The top two teams in each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the round of 32. From there, it is a normal knockout bracket.
The third-placed teams will be separated first by group points won, then goal difference, then goals scored.
Who is in the World Cup and what are the World Cup groups?
Group A – Mexico, South Africa, Czechia, South Korea
Group B – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C – Brazil, Haiti, Morocco, Scotland
Group D – Australia, Paraguay, Turkey, USA
Group E – Curacao, Ecuador, Germany, Ivory Coast
Group F – Japan, Netherlands, 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, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L – England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Which countries are competing at their first World Cup?
There are four tournament debutants: Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
Which Chelsea players are involved?
Ten Blues are set to represent their nation at the World Cup: Enzo Fernandez (Argentina), Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez (both Ecuador), Reece James (England), Malo Gusto (France), Pedro Neto (Portugal), Marc Cucurella (Spain), Mamadou Sarr and Nicolas Jackson (both Senegal), and Mike Penders (Belgium).
When are the Chelsea players’ games?
The group games potentially involving Chelsea players are listed below in chronological order.
Netherlands vs Japan – Sunday 14 June, 9pm
Ecuador vs Ivory Coast – Monday 15 June, 12am
Spain vs Cape Verde – Monday 15 June, 5pm
Belgium vs Egypt – Monday 15 June, 8pm
France vs Senegal – Tuesday 16 June, 8pm
Portugal vs DR Congo – Wednesday 17 June, 6pm
England vs Croatia – Wednesday 17 June, 9pm
Argentina vs Algeria – Thursday 18 June, 2am
Netherlands vs Sweden – Saturday 20 June, 6pm
Ecuador vs Curacao – Sunday 21 June, 1am
Spain vs Saudi Arabia – Sunday 21 June, 5pm
Belgium vs Iran – Sunday 21 June, 8pm
Argentina vs Austria – Monday 22 June, 6pm
France vs Iraq – Monday 22 June, 10pm
Senegal vs Norway – Tuesday 23 June, 1am
Portugal vs Uzbekistan – Tuesday 23 June, 6pm
England vs Ghana – Tuesday 23 June, 9pm
Ecuador vs Germany – Thursday 25 June, 9pm
Tunisia vs Netherlands – Friday 26 June, 12am
Norway vs France – Friday 26 June, 8pm
Senegal vs Iraq – Friday 26 June, 8pm
Uruguay vs Spain – Saturday 27 June, 1am
Belgium vs New Zealand – Saturday 27 June, 4am
England vs Panama – Saturday 27 June, 10pm
Colombia vs Portugal – Sunday 28 June, 12.30am
Argentina vs Jordan – Monday 29 June, 3am
*all kick-off times UK
When is the World Cup final?
The World Cup final is on Sunday 19 July, kick-off 8pm (UK) at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey where the Blues triumphed in the Club World Cup last summer.
How can I watch the World Cup?
In the UK, every game will be broadcast live on either BBC or ITV. A global list of broadcast holders can be viewed here. The Chelsea Official App and website will be keeping you right up to date with how our players are getting on in our special World Cup hub on both platforms.
‘Chelsea Supporters Group’ can also be found on X and Facebook and Bluesky
