For many fans, the time of watching every match of the World Cup has become a thing of the past. The recent increase to 48 participating teams means there will be a total of 72 group matches, culminating in the familiar 32 teams that have been present in the last seven editions of the tournament. Viewers will be subjected to 108 hours of group-stage football, which will inevitably extend with added injury time and breaks for hydration, just to reach the same number of teams we’ve known since 1998.
With the inconvenient kick-off times affecting supporters globally, it will be challenging to catch every match. In light of this, we have curated a selection of key games to focus on during the group stage.
On June 11, at 8pm BST, the tournament will commence with a rematch of the 2010 World Cup opener, featuring Mexico and South Africa at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This iconic stadium has a rich history, having hosted the World Cup finals in both 1970 and 1986—events which saw Brazil and Argentina crowned champions, respectively. The memorable moment from their 2010 encounter was Siphiwe Tshabalala’s remarkable “goal for all Africa,” setting a vibrant tone for the tournament. With Mexico playing at home, a passionate crowd is anticipated, reminiscent of the thrilling atmosphere in Johannesburg sixteen years ago.
The expanded tournament format sees the top teams distributed across 12 groups. However, fans won’t have to wait long for an exciting match, as Brazil, the five-time champions, will face off against Morocco, the surprising semi-finalists from 2022, just three days into the competition. The Brazilian squad boasts an impressive array of attackers, with coach Carlo Ancelotti opting for a bold 4-2-4 formation. On the other hand, Morocco’s recent Africa Cup of Nations performance suggests a shift towards a more aggressive style, potentially leading to an exhilarating clash in New Jersey.
Another captivating match in Group F features the Netherlands, who, despite possessing a talented roster, struggled with a recent 1-0 loss to Algeria in a friendly. Japan, while not favorites to win the World Cup, has a track record of upsetting giants and could pose a threat to the Dutch. Their victories over Germany and Spain during the Qatar 2022 tournament serve as a reminder that they are capable of surprising outcomes. A win against the Netherlands could significantly boost their chances of topping the group, as suggested by the Opta supercomputer, which currently gives them a 26.7% chance of doing so.
The European champions, who are favored to win this World Cup, will open their campaign against Cape Verde, a nation making its tournament debut. Cape Verde is one of the smallest countries to qualify, and their achievement comes as a significant milestone. This match is expected to be one of the most lopsided of the group stage, especially considering Spain’s commanding 7-0 victory over Costa Rica in their opening game at the last tournament.
Historically, France and Senegal faced off in 2002, where France suffered a shocking 1-0 defeat as they began their World Cup title defense. This unexpected outcome marked the start of a disappointing campaign for the French team. As France prepares for their opening match in Group I, they will likely seek revenge, and the storyline surrounding this matchup will be hard to ignore.
Iraq returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1986, when they exited without a victory in their three matches. This time, they aim for a more positive showing as they kick off their 2026 campaign in Boston, facing a formidable Norway team. Norway was the highest-scoring team during European qualifying, netting 37 goals and featuring stars like Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. They are viewed as potential dark horses for the tournament and will look to make a strong impression in their opener.
Ecuador had an impressive qualifying run in South America, finishing second to Argentina while losing only two of their 18 matches and conceding just five goals. Their strong defense could position them as a surprise contender this year. They may need to adopt an attacking strategy against Curaçao, the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup, who will have already faced Germany and may require a favorable result in this match. Regardless of their performance, Curaçao could become one of the tournament’s feel-good stories.
Scotland is set to make its World Cup return for the first time this century, and fans are expected to travel in large numbers to North America. Their match against Brazil has been circled on many calendars since the draw. This clash echoes the opening game of the 1998 World Cup, which Scotland participated in. Since then, they have competed in major tournaments, including Euro 2024, where they faced a challenging start against Germany, losing 5-1. With lessons learned from that experience, Scotland will aim to make a stronger showing this time around, as they seek to advance beyond the group stage for the first time in twelve attempts.
