The action-packed first round of the 2026 World Cup Group Stage is over and it’s time for the next stage of the group stage to begin.
Here are the top five “must-see” matches for Round 2, June 18th to June 23rd.
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⚽️Mexico vs. South Korea
Guadalajara Stadium – Thursday, 7pm (Friday, 01:00 GMT)
This Group A fixture in Guadalajara promises to bring an atmosphere like no other. After the first round matches, social media was filled with videos of Mexicans and Koreans celebrating their victories together, exchanging hugs, dancing to Gangnam Style and commemorating the moment with sips of tequila.
Once again, chants of “Correano, hermano, ye eres Mexicano!” After the Asian giants defeated Germany in the group stage to help Mexico advance to the tournament, the Spanish words for “Korean, brother, you’re Mexican now!” echoed through the streets of the co-host country, which has forged friendly relations with South Korea since the 2018 World Cup.
The friends will play each other on Thursday, with both sides battling to secure top spot in Group A after winning their respective opening matches.
Netherlands vs Sweden
Houston Stadium – Saturday, June 20th, noon (17:00 Japan time)
The next match will be in the United States, where the two Nordic powerhouses will clash. Interestingly, it is the Netherlands, the three-time runners-up, who are desperate for a comeback.
After a 2-2 draw with Japan, the Netherlands fell to third place in Group F, but Sweden defeated Tunisia 5-1 to take first place.
The Swedes, who have returned to the World Cup with a degree of successful ‘great escape’ under coach Graham Potter, have so far proven too hot to handle and have been fun to watch, thanks to the dynamic strike partnership of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gökeres.
With coach Ronald Koeman’s tactics once again in the spotlight, the Netherlands’ defense, which was poor against Japan, will be put to the test even more.
Germany vs Ivory Coast
Toronto Stadium – Saturday, June 20th, 4:00pm (20:00 GMT)
Germany showed no mercy, defeating minnows Curacao 7-1 with six different scorers getting on the scoresheet in the first match of the tournament on the small Caribbean island.
This emphatic victory gave German fans dreams once again, but their second match against a youthful Ivorian team featuring star players Amad Diallo and Yann Diomande will be far from the easy victory they enjoyed in their opening World Cup match.
The match, to be held in Toronto, will pit the top two teams in Group E against leaders Germany and second-place Ivory Coast. Both teams have three points each, but Germany has a better goal difference.
Spain vs Saudi Arabia
Atlanta Stadium – Sunday, June 21st, Noon (16:00 Japan time)
There is intense pressure on Spain to get back to winning form after being held to a shocking goalless draw by debutant Cape Verde. The reigning European champions were the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup, but a slow start has raised questions about whether Lamine Yamal and his team can go all the way.
Interestingly, all four teams in Group H have drawn, leaving this section wide open, with Spain in third place behind second place Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, famous for defeating eventual champions Argentina 2-1 in the opening game of the 2022 tournament, got off to a strong start in North America by holding Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in the opening match.
Spanish fans will be hoping this disappointing start is just a repeat of their 2010 World Cup struggles, when they lost their first match before clinching their first world title.
Norway vs Senegal
New York-New Jersey Stadium – Monday, June 22, 8:00 p.m. (00:00 GMT, next day)
The list concludes with a clash between Group I leaders Norway, led by Manchester City star forward Erling Haaland, and third-placed Senegal, who are still looking for their first points.
Haaland scored two goals on his World Cup debut as the Norwegian national team defeated Iraq 4-1 in their first appearance in the tournament in 28 years. On the other hand, Senegal could not get past the giants France, losing 1-3, leaving the African giants with no chance of a comeback against Norway.
As coach Pape Thiau has said, Senegal will want to be less passive defensively and more efficient in attack when facing Haaland, who was top scorer in UEFA qualifying with 16 goals. This is more than double the score of his most recent challenger.
What are the groups and teams for the 2026 World Cup?
⚽Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Republic of Korea (South Korea), Czech Republic (Czech Republic)
⚽Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
⚽Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
⚽Group D: America, Paraguay, Australia, Turkiye
⚽Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
⚽Group F: Netherlands, Japan, 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
2026 World Cup: Complete remaining group stage schedule
Thursday, June 18th
Czech Republic vs. South Africa, 12:00 PM ET – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Switzerland vs. Bosnia, 12:00 PM PT (19:00 PM GMT) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Canada vs. Qatar, 3:00 PM PT (22:00 GMT) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Mexico vs. South Korea, 7pm CST (Friday 01:00 GMT) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Friday June 19th
Scotland vs. Morocco, 6:00 PM ET (22:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USA
USA vs. Australia, 12pm PT – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USA
Brazil vs. Haiti, 8:30pm ET (12:30am GMT Saturday) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USA
Tolkien vs. Paraguay, 9:00 PM PT (Saturday 03:00 GMT) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USA
Saturday June 20th
Netherlands vs. Sweden, 12pm CDT (5pm GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USA
Germany vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 PM ET (20:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Ecuador vs. Curacao, 7pm CDT (Sunday 03:00 GMT) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, USA
Tunisia vs. Japan, 10pm CST (Sunday 04:00 GMT) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Sunday, June 21st
Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, 12:00 PM ET (16:00 PM GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Belgium vs. Iran, 12pm PT – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Uruguay vs. Cape Verde 6:00 PM (22:00 ET) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USA
New Zealand vs. Egypt, 6pm PT (1am GMT Monday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Monday June 22nd
Argentina vs. Austria 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USA
France vs. Iraq, 5:00 PM ET (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USA
Norway vs. Senegal, 8pm ET (midnight GMT Tuesday) – New Jersey Stadium, New York, New Jersey, USA
Jordan vs. Algeria, 8pm PT (Tuesday 03:00 GMT) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USA
Tuesday, June 23rd
Portugal vs. Uzbekistan 12pm CDT (17:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USA
England vs. Ghana, 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USA
Panama vs. Croatia, 7:00 PM ET (23:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Colombia vs. DRC, 8pm CST (Wednesday 02:00 GMT) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Wednesday June 24th
Switzerland vs. Canada, 12:00 PM PT – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Bosnia vs. Qatar, 12:00 PM PT – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USA
Scotland vs. Brazil, 6pm ET (22:00 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USA
Morocco vs. Haiti, 6:00 PM ET (22:00 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Czech Republic vs. Mexico, 7pm CST (Thursday 01:00 GMT) – Mexico City Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
South Africa vs. South Korea, 7pm CST (Thursday 01:00 GMT) – Estadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Thursday, June 25th
Ecuador vs. Germany, 4:00 PM ET (20:00 GMT) – New Jersey Stadium, New York, New Jersey, USA
Curacao vs. Ivory Coast, 4:00 PM ET (20:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USA
Japan vs. Sweden 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USA
Tunisia vs. Netherlands, 6pm CDT (23:00 GMT) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, USA;
Tolkier vs. USA, 7pm PT (2am GMT Friday) – Los Angeles Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Paraguay vs. Australia, 7pm PT (2am GMT Friday) – San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, San Francisco, USA
Friday June 26th
Norway vs. France, 3:00 PM ET (19:00 GMT) – Boston Stadium, Boston, USA
Senegal vs. Iraq, 3:00 PM ET (19:00 GMT) – Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia 7:00 PM CDT (Saturday 00:00 GMT) – Houston Stadium, Houston, USA
Uruguay vs. Spain, 6pm CST (Saturday 00:00 GMT) – Estadio Guadalajara, Zapopan, Mexico
Egypt vs. Iran, 8pm PT (Saturday 03:00 GMT) – Seattle Stadium, Seattle, USA
New Zealand vs. Belgium, 8pm PT (3pm GMT Saturday) – BC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Saturday June 27th
Panama vs. England, 5pm ET (9pm GMT) – New Jersey Stadium, New York, New Jersey, USA
Croatia vs. Ghana, 5:00 PM ET (21:00 GMT) – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, USA
Colombia vs. Portugal, 7:30 PM ET (23:30 GMT) – Miami Stadium, Miami, USA
DRC vs. Uzbekistan 7:30pm ET (23:30 GMT) – Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Algeria vs. Austria 9pm CDT (Sunday 02:00 GMT) – Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City, USA
Jordan vs. Argentina, 9pm CDT (Sunday 02:00 GMT) – Dallas Stadium, Dallas, USA
