FIFA World Cup 2026 – England's road to glory in the USA, Canada and Mexico
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest in history – 48 teams, 12 groups and 104 matches spread across the USA, Canada and Mexico. For England, it's the chance to go one better than the 2022 quarter-final exit. Here you'll find the dates, hosts, format, all 12 groups, the opening match, the final, UK TV and streaming options – and an FAQ covering the questions British fans are asking most.
Overview: Dates, hosts and host cities
FIFA World Cup 2026
- Dates: 11 June – 19 July 2026
- Hosts: USA, Canada and Mexico (16 host cities)
- Number of teams: 48 nations – a new record
- Number of matches: 104 matches in total
- Opening match: 11 June 2026 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (Mexico vs. South Africa)
- Final: Sunday 19 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey
Host cities (selection)
- USA: New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City, San Francisco Bay Area
- Canada: Toronto and Vancouver
- Mexico: Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey
Quick tip: Bookmark this page – the fixture list and UK broadcasting details are updated regularly, and tickets are released in waves.
England at the 2026 World Cup
England (the Three Lions) have been drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Thomas Tuchel's side will be desperate to go one further than the heartbreaking Euro 2024 final defeat and the 2022 quarter-final exit to France. With Harry Kane leading the line and Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer offering creativity, the squad looks well placed – but a tricky reunion with Croatia (England's 2018 semi-final conquerors) on matchday one will test them straight away.
From the home nations, Scotland are in Group C – a brutal draw alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. Steve Clarke's side will need a result against the African or Caribbean opposition to have any hope of reaching the knockouts. Sadly, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland did not make it through qualifying.
The new World Cup format with 48 teams
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups of 4
- The top two from each group plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance
- Knockout phase: round of 32, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final
- 104 matches in total – the biggest World Cup in history
All 12 groups at the 2026 World Cup
- Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czech Republic
- Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
- Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey
- Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
- Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
- Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
- Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo
- Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Note: Italy missed out for the third tournament running, while Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Poland and Denmark also failed to qualify.
Exciting groups and favourites
- Group C is already being called a possible "group of death" – Brazil, Morocco (2022 semi-finalists), Scotland and Haiti make for a brutal draw.
- Group L: England should top the group, but Croatia's experience and Ghana's energy mean nothing can be taken for granted. Panama, meanwhile, will hope to surprise as they did against the USA in 2018.
- Group J: Holders Argentina, with Lionel Messi (possibly his last World Cup), face Austria, Algeria and Jordan in what could be a dangerous opener.
- Pre-tournament favourites: Argentina (defending champions), France, Spain, Brazil, England, Germany and Portugal.
Travel & logistics from the UK
The 2026 World Cup is played across three countries and several time zones. That requires careful planning if you want to follow the Three Lions or take in more than one host city.
- Flights from the UK: British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta and United fly direct from London Heathrow to New York (JFK/EWR), Los Angeles, Miami, Boston, Atlanta and Toronto. Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh also have direct US/Canada services. Domestic US flights are usually the quickest way to hop between host cities.
- USA – ESTA: British passport holders need a valid ESTA (currently £17/$21, applied for online at least 72 hours before travel) for visa-free stays of up to 90 days. Check the GOV.UK travel advice page for current entry requirements.
- Canada – eTA: An electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA, CAD$7) is required for UK citizens flying to Canada.
- Mexico: No visa needed for UK citizens for stays up to 180 days. You'll just need to complete the FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) on arrival.
- Time zones: Expect a 5-hour difference between the UK and the US East Coast, and 8 hours to the West Coast. England's early group games may kick off at UK-friendly evening times, but later-round matches could be late nights.
Tickets & schedule
- Tickets are sold via FIFA's official ticket portal (fifa.com/tickets) in several phases: random draw, first-come-first-served and hospitality packages through MATCH Hospitality.
- The England Supporters Travel Club (via The FA) is expected to offer dedicated travel and ticket packages for Three Lions fans – check englandfootball.com for membership details.
- Always sort your travel documents (ESTA/eTA) before buying tickets, and keep an eye on GOV.UK travel advice.
UK TV & streaming
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be shown live in the UK on BBC and ITV, who share the rights as they have done since 1966. Every match is expected to be free-to-air across BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 and ITV4. England's group matches will alternate between the two broadcasters.
Streaming: All matches will be available live and on-demand via BBC iPlayer and ITVX – both free with a valid TV Licence (iPlayer) or free registration (ITVX). The BBC Sport website and app will also carry live text, clips and highlights, while ITV Sport offers full match replays.
Radio: BBC Radio 5 Live will broadcast commentary on every England match plus key fixtures throughout the tournament, with talkSPORT also providing extensive coverage.
Note: If you're travelling to North America during the tournament, you'll need a VPN to access BBC iPlayer and ITVX from abroad – or tune in to local broadcasters Fox/Telemundo (USA), CTV/TSN (Canada) and Televisa/TUDN (Mexico).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
11 June – 19 July 2026.
Where is the 2026 World Cup played?
In the USA, Canada and Mexico – across 16 host cities.
What group are England in?
Group L, alongside Croatia, Panama and Ghana.
Where can I watch the 2026 World Cup in the UK?
BBC and ITV will share live coverage of all 104 matches free-to-air, with streaming on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
Are Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland playing?
Only Scotland qualified – they are in Group C with Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland did not qualify.
How many teams are taking part?
48 teams – the first time the World Cup has been expanded from 32 to 48 nations.
Where is the final played?
MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, on Sunday 19 July 2026.
Where is the opening match played?
The legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, on 11 June 2026.
What is the format?
12 groups of 4 teams → the top 2 plus the 8 best third-placed teams advance → round of 32 → round of 16 → quarter-finals → semi-finals → final.
Do I need a visa for the USA?
No – British passport holders can travel under the Visa Waiver Programme with a valid ESTA for stays of up to 90 days. Apply online at least 72 hours before you fly.
Which big football nations are missing?
Italy (for the third tournament running), Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Poland, Kosovo and Denmark are among those who failed to qualify.
When will the full fixture list and UK kick-off times be confirmed?
The full fixture list has been published; exact UK kick-off times and the BBC/ITV split will be confirmed closer to the tournament.