The World Cup 2026 feels like it has taken an age to arrive, but the June 11 kick-off is finally on the horizon to offer fans a summer feast of football.
Set to take place across the United States, Mexico and Canada, the Scotland national team begin their own campaign with a clash against Haiti in the early hours of June 14 as they aim to make history by qualifying for the knockout stages for the very first time.
Football fans the world over will be excited to see how a host of the world’s best footballers perform under the microscope of the sport’s premier tournament, with France’s Kylian Mbappe, England’s Harry Kane, and Scotland’s Scott McTominay expected to line up for their respective nations.
While the knockout stages are often the most thrilling parts of any major tournament, the group stages have thrown up a superb selection of clashes. Want to know which group stage battles you have to tune into this summer?
Here are 10 World Cup group games you should definitely not miss!
5. England vs Croatia - June 17 - 9pm
The two European giants face a mouth-watering opener in Arlington as Thomas Tuchel's side look to get off to a strong start against tournament experts Croatia, who have 40-year-old Luka Modric looking to make his final World Cup one to remember for the Vatreni. | POOL/AFP via Getty Images
6. Netherlands vs Sweden - June 20 - 6pm
The Dutch's fixture list doesn't get any easier after their opener against Japan, with Sweden up next on the menu. Graham Potter's side have over £200million worth of talent in their forward line with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres ready to fire Blagult into the knockouts for the first time since 2018. | Getty Images
7. Germany vs Ivory Coast - June 20 - 9pm
Germany have suffered shock consecutive group-stage eliminations in each of the last two World Cups - a third early exit from the tournament feels unthinkable. They'll be favourites to win, but an Ivory Coast team featuring star talent such as Amad Diallo, Simon Adingra and Evan Ndicka will be no pushovers. | Getty Images
8. Scotland vs Brazil - June 24 - 11pm
Scotland fans will be hoping they've done enough to get through to the knockout stages by the time their final group fixture rolls around, but when have they ever done it the easy way? Regardless, a World Cup clash against the tournament's most successful nation of all-time in the Floridian heat is a glamour tie no one will want to miss. | AFP via Getty Images