The 2026 FIFA World Cup is nearing the knockout stages, with the final group stage games underway.
See when the Socceroos play — and who they could face if they reach the Round of 32 — along with the Aussie schedule for every other game.
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Below, we list the 2026 World Cup schedule with AEST times and dates for both the group stage and knockout stage.
The 48 tournament entrants have been divided into four groups of 12 teams for the group stage.
Those group stage games are being played from June 12 to June 28, 2026 (all times and dates AEST), with Mexico having opened the tournament at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca against South Africa – a repeat of the 2010 opener.
The knockout stage begins with the round of 32 from June 29, all leading up to the World Cup final on July 20 at New York/New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
All times and dates AEST.
WORLD CUP 2026 GROUP STANDINGS
Group A
1. Mexico (6 pts, +3 GD)
2. South Korea (3 pts, +0 GD)
3. Czechia (1 pts, -1 GD)
4. South Africa (1 pts, -2 GD)
Group B
1. Switzerland (7 pts, +4 GD)
2. Canada (4 pts, +5 GD)
3. Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 pt, -1 GD)
4. Qatar (1 pt, -8 GD)
Group C
1. Brazil (4 pts, +3 GD)
2. Morocco (4 pts, +1 GD)
3. Scotland (3 pts, 0 GD)
4. Haiti (0 pts, -4 GD)
Group D
1. USA (6 pts, +5 GD)
2. Australia (3 pts, 0 GD)
3. Paraguay (3 pts, -2 GD)
4. Turkiye (0 pts, -3 GD)
Group E
1. Germany (6 pts, +7 GD)
2. Cote d’Ivoire (3 pts, 0 GD)
3. Ecuador (1 pt, -1 GD)
4. Curacao (1 pt, -6 GD)
Group F
1. Netherlands (4 pts, +4 GD)
2. Japan (4 pts, +4 GD)
3. Sweden (3 pts, 0 GD)
4. Tunisia (0 pts, -8 GD)
Group G
1. Egypt (4 pt, 2 GD)
2. Iran (2 pt, 0 GD)
3. Belgium (2 pt, 0 GD)
4. New Zealand (1 pt, -2 GD)
Group H
1. Spain (4 pt, 4 GD)
2. Uruguay (2 pt, 0 GD)
3. Cabo Verde (2 pt, 0 GD)
4. Saudi Arabia (1 pt, -4 GD)
Group I
1. France (6 pts, +5 GD)
2. Norway (6 pts, +4 GD)
3. Senegal (0 pts, -3 GD)
4. Iraq (0 pts, -6 GD)
Group J
1. Argentina (6 pts, +5 GD)
2. Austria (3 pts, 0 GD)
3. Algeria (3 pts, -2 GD)
4. Jordan (0 pts, -3 GD)
Group K
1. Colombia (6 pts, +3 GD)
2. Portugal (4 pts, +5 GD)
3. DR Congo (1 pt, -1 GD)
4. Uzbekistan (0 pts, -7 GD)
Group L
1. England (4 pts, +2 GD)
2. Ghana (3 pts, +1 GD)
3. Croatia (3 pts, -1 GD)
4. Panama (0 pts, -2 GD)
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WHO WILL THE TEAMS ADVANCING FROM EACH GROUP PLAY IN THE KNOCKOUT STAGE?
Group A (Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group C/E/F/H/I – July 1, Mexico City
Runner-Up vs Group B Runner-Up – June 29, Los Angeles
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group E/G – June 30, Boston or July 2, Seattle
Group B (Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group E/F/G/I/J – July 3, Vancouver
Runner-Up vs Group A Runner-Up – June 29, Los Angeles
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group D/E – June 30, Boston or July 2, San Francisco
Group C (Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland)
Winner vs Group F Runner-Up – June 30, Houston
Runner-Up vs Winner Group F – June 30, Monterrey
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/E/I
Group D (USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group B/E/F/I/J – July 2, San Francisco
Runner-Up vs Group G Runner-Up – July 4, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group E/I/K
Group E (Germany, Curacao, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group A/B/C/D/F – June 30, Boston
Runner-Up vs Group I Runner-Up – July 1, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/G/K/L
Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia)
Winner vs Group C Runner-Up – June 30, Monterrey
Runner-Up vs Winner Group C – June 30, Houston
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/E/I
Group G (Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group A/E/H/I/J – July 2, Seattle
Runner-Up vs Group D Runner-Up – July 4, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group B/I – July 3, Vancouver or July 1, New York
Group H (Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay)
Winner vs Group J Runner-Up – July 3, Los Angeles
Runner-Up vs Winner Group J – July 4, Miami
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/G/I/L
Group I (France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group C/D/F/G/H – July 1, New York
Runner-Up vs Group E Runner-Up – July 1, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/G/K/L
Group J (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan)
Winner vs Group H Runner-Up – July 4, Miami
Runner-Up vs Group H Winner – July 3, Los Angeles
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group B/D/G/K/L
Group K (Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group D/E/I/J/L – July 4, Kansas City
Runner-Up vs Group L Runner-Up – July 3, Toronto
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group L – July 2, Atlanta
Group L (England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama)
Winner vs Third Placer from Group E/H/I/J/K – July 2, Atlanta
Runner-Up vs Group K Runner-Up – July 3, Toronto
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group K – July 4, Kansas City
Group Winner, Runner-Up plus eight best-ranked Third Place finishers all advance
HOW ARE THE THIRD-PLACERS ADVANCING TO THE KNOCKOUT STAGE DETERMINED?
A 48-team World Cup being cut down to a 32-team knockout stage will see the eight best third-place teams from the 12 groups advancing.
This means the knockout stage matches cannot be pre-determined – instead, the bracket has 495 possible combinations based on which groups provide the best third-place teams.
For example, if groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H provide the best third-placers, ahead of groups I, J, K and L, that would be one scenario and see a pre-determined arrangement of round of 32 match-ups – and so on.
For what it’s worth, third-placers will likely only need three points and a non-negative goal difference from their three group stage matches to advance, based on simulations.
For Australia in Group D, if they finish third they can be drawn against the winner of Group E, I or K.
But some scenarios are more common than others. In around 64% of scenarios the Socceroos would face the Group E winner (expected to be Germany or Ecuador), in 30% would face the Group I winner (France or Norway), and in around 6% would face the Group K winner (Portugal or Colombia).
Some group winners cannot be drawn at all, because they’re locked in to face the runner-up of another group instead – this is the case with Groups C and F (whose winners will face each other’s runner-ups), and with Groups H and J.
Who the third-placers are most likely to face in the knockouts
If qualifying from Group A: 95.2% G winner (Egypt favourite), 4.8% E winner (Germany favourite)
If qualifying from Group B: 99.7% D winner (USA favourite), 0.3% E winner (Germany favourite)
If qualifying from Group C: 70% E winner (Germany favourite), 29.4% A winner (Mexico favourite), 0.6% I winner (France favourite)
If qualifying from Group D: 64.2% E winner (Germany favourite), 30% I winner (France favourite), 5.8% K winner (Colombia favourite)
If qualifying from Group E: 55.2% A winner (Mexico favourite), 14.5% K winner (Colombia favourite), 11.8% D winner (USA favourite), 8.5% L winner (England favourite), 7.9% B winner (Switzerland), 1.8% G favourite (Egypt favourite)
If qualifying from Group F: 83.6% I winner (France favourite), 10.6% E winner (Germany favourite), 3.3% D winner (USA favourite), 1.5% B winner (Switzerland), 0.9% A winner (Mexico favourite)
If qualifying from Group G: 78.8% B winner (Switzerland), 21.2% I winner (France favourite)
If qualifying from Group H: 58.8% A winner (Mexico favourite), 25.8% G winner (Egypt favourite), 14.5% I winner (France favourite)
If qualifying from Group I: 34.2% L winner (England favourite), 27.6% K winner (Colombia favourite), 15.8% D winner (USA favourite), 12.4% G winner (Egypt favourite), 5.8% A winner (Mexico favourite), 4.2% B winner (Switzerland)
If qualifying from Group J: 57.6% B winner (Switzerland), 19.4% D winner (USA favourite), 14.8% G winner (Egypt favourite), 6.1% L winner (England favourite), 2.1% K winner (Colombia favourite)
If qualifying from Group K: 100% L winner (England favourite)
If qualifying from Group L: 100% K winner (Colombia favourite)
WHO ELSE CAN AUSTRALIA FACE IN THE KNOCKOUTS?
If the Socceroos finish second in their group, they will play the Group G runner-up on July 4 in Dallas.
That group can be topped by any of Belgium, Egypt or Iran. According to Opta, Egypt is most likely (63%) then Belgium (26%) and IRan (11%).
The winner of that round-of-32 game would then face either the Group J winner (likely Argentina) or the Group H runner-up in the round of 16.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE WORLD CUP IN AUSTRALIA?
SBS is the Australian broadcaster of all 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, meaning they can be watched free on TV via SBS, or streaming via SBS On Demand.
Coverage of Australia’s group stage game begins at 1pm on Sunday June 14 for Socceroos vs Turkiye, 4am on Saturday June 20 for Socceroos vs USA, and 11am on Friday June 26 for Socceroos vs Paraguay.
The commentators will be David Basheer and Luke Wilkshire.
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE & RESULTS
All times and dates AEST
Friday, 12 June 2026
Match 1 – Group A – Mexico 2-0 South Africa – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Match 2 – Group A – South Korea 2-1 Czechia – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Match 3 – Group B – Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 4 – Group D – USA 4-1 Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Match 8 – Group B – Qatar 1-1 Switzerland – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Match 7 – Group C – Brazil 1-1 Morocco – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 5 – Group C – Haiti 0-1 Scotland – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 6 – Group D – Australia 2-0 Turkiye – 2pm, BC Place, Vancouver
Monday, 15 June 2026
Match 10 – Group E – Germany 7-1 Curacao – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 11 – Group F – Netherlands 2-2 Japan – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 9 – Group E – Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 12 – Group F – Sweden 5-1 Tunisia – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Match 14 – Group H – Spain 0-0 Cabo Verde – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 16 – Group G – Belgium 1-1 Egypt – Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 13 – Group H – Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 15 – Group G – Iran 2-2 New Zealand – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Match 17 – Group I – France 2-0 Senegal – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 18 – Group I – Iraq 0-3 Norway – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 19 – Group J – Argentina 3-0 Algeria – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 20 – Group J – Austria 3-1 Jordan – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Match 23 – Group K – Portugal 1-1 DR Congo – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 22 – Group L – England 4-2 Croatia – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 21 – Group L – Ghana 1-0 Panama – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 24 – Group K – Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Friday, 19 June 2026
Match 25 – Group A – Czechia 1-1 South Africa – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 26 – Group B – Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 27 – Group B – Canada 6-0 Qatar – BC Place, Vancouver
Match 28 – Group A – Mexico 1-0 South Korea – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Match 32 – Group D – USA 2-0 Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 30 – Group C – Scotland 0-1 Morocco – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 29 – Group C – Brazil 3-0 Haiti – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 31 – Group D – Turkiye 0-1 Paraguay – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San
Francisco)
Sunday, 21 June 2026
Match 35 – Group F – Netherlands 5-1 Sweden – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 33 – Group E – Germany 2-1 Cote d’Ivoire – 6am, BMO Field, Toronto
Match 34 – Group E – Ecuador 0-0 Curacao – 10am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 36 – Group F – Tunisia 0-4 Japan – 2pm, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Monday, 22 June 2026
Match 38 – Group H – Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 39 – Group G – Belgium 0-0 Iran – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 37 – Group H – Uruguay 2-2 Cabo Verde – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 40 – Group G – New Zealand 1-3 Egypt – BC Place, Vancouver
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Match 43 – Group J – Argentina 2-0 Austria – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 42 – Group I – France 3-0 Iraq – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 41 – Group I – Norway 3-2 Senegal – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 44 – Group J – Jordan 1-2 Algeria – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Match 47 – Group K – Portugal 5-0 Uzbekistan – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 45 – Group L – England 0-0 Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 46 – Group L – Panama 0-1 Croatia – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 48 – Group K – Colombia 1-0 DR Congo – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Match 51 – Group B – Switzerland 2-1 Canada – BC Place, Vancouver
Match 52 – Group B – Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-` Qatar – Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 49 – Group C – Scotland vs Brazil – 8am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 50 – Group C – Morocco vs Haiti – 8am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 53 – Group A – Czechia vs Mexico – 11am, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Match 54 – Group A – South Africa vs South Korea – 11am, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Friday, 26 June 2026
Match 55 – Group E – Curacao vs Cote d’Ivoire – 6am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 56 – Group E – Ecuador vs Germany – 6am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 57 – Group F – Japan vs Sweden – 9am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 58 – Group F – Tunisia vs Netherlands – 9am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 59 – Group D – Turkiye vs USA – 12pm, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 60 – Group D – Paraguay vs Australia – 12pm, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Match 61 – Group I – Norway vs France – 5am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 62 – Group I – Senegal vs Iraq – 5am, BMO Field, Toronto
Match 65 – Group H – Cabo Verde vs Saudi Arabia – 10am, NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 66 – Group H – Uruguay vs Spain – 10am, Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Match 63 – Group G – Egypt vs Iran – 1pm, Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 64 – Group G – New Zealand vs Belgium – 1pm, BC Place, Vancouver
Sunday, 28 June 2026
Match 67 – Group L – Panama vs England – 7am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 68 – Group L – Croatia vs Ghana – 7am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 71 – Group K – Colombia vs Portugal – 9:30am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 72 – Group K – DR Congo vs Uzbekistan – 9:30am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 69 – Group J – Algeria vs Austria – 12pm, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 70 – Group J – Jordan vs Argentina – 12pm, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
ROUND OF 32
Monday, 29 June 2026
Match 73 – Runner-Up Group A vs Canada – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Match 76 – Winner Group C vs Runner-Up Group F – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 74 – Winner Group E vs Third-Place Group A/B/C/D/F(Could be Australia) – 6:30am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 75 – Winner Group F vs Runner-Up Group C – 11am, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Match 78 – Runner-Up Group E vs Runner-Up Group I – 3am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 77 – Winner Group I vs Third-Place Group C/D/F/G/H (Could be Australia) – 7am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 79 – Winner Group A vs Third-Place Group C/E/F/H/I – 11am, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Match 80 – Winner Group L vs Third-Place Group E/H/I/J/K – 2am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 82 – Winner Group G vs Third-Place Group A/E/H/I/J – 6am, Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 81 – Winner Group D (Could be Australia) vs Third-Place Group B/E/F/I/J – 10am, Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Friday, 3 July 2026
Match 84 – Winner Group H vs Runner-Up Group J – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 83 – Runner-Up Group K vs Runner-Up Group L – 9am, BMO Field, Toronto
Match 85 – Switzerland vs Third-Place Group E/F/G/I/J – 1pm, BC Place, Vancouver
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Match 88 – Runner-Up Group D (Could be Australia) vs Runner-Up Group G – 4am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 86 – Winner Group J vs Runner-Up Group H – 8am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 87 – Winner Group K vs Third-Place Group D/E/I/J/L (Could be Australia) – 11:30am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
ROUND OF 16
Sunday, 5 July 2026
Match 90 – Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 – 3am, NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 89 – Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 – 7am, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (Potential Australia path as third-placer)
Monday, 6 July 2026
Match 91 – Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 – 6am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 92 – Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 – 10am, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Match 93 – Winner Match 83 vs Winner March 84 – 5am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 94 – Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 – 10am, Lumen Field, Seattle (Potential Australia path as group winner)
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Match 95 – Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 – 2am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (Potential Australia path as group runner-up)
Match 96 – Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 – 6am, BC Place, Vancouver (Potential Australia path as third-placer)
QUARTER-FINALS
Friday, 10 July 2026
Match 97 – Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 – 6am, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston) (Potential Australia path as third-placer)
Saturday, 11 July 2026
Match 98 – Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 – 5am, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles (Potential Australia path as group winner)
Sunday, 12 July 2026
Match 99 – Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 – 7am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 100 – Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 – 11am, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (Potential Australia path as group runner-up or third-placer)
SEMI-FINALS
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Match 101 – Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 – 5am, AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Thursday, 16 July 2026
Match 102 – Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 – 5am, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
THIRD-PLACE GAME
Sunday, 19 July 2026
Match 103 – Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 – 7am, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
WORLD CUP FINAL
Monday, 20 July 2026
Match 104 – Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 – 5am, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)