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Back2026 World Cup Fixtures: Your Guide to Groups A and B
2026 World Cup Fixtures: Your Guide to Groups A and B
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Guardian Sport6/18/2026Sports5 min read

2026 World Cup Fixtures: Your Guide to Groups A and B

Quick Look

  • The 2026 World Cup continues with key matches in Groups A and B.
  • Co-hosts Canada and Mexico aim for crucial wins, while Czechia and Switzerland seek to rebound from opening-round results.
  • The guide includes match times, broadcast details, and players to watch.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The 2026 World Cup is underway, with the first round of fixtures completed. This article focuses on the upcoming matches in Groups A and B, featuring co-hosts Canada and Mexico.

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Now that the first round of fixtures of the 2026 World Cup is in the books, it’s time to go around the houses again, starting with Group A and B, which include co-hosts Canada and Mexico.

After their opening draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada face Qatar in Vancouver. Three points would significantly boost the co-hosts’ chances of making it out of a men’s World Cup group for the first time in their history.

Meanwhile, Mexico are already well on their way to the last 32 after their 2-0 win over South Africa. A victory against South Korea would allow Javier Aguirre and his players to focus on the next round.

Here is your complete guide on how to watch today’s World Cup games, including kick-off times, broadcast networks, and online streaming options.

Complete guide to all the players

A visual guide to every stadium

Standings

Golden Boot leaders

Czechia v South Africa

Time (ET): Noon

Stadium: Atlanta Stadium

How to watch

United States: Fox / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

To bounce back from their defeat to South Korea, Czechia simply must show more attacking intent. While Miroslav Koubek’s side posed a threat from long throws and set pieces, they lacked any sort of open-play creativity and that ultimately cost them in their opening match.

Similar things could be said of South Africa. The 2010 hosts struggled to play out from the back against Mexico in their opener and failed to pose any sort of meaningful threat on the break. This is a critical match for Bafana Bafana and their chances of reaching the knockout round for the first time.

Player to watch: Patrik Schick, Czechia – Schick touched the ball just 11 times against South Korea, highlighting how his team must do much more to provide the Bayer Leverkusen striker with service in and around the opposition penalty area.

What to read

Czechia team guide

South Africa team guide

South Korea get off to winning start after rallying from goal down to beat Czechia

Jiménez seals Mexico’s win against nine-man South Africa in World Cup opener

Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina

Time (ET): 3pm

Stadium: Los Angeles Stadium

How to watch

United States: Fox / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: ITV (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

Switzerland were made to rue a number of spurned scoring opportunities as they were suckerpunched by a late Qatar equalizer. Murat Yakin will expect a sharper attacking performance from his team who registered an incredible 26 shots in their opening match yet scored just once.

Anything from this game for Bosnia and Herzegovina would set them up nicely for a tilt at the knockout rounds, with Sergej Barbarez’s team set to finish their group campaign against Qatar. Set pieces could be a danger to Switzerland as they were to Canada in Toronto.

Player to watch: Granit Xhaka, Switzerland – fresh from an impressive Premier League season with Sunderland, Xhaka will be a controlling influence in the center of the pitch.

What to read

Switzerland team guide

Bosnia and Herzegovina team guide

Muheim’s late own goal gives Qatar dramatic draw against Switzerland

Supersub Larin rescues point for Canada against Bosnia and Herzegovina

Canada v Qatar

Time (ET): 6pm

Stadium: BC Place Vancouver

How to watch

United States: FS1 / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: CTV / TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: ITV (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

Canada underwhelmed in their opening match as co-hosts, only salvaging something thanks to Cyle Larin’s equalizer off the bench. The point against Bosnia and Herzegovina keeps Jesse Marsch’s team in contention for the last 32, but a win over Qatar is required to truly build some momentum.

Qatar got somewhat fortunate in their opening match against Switzerland, snatching a late equalizer after they had spent much of the contest camped deep inside their own half. That the 2022 hosts were able to stay in the game for so long, however, should give them confidence.

Player to watch: Cyle Larin, Canada – after scoring the crucial equalizer against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Larin is almost certain to start against Qatar. The Southampton forward is a physical focal point capable of turning a half chance into a goal.

What to read

Canada team guide

Qatar team guide

Larin’s strike unleashes joy and saves Canada from the curse of ‘almost’

Muheim’s late own goal gives Qatar dramatic draw against Switzerland

Mexico v South Korea

Time (ET): 9pm

Stadium: Guadalajara Stadium

How to watch

United States: Fox / Telemundo (Stream on Fubo)

Canada: TSN (Stream)

United Kingdom: BBC (Stream)

Australia: SBS (Stream)

What to watch for

As encouraging as Mexico’s opening win over South Africa was, El Tri still have a gear or two to reach. The co-hosts scored two goals from two big chances, demonstrating admirable efficiency, but could do with more open play creativity higher up the pitch against South Korea.

Son Heung-min and Co started their World Cup with a comeback win over Czechia, dispelling some of the negativity that had swirled around them before the start of the tournament. If South Korea can replicate that sort of performance, they could be a real force.

Player to watch: Lee Kang-in, South Korea – nobody created more chances and registered more dribbles in South Korea’s win over Czechia than Lee, who will once again be his team’s creator-in-chief in a fluid No 10 role.

What to read

Mexico team guide

South Korea team guide

A thunderous triumph at the Azteca offers respite on Mexico City’s streets

Open Questions

  • Will Canada advance past the group stage for the first time?
  • Can Mexico maintain their winning momentum?
  • Will South Africa or Czechia secure a crucial win?

Related Topics

This article was originally published by Guardian Sport.

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