Canada’s FIFA World Cup Group Stage Opponents Revealed

Canada learned its group-stage opponents for FIFA World Cup 26 during the Final Draw held on December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C., an event conducted by Rio Ferdinand with Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge, and Tom Brady assisting.

Credit: BMO Field

Canada, placed in Group B, will play Switzerland, Qatar, and the winner of the European Play-Off Path A, which features Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Canada will begin its tournament on June 12, 2026, in Toronto, followed by matches in Vancouver against Qatar on June 18 and Switzerland on June 24. This marks Canada’s third appearance at the Men’s FIFA World Cup™ and its first consecutive qualification. The full schedule is expected from FIFA on December 6.

Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the ceremony as Canada prepares to co-host the 2026 event with Mexico and the United States. The expanded competition will include 48 teams and 104 matches, with 13 fixtures held in Canada. Toronto will host six matches, including Canada’s opener, while Vancouver will stage the remaining Canadian games.

Hosting duties are projected to create nearly 25,000 jobs and contribute about $2 billion to the Canadian economy. Other host cities include Mexico City, where Mexico and South Africa will open the tournament, along with Monterrey, Guadalajara, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, and Seattle.

FIFA World Cup 26 Groups

Group A

Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Winner of European Playoffs – (Denmark vs North Macedonia) vs (Czechia vs Rep. of Ireland)

Group B

Credit: Canada Soccer

Canada
Winner of European Playoffs – (Italy vs Northern Ireland) vs (Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Qatar
Switzerland

Group C

Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland

Group D

USA
Paraguay
Australia
Winner of European Playoffs – (Turkiye vs Romania) vs (Slovakia vs Kosovo)

Group E

Germany
Curaco
Côte d’Ivoire
Equador

Group F

Netherlands
Japan
Winner of European Playoffs – (Ukraine vs Sweden) – (Poland vs Albania)
Tunisia

Group G

Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand

Group H

Spain
Cabo Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay

Group I

France
Senegal
Iraq vs (Bolivia vs Surinam)
Norway

Group J

Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan

Group K

Portugual
Congo Dr vs (Jamaica vs New Caledonia)
Uzbekistan
Colombia

Group L

England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama

Group Stage Matches:

With group-stage opponents now set, fans must wait until tomorrow’s 12 p.m. ET broadcast from Washington, D.C., when FIFA will announce the full match schedule.

Toronto: Friday, June 12, 2026: Match 3 – Group B (Canada opening match)
Vancouver: Saturday, June 13, 2026: Match 6 – Group D
Toronto: Wednesday, June 17, 2026: Match 21 – Group L
Vancouver: Thursday, June 18, 2026: Match 27 – Group B
Toronto: Saturday, June 20, 2026: Match 33 – Group E
Vancouver: Sunday, June 21, 2026: Match 40 – Group G
Toronto: Tuesday, June 23, 2026: Match 46 – Group L
Vancouver: Wednesday, June 24, 2026: Match 51 – Group B
Toronto: Friday, June 26, 2026 – Match 62 – Group I
Vancouver: Friday, June 26, 2026 – Match 64 – Group G

Round of 32:

Toronto: Thursday, July 2, 2026: Match 83 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up
Vancouver: Thursday, July 2, 2026: Match 85 – Group B winners v Group E/F/G/I/J third place

Round of 16: