Complete group stage schedule for World Cup 2026 with kick-off times in BST, which channel each match is on in the UK, and how to stream every game on IPTV.
Tournament Format — 12 Groups of 4
The 2026 World Cup features 12 groups of four teams each, a significant expansion from the eight-group format used since 1998. The top two teams from each group advance to the round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams. This means 32 of the 48 teams progress from the group stage — two-thirds of all participants. The group stage runs from 11 to 27 June 2026, with 72 matches played across 16 venues.
Key Groups to Watch
Group C features tournament favourites Brazil alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. Group H is equally stacked with Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. Group L contains England alongside familiar opponents Croatia, plus Ghana and Panama. Group J sees defending champions Argentina face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Every group contains at least one team capable of causing an upset, making the expanded format genuinely unpredictable.
UK Kick-Off Times
Due to the tournament being hosted in North America, most matches kick off in the evening and late at night BST. Expect group stage matches at approximately 17:00, 20:00, 22:00, and 01:00 BST. This is actually ideal for UK viewers who work during the day — prime-time football every evening throughout June. All times are confirmed in BST (British Summer Time, UTC+1) for UK audiences.
How to Watch Every Group Stage Match
BBC and ITV split the UK broadcast coverage, but neither shows all 72 group stage matches. XiroTV carries every single match live and on-demand, in HD and 4K Ultra HD. Whether it is a late-night Brazil fixture or an early Scotland clash, every game is available on your chosen device. Navigate to UK Sports in your IPTV app to find all World Cup channels.