Akram Afif

Almoez Ali

Baghdad Bounedjah

Edmilson Junior

The first 48-team FIFA World Cup begins June 11 at the Estadio Azteca. The opening-week fixtures to watch — Mexico's opener, Qatar vs Switzerland, Brazil vs Morocco — in Doha time.

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Bosnia & Herzegovina

Canada

Group B — Qatar's group — gets underway as co-hosts Canada open their home World Cup in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Every Qatari fan should be watching closely: this result shapes Al Annabi's path through the group.

Paraguay

United States

United States face Paraguay in Group D of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Morocco

Brazil

The heavyweight tie of the opening round: five-time champions Brazil meet 2022 semi-finalists Morocco at the stadium that will host the final. A late one for Doha viewers — 1am kick-off — but worth every minute of lost sleep.

Scotland

Haiti

Haiti face Scotland in Group C of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Türkiye

Australia

Australia face Türkiye in Group D of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at BC Place, Vancouver. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Curaçao

Germany

Germany face Curaçao in Group E of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at NRG Stadium, Houston. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Switzerland

Qatar

Qatar open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Switzerland in the San Francisco Bay Area — kick-off 10pm Doha time. Four years after a difficult home tournament, Akram Afif leads a battle-hardened Asian champion side hunting Qatar's first ever World Cup point. Switzerland, perennial knockout-round regulars, are the group's top seed and the measuring stick for how far Al Annabi have come.

Qatar's toughest assignment on paper: the co-hosts in their own backyard. BC Place in Vancouver will be a wall of red, and Al Annabi will need the discipline and counter-attacking edge that won two Asian Cups to silence it. A 1am kick-off in Doha — set the alarm.

The group-stage finale in Seattle, and very possibly a straight shootout for the knockout rounds. With the expanded 48-team format sending eight third-placed teams through, even a strong goal difference here could be enough to write history for Qatari football.

Croatia

England

A rematch of the 2018 semi-final as England open their Group L campaign against Croatia under the roof in Arlington, Texas. Two nations with World Cup scores to settle, live at 11pm Doha time.

Japan

Netherlands

Netherlands face Japan in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Ecuador

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast face Ecuador in Group E of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Tunisia

Sweden

Sweden face Tunisia in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Estadio BBVA, Monterrey. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Cape Verde

Spain

Spain face Cape Verde in Group H of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Egypt

Belgium

Belgium face Egypt in Group G of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lumen Field, Seattle. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

Uruguay

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia face Uruguay in Group H of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

New Zealand

Iran

Iran face New Zealand in Group G of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood. Kick-off time shown in Doha time.

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