Ranked: 5 of the best World Cup group stage matches to look forward to

Mexico, Canada and the USA are set to host the largest ever World Cup this summer, with 48 teams taking part in what promises to be a true festival of football.

Giants are set to collide, favourites will face off against outsiders, and debutants will be hoping for underdog glory in this edition of the world's most premier sporting competition.

Here, we take you through our picks of the best group stage matches, who to look out for and where you can watch the games.

World Cup key dates

• Group stages: June 11-27
• Round of 32: June 28 - July 3
• Round of 16: July 4-7
• Quarter Finals: July 9-11
• Semi Finals: July 14-15
• Third Place Play Off: July 18
• Final: July 19

Where to watch the World Cup

All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup will be available to view, for free, on terrestrial television in the UK. The games will be split between the BBC and ITV.

How many teams in the world cup

This year's tournament is the largest yet, expanding from 32 teams to 48. The 23rd edition of the World Cup will feature over 1,000 players and 100 kits, taking place across 11 different stadiums.

1. England v Croatia

When: June 17th at 9:00 pm (UK time)

Where to watch: Live on ITV1

Croatia sent England crashing out in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, but the Three Lions have had the upper hand since, coming out victorious in the last two meetings.

Veteran playmaker Luka Modric is expected to be part of the Croatian squad and will undoubtedly play a key role in their success this summer, whilst England will have global superstars Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Bakayo Saka in their ranks.

It’s 4th vs 11th in the FIFA world rankings, making it one of the biggest heavyweight clashes of the group stage matches. If you’re planning to tune in, you’ll find the match live on ITV1 on June 17th, with kick-off at 9:00 pm (UK time).

2. Scotland v Brazil

When: June 24th at 11:00 pm (UK time)

Where to watch: Live on BBC

Scotland hasn’t qualified for a World Cup since 1998. They faced Brazil that year, too, coming agonisingly close to stealing a point in their opening match before a late own goal condemned them to a 2-1 defeat at the Stade de France.

As the only other home nation to qualify for this year’s tournament, Scotland will be hoping to cause an upset against a fancied Brazil side looking for their sixth World Cup crown.

Expect to see Joga Bonito stars such as Vinícius Júnior, Raphina, Casemiro and Matheus Cunha grace the field for the South Americans, under the stewardship of experienced boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Scotland manager Steve Clarke, meanwhile, will be looking to forward Lawrence Shankland and combative midfielders Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Kenny McLean to make the difference in Miami on June 24th.

You’ll be able to watch this match on the BBC, with kick-off set for 11:00 pm (UK time).

3. Brazil v Morocco

When: June 13th at 11:00 pm (UK time)

Where to watch: Live on BBC

Sitting at 8th in the FIFA world rankings, Morocco is a team to be taken seriously this summer. Featuring the likes of Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz and Yassine Bounou, their squad breezed through the qualification stages, winning eight from eight.

Brazil, on the other hand, struggled for consistency during their qualification campaign, finishing fifth in the South American table and 10 points behind arch rivals Argentina.

Expect goals in this clash, with flair players on display for both sides. Kickoff will be at 11:00 pm (UK time), with live coverage on the BBC.

4. Netherlands v Japan

When: June 14th at 9:00 pm (UK time)

Where to watch: Live on ITV

The Netherlands stormed through World Cup qualifying and finished top of UEFA Group G without losing a match. Under manager Ronald Koeman, the Oranje expect to progress into the latter stages of the finals this summer and have the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo on hand to help fire them to glory.

Japan have also shown some fine form over the last few years. Hajime Moriyasu’s side won every single game in qualifying and have picked up some notable wins in friendly matches since, including victories over Brazil, England and Scotland.

This game looks set to be another enthralling tie, with attacking talent evident on both sides. It’s a 9:00 pm kick-off for this one on June 14th, with all of the action live on ITV.

5. France v Norway

When: June 26th at 8:00 pm (UK time)

Where to watch: Live on ITV

France are without doubt one of the favourites to win the World Cup this summer. Manager Didier Deschamps, who will be stepping down after the tournament, has a plethora of talent at his disposal and will be eyeing a third championship title for Les Bleus.

Norway, playing at their first World Cup since 1998, caused a mini-upset by beating Italy to first spot in UEFA qualification Group I. Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Oscar Bobb, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Kristoffer Ajer are some Premier League names that readers might be familiar with, and they’ll be looking to get their campaign off to a winning start.

It’s Mbappe v Haaland and Dembele v Ødegaard in Boston, and you can catch this game live on ITV at 8:00 pm on June 26th.

Players to watch

• Cristiano Ronaldo - age: 41, country: Portugal, club: Al-Nassr
• Lionel Messi - age: 38, country: Argentina, club: Inter Miami
• Harry Kane - age: 32, country: England, club: Bayern Munich
• Vinícius Júnior - age: 25, country: Brazil, club: Real Madrid
• Guillermo Ochoa - age: 40, country: Mexico, club: AEL Limassol
• Johny Placide - age: 38, country: Haiti, club: Bastia
• Weston McKennie - age: 27, country: USA, club: Juventus
• Mo Salah - age: 33, country: Egypt, club: Liverpool
• Jérémy Doku - age: 23, country: Belgium, club: Manchester City
• Lamine Yamal - age: 18, country: Spain, club: Barcelona
• Kylian Mbappé - age: 27, country: France, club: Real Madrid
• Erling Haaland - age: 25, country: Norway, club: Manchester City
• James Rodriguez - age: 34, country: Colombia, club: Minnesota United
• Luka Modrić - age: 40, country: Croatia, club: AC Milan
• Antoine Semenyo - age: 26, country: Ghana, club: Manchester City