PBP: 2026 FIFA World Cup Group Stage PBP Thread

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by jaykoz3, Jun 8, 2026.

  1. jaykoz3

    jaykoz3 Member+

    Dec 25, 2010
    Conshohocken, PA
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    After a long lead up, FIFA World Cup 2026 is upon us. Starting June 11 the largest World Cup in history thus far will commence. With 48 nations qualifying for this latest edition. 104 matches will be played across three nations: Mexico, Canada and the USA. 16 different venues in 16 cities will host the matches.

    How will the host nations fair? Will the European nations be able to navigate the unique climates and travel conditions of North America? How will coaches utilize the mandatory hydration breaks? Will the new time wasting rules have a meaningful impact on games? VAR is being expanded, what sort of impact will that have?Who will be the first player shown red for covering their mouth?

    All games will be broadcast on the Fox family of networks in the United States. Telemundo and Universo have the US Spanish language rights. In Canada games will be broadcast on CTV, TSN and RFS (French). In Mexico games will be shown on TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca, Sky Sports Mexico and Vix. All games times are eastern.

    MLS N&A play by play threads are neutral spaces. Keep all rivalry-esque banter out of these parts. Bullying. personal attacks and/or trolling will not be tolerated.

    Thursday, June 11

    Mexico vs South Africa 3:00PM FOX
    Mexico City

    South Korea vs Czechia 10:00PM FS1
    Guadalajara, Mexico

    Friday, June 12

    Canada vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 3:00PM FOX
    Vancouver, BC Canada

    USA vs Paraguay 9:00PM FOX
    Inglewood, CA

    Saturday, June 13

    Qatar vs Switzerland 3:00PM FOX
    Santa Clara, CA

    Brazil vs Morocco 6:00PM FS1
    East Rutherford, NJ

    Haiti vs Scotland 9:00PM FS1
    Foxboro, MA

    Sunday, June 14

    Australia vs Turkiye 12:00AM FS1
    Vancouver, BC Canada

    Germany vs Curacao 1:00PM FOX
    Houston, TX

    Netherlands vs Japan 4:00PM FOX
    Arlington, TX

    Ivory Coast vs Ecuador 7:00PM FS1
    Philadelphia, PA

    Sweden vs Tunisia 10:00PM FS1
    Guadalupe, Mexico

    Monday, June 15

    Spain vs Cape Verde 12:00PM FOX
    Atlanta, GA

    Belgium vs Egypt 3:00PM FOX
    Seattle, WA

    Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay 6:00PM FS1
    Miami Gardens, FL

    Iran vs New Zealand 9:00PM FS1
    Inglewood, CA

    Tuesday, June 16

    France vs Senegal 3:00PM FOX
    East Rutherford, NJ

    Iraq vs Norway 6:00PM FOX
    Foxboro, MA

    Argentina vs Algeria 9:00PM FOX
    Kansas City, MZ

    Wednesday, June 17

    Austria vs Jordan 12:00AM FS1
    Santa Clara, CA

    Portugal vs Congo DR 1:00PM FOX
    Houston, TX

    England vs Croatia 4:00PM FOX
    Arlington, TX

    Ghana vs Panama 7:00PM FS1
    Toronto, ON Canada

    Uzbekistan vs Colombia 10:00PM FS1
    Mexico City, Mexico

    Thursday, June 18

    Czechia vs South Africa 12:00PM FOX
    Atlanta, GA

    Switzerland vs Bosnia-Herzegovina 3:00PM FOX
    Inglewood, CA

    Canada vs Qatar 6:00PM FS1
    Vancouver, BC Canada

    Mexico vs South Korea 9:00PM FS1
    Guadalajara, Mexico

    Friday, June 19

    USA vs Australia 3:00PM FOX
    Seattle, WA

    Scotland vs Morocco 6:00PM FOX
    Foxboro, MA

    Brazil vs Haiti 8:30PM FOX
    Philadelphia, PA

    Turkiye vs Paraguay 11:00PM FS1
    Santa Clara, CA

    Saturday, June 20

    Netherlands vs Sweden 1:00PM FOX
    Houston, TX

    Germany vs Ivory Coast 4:00PM FOX
    Toronto, ON Canada

    Ecuador vs Curacao 8:00PM FS1
    Kansas City, MZ

    Sunday, June 21

    Tunisia vs Japan 12:00AM FS1
    Guadalupe, Mexico

    Spain vs Saudi Arabia 12:00PM FOX
    Atlanta, GA

    Belgium vs Iran 3:00PM FS1
    Inglewood, CA

    Uruguay vs Cape Verde 6:00PM FS1
    Miami Gardens, FL

    New Zealand vs Egypt 9:00PM FS1
    Vancouver, BC Canada

    Monday, June 22

    Argentina vs Austria 1:00PM FOX
    Arlington, TX

    France vs Iraq 5:00PM FOX
    Philadelphia, PA

    Norway vs Senegal 8:00PM FOX
    East Rutherford, NJ

    Jordan vs Algeria 11:00PM FS1
    Santa Clara, CA

    Tuesday, June 23

    Portugal vs Uzbekistan 1:00PM FOX
    Houston, TX

    England vs Ghana 4:00PM FOX
    Foxboro, MA

    Panama vs Croatia 7:00PM FOX
    Toronto, ON Canada

    Colombia vs Congo DR 10:00PM FS1
    Guadalajara, Mexico

    Wednesday, June 24

    Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Qatar 3:00PM GS1
    Seattle, WA

    Switzerland vs Canada 3:00PM FOX
    Vancouver, BC Canada

    Morocco vs Haiti 6:00PM FS1
    Atlanta, GA

    Scotland vs Brazil 6:00PM FOX
    Miami Gardens, FL

    Czechia vs Mexico 9:00PM FOX
    Mexico City, Mexico

    South Africa vs South Korea FS1
    Guadalupe, Mexico

    Thursday, June 25

    Curacao vs Ivory Coast 4:00PM FS1
    Philadelphia, PA

    Ecuador vs Germany 4:00PM FOX
    East Rutherford, NJ

    Japan vs Sweden 7:00PM FS1
    Arlington, TX

    Tunisia vs Netherlands 7:00PM FOX
    Kansas City, MZ

    Paraguay vs Australia 10:00PM FS1
    Santa Clara, CA

    Turkiye vs USA 10:00PM FOX
    Inglewood, CA

    Friday, June 26

    Norway vs France 3:00PM FOX
    Foxboro, MA

    Senegal vs Iraq 3:00PM FS1
    Toronto, ON Canada

    Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia 8:00PM. FS1
    Houston, TX

    Uruguay vs Spain 8:00PM FOX
    Guadalajara, Mexico

    Egypt vs Iran 11:00PM FS1
    Seattle, WA

    New Zealand vs Belgium 11:00PM FOX
    Vancouver, BC Canada

    Saturday, June 27

    Croatia vs Ghana 5:00PM FS1
    Philadelphia, PA

    Panama vs England 5:00PM FOX
    East Rutherford, NJ

    Colombia vs Portugal 7:30PM FOX
    Miami Gardens, FL

    Congo DR vs Uzbekistan 7:30PM FS1
    Atlanta, GA

    Algeria vs Austria 10:00PM FS1
    Kansas City, MZ

    Jordan vs Argentina 10:00PM FOX
    Arlington, TX
     
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  2. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    Watching England vs Costa Rica playing at Orlando Stadium, nice to see all these MLS stadiums taking advantage with all these friendlies getting extra revenue.
     
    xtomx repped this.
  3. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I thank @jaykoz3 for printing the schedule in an easy to read and easy to follow format.

    Appreciate that.

    I have not really studied the "bracket" this time. It is the greatest sporting event in the world, but, like so many around here, I am struggling to muster the enthusiasm.

    That makes me a little sad.
     
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  4. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    Let’s the games begin :cool:
     
  5. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're Sithole, aaah!!!
     
  6. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ITV (UK) is choosing not to use the hydration breaks for commercial advertising.
     
  7. Sounders78

    Sounders78 Member+

    Apr 20, 2009
    Ireland
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Portugal is.
     
  8. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    Telemundo didn’t, FOX did
     
    Allez RSL repped this.
  9. Elninho

    Elninho Member+

    Sacramento Republic FC
    United States
    Oct 30, 2000
    Sacramento, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is Brian Gutierrez the first US-born player to actually play in the World Cup for Mexico? Miguel Angel Ponce went to the 2014 World Cup but didn't get on the field.
     
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  10. Paul Berry

    Paul Berry Member+

    Notts County and NYCFC
    United States
    Apr 18, 2015
    Nr Kingston NY
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's weird watching Gutierrez in Mexican colors.
     
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  11. Sounders78

    Sounders78 Member+

    Apr 20, 2009
    Ireland
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    France

    Obed Vargas has the chance to be the first Alaskan to play in the World Cup. Of course, the irony there is the Alaskan would be playing for Mexico.
     
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  12. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    Mexico has 3 non born in Mexico players on the field
     
    sitruc repped this.
  13. Sounders78

    Sounders78 Member+

    Apr 20, 2009
    Ireland
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Hydration break in the rain in Mexico City. That's a new scenario.
     
  14. AZUL GALAXY

    AZUL GALAXY Member+

    Aug 28, 2009
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    CDSC Cruz Azul
    80,824 @ Mexico city
     
  15. Sounders78

    Sounders78 Member+

    Apr 20, 2009
    Ireland
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    #15 Sounders78, Jun 11, 2026
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2026
    The Portuguese TV announcers were laughing at the situation with a (portuguese-speaking) Brazilian ref trying to speak English to a (spanish-speaking) Mexican crowd to explain why he was giving a red card after VAR.

    11 v 9. I think this game is over.
     
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  16. Sounders78

    Sounders78 Member+

    Apr 20, 2009
    Ireland
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Did I say 11 v 9. Make it 10 v 9.
     
  17. Elninho

    Elninho Member+

    Sacramento Republic FC
    United States
    Oct 30, 2000
    Sacramento, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Because of his accent, I thought for a moment he was trying to speak Spanish, but couldn't make out any Spanish words. The first English words I understood were "red card."
     
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  18. STR1

    STR1 Member+

    Atlanta United
    United States
    May 29, 2010
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    South Africa is weak AF. And FIFA wants to make the WC into a 64 team tournament?
     
  19. Elninho

    Elninho Member+

    Sacramento Republic FC
    United States
    Oct 30, 2000
    Sacramento, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    They qualified mostly because Nigeria dropped points at home to Lesotho and Zimbabwe, both games they should have won easily.
     
    SetPeace repped this.
  20. Gamecock14

    Gamecock14 Member+

    May 27, 2010
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    kind of cool to see an MLS homegrown in that spot
     
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  21. JayRockers!

    JayRockers! Member+

    Aug 4, 2001
    Oatley? MUTE!
     
  22. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    I think it suits him.
    Weird, he could barely get a sniff of the USMNT, gets his Mexican passport in November, Fire sell him the Chivas in January and he is starting for Mexico in June.

    Good for young Brian G.
    The first Chicago Fire "homegrown" and, I believe, the first player from Berwyn, Il to start a World Cup match.
     
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  23. SetPeace

    SetPeace Member+

    Jun 22, 2004
    SC Illinois
    Club:
    Torquay United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Both South Korea and Czechia are 'playing well between the 20s', but quality in the final third leaves much to be desired.
     
    JasonMa repped this.
  24. xtomx

    xtomx Moderator
    Staff Member

    Chicago Fire
    Sep 6, 2001
    Northern Wisconsin, but not far from civilization
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    The Korea v. Czechia match is not good.

    I will be in Czechia in about four weeks.
    After that first half, I do not think I will be in Prague partying during a Czechia semi final match!!!
     
    Ismitje repped this.
  25. SetPeace

    SetPeace Member+

    Jun 22, 2004
    SC Illinois
    Club:
    Torquay United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Instead of 'Adventures in Goalkeeping', that last sequence was 'Adventures in Striking'?
     
    Elninho repped this.

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