World Cup group stage resumes with Mexico-Korea among key fixtures

The 2026 World Cup group stage moves into its second round with several early leaders able to take control of their sections. Al Jazeera identified Mexico vs South Korea, Netherlands vs Sweden, Germany vs Ivory Coast, Spain vs Saudi Arabia and Norway vs Senegal as the key fixtures to watch from June 18 to June 23.

According to Al Jazeera, Mexico and South Korea enter their Group A meeting in Guadalajara after opening wins. Al Jazeera reported that supporters from both countries celebrated together after the first matches, a link traced to South Korea’s 2018 win over Germany, which helped Mexico reach the knockout stage.

Al Jazeera said the Netherlands face pressure against Sweden in Houston after a 2-2 draw with Japan left Ronald Koeman’s side third in Group F. Sweden lead the group after beating Tunisia 5-1, with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres central to the attack.

Germany and Ivory Coast meet in Toronto as the top two teams in Group E, Al Jazeera reported. Germany opened with a 7-1 win over Curacao, while Ivory Coast sit second with three points and a squad led by Amad Diallo and Yan Diomande.

Spain play Saudi Arabia in Atlanta after a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, according to Al Jazeera. Group H remains open after all four teams drew their first matches; Saudi Arabia are second after a 1-1 draw with Uruguay, with Spain third.

Norway face Senegal in New Jersey after Erling Haaland scored twice in a 4-1 win over Iraq, Al Jazeera reported. Senegal lost 3-1 to France, and coach Pape Thiaw said his team needed to be less passive in defence and more efficient in attack.

Remaining group schedule

Al Jazeera’s fixture list gives the following remaining group-stage games, with GMT times:

• June 18: Czechia vs South Africa, 16:00, Atlanta; Switzerland vs Bosnia, 19:00, Los Angeles; Canada vs Qatar, 22:00, Vancouver; Mexico vs South Korea, 01:00 Friday, Guadalajara.
• June 19: Scotland vs Morocco, 22:00, Boston; USA vs Australia, 19:00, Seattle; Brazil vs Haiti, 00:30 Saturday, Philadelphia; Turkiye vs Paraguay, 03:00 Saturday, San Francisco Bay Area.
• June 20: Netherlands vs Sweden, 17:00, Houston; Germany vs Ivory Coast, 20:00, Toronto; Ecuador vs Curacao, 03:00 Sunday, Kansas City; Tunisia vs Japan, 04:00 Sunday, Monterrey.
• June 21: Spain vs Saudi Arabia, 16:00, Atlanta; Belgium vs Iran, 19:00, Los Angeles; Uruguay vs Cape Verde, 22:00, Miami; New Zealand vs Egypt, 01:00 Monday, Vancouver.
• June 22: Argentina vs Austria, 17:00, Dallas; France vs Iraq, 21:00, Philadelphia; Norway vs Senegal, 00:00 Tuesday, New York New Jersey; Jordan vs Algeria, 03:00 Tuesday, San Francisco Bay Area.
• June 23: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, 17:00, Houston; England vs Ghana, 20:00, Boston; Panama vs Croatia, 23:00, Toronto; Colombia vs DRC, 02:00 Wednesday, Guadalajara.
• June 24: Switzerland vs Canada, 19:00, Vancouver; Bosnia vs Qatar, 19:00, Seattle; Scotland vs Brazil, 22:00, Miami; Morocco vs Haiti, 22:00, Atlanta; Czechia vs Mexico, 01:00 Thursday, Mexico City; South Africa vs South Korea, 01:00 Thursday, Monterrey.
• June 25: Ecuador vs Germany, 20:00, New York New Jersey; Curacao vs Ivory Coast, 20:00, Philadelphia; Japan vs Sweden, 23:00, Dallas; Tunisia vs Netherlands, 23:00, Kansas City; Turkiye vs USA, 02:00 Friday, Los Angeles; Paraguay vs Australia, 02:00 Friday, San Francisco Bay Area.
• June 26: Norway vs France, 19:00, Boston; Senegal vs Iraq, 19:00, Toronto; Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, 00:00 Saturday, Houston; Uruguay vs Spain, 00:00 Saturday, Guadalajara; Egypt vs Iran, 03:00 Saturday, Seattle; New Zealand vs Belgium, 03:00 Saturday, Vancouver.
• June 27: Panama vs England, 21:00, New York New Jersey; Croatia vs Ghana, 21:00, Philadelphia; Colombia vs Portugal, 23:30, Miami; DRC vs Uzbekistan, 23:30, Atlanta; Algeria vs Austria, 02:00 Sunday, Kansas City; Jordan vs Argentina, 02:00 Sunday, Dallas.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.