Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Harry Kane are set to take the field this week, names familiar even to those who do not follow soccer closely.
According to the schedule for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, Argentina, Portugal, and England will each play their opening matches on June 17. With some of the world's top soccer stars participating early in the tournament, excitement for the World Cup is expected to intensify.
The first team to play will be the defending champions, Argentina. They will face Algeria in their Group J opener at 10 a.m. local time in Kansas City, Missouri. As the winners of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Argentina aims for a consecutive title. If Messi plays, it will mark his sixth World Cup appearance.
Portugal will follow, taking on DR Congo in their Group K match at 2 a.m. on June 18 in Houston, Texas. Led by Ronaldo, along with Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva, Portugal seeks to secure a victory in their group stage opener. DR Congo returns to the World Cup finals for the first time in 52 years, since 1974.
The matchup between England and Croatia is also highly anticipated. The two teams will meet for their Group L opener at 5 a.m. on June 18 in Arlington, Texas. England, featuring Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden, aims for a strong start, while Croatia has consistently demonstrated its competitive edge in the knockout stages of recent World Cups.
This tournament will be the first to feature 48 teams, divided into 12 groups from A to L. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage of 32 teams.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.