Qatar will play Canada in BC Place stadium on June 18. Switzerland takes on the home squad six days later.
After years of anticipation, soccer fans across B.C. know details about how the initial stage of FIFA World Cup 2026 will enfold in Vancouver.
Canada will play the winner of the European Play-Off Path A on 12 June in Toronto, Qatar on 18 June in Vancouver and Switzerland on 24 June in Vancouver in FIFA World Cup group stage, Canada Soccer confirmed on its website, Friday (Dec. 5).
“What an incredible opportunity this World Cup will provide our country. We now know our group opponents and will spend every opportunity preparing for the matches ahead,” said Jesse Marsch, MLS Canada head coach. “It’s time for the nation to rally around our team, the People’s Team. Let’s go Canada!”
Team Canada discovered who they’ll battle in the opening round of the global sports showcase next summer, following a star-studded “final draw” at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.
Canada is in Group B along with Qatar, Switzerland and the winner of UEFA Playoff A — either Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland or Bosnia and Herzegovina, with that team decided in March.
Six of 48 national squads at World Cup 2026 have yet to be determined for games in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, including seven at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver (details on vancouverfwc26.ca).
In total, 104 games involving 48 teams in 12 groups will be played in 16 host cities in three countries. Scroll down to see all groups A to L, drawn from four pots.
Next up, the updated match schedule will be revealed on FIFA.com on Saturday (Dec. 6) at 9 a.m. Pacific, with venues and kick-off times for all 104 matches.
Mexico vs. South Africa is confirmed as the tournament-opening match in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
Friday in Washington, the World Cup groups were drawn at an event conducted by former England captain Rio Ferdinand with help of sports icons Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal. Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum and Danny Ramirez hosted the draw show, which featured music by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Lauryn Hill and The Village People.
Group A
Mexico
South Africa
Korea Republic
Czechia/Denmark/North Macedonia /Republic of Ireland
Group B
Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina/Italy/Northern Ireland /Wales
Qatar
Switzerland
Group C
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
Group D
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Kosovo/Romania/Slovakia/Türkiye
Group E
Germany
Curaçao
Côte d’Ivoire
Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands
Japan
Albania/Poland/Sweden/Ukraine
Tunisia
Group G
Belgium
Egypt
IR Iran
New Zealand
Group H
Spain
Cabo Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
Group I
France
Senegal
Bolivia/Iraq/Suriname
Norway
Group J
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
Group K
Portugal
Congo DR/Jamaica/New Caledonia
Uzbekistan
Colombia
Group L
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama