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The final day of the group stage for Groups G, H and I comes on Friday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with six matches available across three simultaneous start slots. The main matchup is Norway vs. France at 3 pm ET on FOX, a clash between two undefeated group leaders featuring the tournament’s top scorers, Erling Haaland (four goals for Norway) and Kylian Mbappé (four goals for France). Later, Spain and Uruguay will meet at 8 pm ET in the Group H final in Guadalajara, while Belgium and New Zealand will meet at 11 pm ET as Group G completes its final day in Vancouver. All six games air on FOX or FS1 and stream live and on-demand on FOX One.
World Cup schedule for Friday, June 26
Norway against France
Group I will be decided on Friday afternoon at Boston Stadium when Norway takes on France. It is a highly anticipated match between two teams, each with a perfect six points from two games, and will feature two of the sport’s greatest scorers, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Both teams have already earned their respective tickets for the round of 32, but this match will decide the winner of the group. Due to a superior goal difference, France will win the group even if the match ends in a draw.
Senegal against Iraq
Both Senegal and Iraq come into this Group I match at Toronto Stadium with zero points after losing games to powerhouses Norway and France. This game isn’t completely useless either. While a tie would eliminate both teams, a winner still has a slim chance of advancing as one of the eight best third-place teams. It remains to be seen whether three points will be enough, depending on the final tables and the goal difference in other groups.
Uruguay vs Spain
It will be a showdown between former World Cup champions on Friday when Spain and Uruguay meet at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico to conclude Group H action. Spain currently sits top of the group with four points, while Uruguay has just two points.
Led by Marcelo Bielsa, considered one of the most influential coaches of his generation, Uruguay has disappointed in this World Cup after drawing against Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. That has left the team in a difficult situation, where they will likely need to defeat Spain to advance.
At this point, that seems unlikely, as Uruguay have not won any of their last six games, and Spain are arguably the best team in the world, with their unbeaten streak in competitive matches now at 33 games (24 wins and nine draws) dating back to March 28, 2023.
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia
It will all be on the line on Friday in Houston when Cape Verde takes on Saudi Arabia in Houston, with the winner likely to advance from Group H to the round of 32. Cape Verde enters the game with two points (on par with Uruguay, but only behind by one in the goals scored tiebreaker) from two draws, while Saudi Arabia has one point.
Cape Verde has become the Cinderella favorite of the tournament after playing Spain to a 0-0 draw, followed by a 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The archipelago nation off the coast of mainland Africa has a population of just 525,000, but it scored against two nations that won the tournament. A win would send Cape Verde to the round of 16, but a draw to finish with three points could be enough if other results break through.
New Zealand vs Belgium
For both New Zealand and Belgium, advancing from Group G to the round of 32 will likely depend on winning this match at Vancouver Stadium on Friday night.
Belgium comes into this match in third place in the group with two points from two matches. Rudi García’s team has been disappointing through two games, as the Red Devils came in as one of the top 10 teams in the FIFA World Rankings hoping to go far in the playoffs.
Two points isn’t the end of the world, but the team’s big concern has been its lack of offensive production. The only goal he scored was an own goal in a 1-1 draw with Egypt. Fortunately, there is plenty of time to turn things around as Belgium are the favorites in this match and a win would take the Red Devils to five points.
Egypt vs Iran
This year, Iran will make their seventh appearance in the World Cup, while Egypt will make their fourth appearance in the tournament. Despite this, neither country has ever made it past the group stage. That will change at this World Cup when Iran and Egypt meet at Seattle Stadium on Friday night.
At least one of these teams will advance, although both teams have work to do to make sure.
Egypt tops Group G with four points after their 2-2 draw with New Zealand followed by their 3-1 win over New Zealand. Four points are likely to be enough to secure a place in the last 16, but a draw would clinch it. The team is led by Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, who is one of the best forwards of his generation. Salah, 34, has 68 goals in 118 games for Egypt and made the difference in the victory over New Zealand.
Iran will be the loser in Seattle and enters the match with two points tied with Belgium and New Zealand. In the recent 0-0 draw against Belgium, Iran held firm and secured the point thanks to solid defending and a bit of luck. Against Egypt, Iran will likely play with a similar approach, but at some point they might have to become more aggressive with their attack, as advancing will likely only come with a win.
Who is playing in the World Cup today?
- Norway
- France
- Senegal
- Iraq
- Uruguay
- Spain
- Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia
- New Zealand
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
Yesterday’s World Cup results
How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup
All World Cup matches are broadcast on FOX and FS1, and all matches are broadcast live and on demand on FOX One.
