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The final day of the group stage for Groups G, H and I arrives on Friday for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with six games on tap in three consecutive kickoff slots. The match is Norway against France at 15 ET on FOX, a clash between two undefeated group leaders with the tournament’s top scorers, Erling Haaland (four goals for Norway) and Kylian Mbappe (four goals for France). Later, Spain and Uruguay meet at 8 p.m. ET in a Group H final in Guadalajara, while Belgium and New Zealand kick off at 11 p.m. ET as Group G wraps up its final day of action in Vancouver. All six games will be broadcast on FOX or FS1 and streamed live and on demand on FOX One.
WC program for Friday 26 June
Norway vs France
Group I will be decided on Friday afternoon at Boston Stadium when Norway take on France. It is an eagerly awaited matchup between two teams, each with a perfect six points from two games, and it will feature two of the sport’s greatest goalscorers, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Both teams have already punched their respective tickets to the Round of 16, but this match will decide the group winner. Due to a superior goal difference, France will win the group even if the match ends in a draw.
Senegal vs. Iraq
Both Senegal and Iraq enter this Group I match at the Toronto Stadium with zero points after losing matches to powerhouses Norway and France. This game isn’t completely dead rubber either. Although a draw would eliminate both teams, a winner still has a slim chance of advancing as one of the top eight third-place teams. It remains to be seen whether three points will be enough, depending on the final tables and goal difference in other groups.
Uruguay vs Spain
It will be a clash of former World Cup champions on Friday when Spain and Uruguay clash at the Guadalajara Stadium in Mexico to conclude Group H action. Spain currently top the group with four points, while Uruguay have just two points.
Led by Marcelo Bielsa, widely regarded as one of the most influential coaches of his generation, Uruguay have disappointed at this World Cup after being held to draws by Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. It has left the team in a difficult spot where they will likely need to defeat Spain to advance.
At present, 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 run in competitive matches now up to 33 games (24 wins and nine draws), dating back to March 28, 2023.
Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia
Everything will be on the line on Friday in Houston when Cape Verde take on Saudi Arabia in Houston, with the winner likely to advance out of Group H and into the round of 16. Cape Verde enter the match with two points (even with Uruguay, but only trailing by one on the tiebreakers scored) from two draws, while Saudi Arabia has one point.
Cape Verde have become the Cinderella darlings of the tournament after holding Spain to a 0-0 draw followed by a 2-2 draw with Uruguay. The island nation just off the coast of continental Africa has a population of just 525,000 but came away with results against two nations that have won the tournament. A win would send Cape Verde into the knockouts, but a draw to finish with three points could be sufficient if other results break its way.
New Zealand v Belgium
For both New Zealand and Belgium, progressing out of Group G and into the Round of 16 is likely to depend on winning this game at Vancouver Stadium on Friday night.
Belgium go into this match in third place in the group with two points from two matches. Rudi Garcia’s side have been disappointing through two games as the Red Devils arrived as a top-10 team in the FIFA world rankings with hopes of going deep into the knockout stages.
Two points isn’t the end of the world, but the big concern for the team has been its lack of offensive production. The only goal it has scored was an own goal in a 1-1 draw against Egypt. Fortunately, there is plenty of time to turn things around as Belgium are favorites in this game and a win would lift the Red Devils to five points.
Egypt vs Iran
This year, Iran will make its seventh World Cup appearance, while Egypt will make its fourth appearance in the tournament. Despite this, neither country has ever progressed from the group stage. That changes at this World Cup when Iran and Egypt meet at Seattle Stadium on Friday night.
At least one of these teams advances, although both teams have work to do to clinch.
Egypt top Group G with four points after a 2-2 draw against New Zealand followed by their 3-1 win over New Zealand. Four points will likely be enough to secure a place in the knockouts, but a draw would ensure it. The team is led by Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah, who is one of the best strikers of his generation. Salah, 34, has 68 goals in 118 appearances for Egypt and was the difference maker in the win over New Zealand.
Iran will be the underdogs in Seattle and go into the game two points off draws with Belgium and New Zealand. In the recent 0-0 draw with Belgium, Iran sat deep 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 it may need to be more aggressive with its attack, as promotion is likely to come only with a win.
Who is playing today in the WC?
- Norway
- France
- Senegal
- Iraq
- Uruguay
- Spain
- Cape Verde
- Saudi Arabia
- New Zealand
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
WC results yesterday
How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup
All World Cup games are broadcast on FOX and FS1, with every game streamed live and on demand on FOX One.
