The City of Brotherly Love is just a matter of weeks away from a huge transformation. Thousands of passionate soccer fans from all over the world will be landing in Philadelphia to cheer on their nation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
If you've never watched it before or are lacking in soccer knowledge, Philly Sports Network has prepared a handy guide to help you follow the action and enjoy every moment of this global event.
The most prestigious tournament in World Football, the World Cup sees 48 teams compete to win the most iconic prize in all of sports. The event takes place once every four years, and qualification takes place in the three years between events, giving every FIFA nation a chance at making the big dance.
The 48 who make it through will then be grouped randomly and compete in a 'mini tournament' of sorts, where each member of the group plays each other once. The top two teams from each group, after those games have been played, then go through to the knockouts, which work like the NFL playoffs.
The teams and groups in this year's tournament are as follows:
|
Group A
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Mexico
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 South Africa
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Korea Republic
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Czechia
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group B
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Canada
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Qatar
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Switzerland
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group C
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Brazil
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Morocco
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Haiti
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Scotland
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group D
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 USA
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Paraguay
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Australia
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Türkiye
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group E
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Germany
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Curaçao
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Côte d'Ivoire
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Ecuador
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group F
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Netherlands
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Japan
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Sweden
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Tunisia
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group G
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Belgium
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Egypt
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 IR Iran
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 New Zealand
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group H
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Spain
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Cabo Verde
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Saudi Arabia
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Uruguay
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group I
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 France
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Senegal
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Iraq
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Norway
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group J
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Argentina
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Algeria
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Austria
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Jordan
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group K
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Portugal
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Congo DR
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Uzbekistan
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Colombia
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
Group L
|
P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 England
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 2 |
 Croatia
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 3 |
 Ghana
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
| 4 |
 Panama
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
Group tables sourced from FIFA.com
This format can often result in some David vs Goliath matchups and fairytale storylines. This year sees Curaçao in Group E. They became the smallest nation to ever qualify for the tournament and will now face off against titans like Germany in the group stage. Meanwhile, Haiti forced their way into the competition, lifting spirits after a devestating few years.
Of course, anything can happen at the World Cup, and seeing heavy-hitters knocked out of the group stage would be nothing new, only adding to the magic of the summer.
Argentina are the reigning champions after dethroning France 4-2 in the 2022 Final. The three-time winners will have a tough challenge ahead of them if they are to retain their crown. Spain, France, England, and Brazil all have sides capable of going the distance... but does Lionel Messi have one magic moment left in him on the international stage?
The good news for Americans is that the USMNT actually qualified for the tournament as co-hosts. After missing the 2018 rendition and being knocked out of the group stage four years later, soccer fans across the US will be looking to rally behind their team as they seek to cause an upset on home soil.
But while the US team has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, the true stars of the show will all be present, too. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, to name a few, will all be playing in the country when the World Cup begins on June 11.
The US is set to host the tournament for the first time since 1994, which was infamously won by Brazil, and with Philadelphia being chosen as one of the cities to host games this summer, there's no better time to brush up on your soccer knowledge and mix with fans who are willing to pay thousands to travel abroad and watch their nations compete.
Philadelphia will host six matches this summer.
Now the 'Eagle' eyed among you might notice there are only five games there. The above group stage games will all be held at Lincoln Financial Field — rebranded as Philadelphia Stadium for the World Cup — as well as a Round of 16 knockout matchup.
The FIFA Fan Festival will take place at Lemon Hill, Fairmount Park, and remain open for the duration of the tournament. It will have everything from live broadcasts of games to music, food vendors, and plenty of activities.
Bars across the city will be celebrating the tournament with specials and watch parties that might just rival the intensity of those late Sunday nights in November.
Aside from that, the most passionate sporting city in the world will open its arms to fans draped in nation colors looking to soak up the sights and sounds of America. Some for the first time, and there's no better opportunity to do so than in the biggest event of the sporting calendar, and of course during America's 250th birthday.
So, whether you're a new fan or a die-hard soccer enthusiast, there will be something for everyone in Philadelphia, as the city prepares for a makeover as well as a takeover, uniting nations, cultures, and people — all through the love of the beautiful game.
