Football fans will get a star-studded preview of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this Saturday, when FIFA unveils the updated match venues and kick-off times for the first 48-team edition of the tournament.

The announcement will be made live from 12:00 EST (18:00 CET) on Saturday, 6 December 2025, streamed across FIFA platforms including FIFA.com and FIFA’s YouTube channel, ensuring global audiences can follow in real time.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will be joined by a distinguished panel of FIFA Legends to break down the match-ups, including Ronaldo Nazário — a two-time World Cup winner with Brazil — and Francesco Totti, who lifted the trophy with Italy in 2006.

Bulgarian icon Hristo Stoichkov, joint top scorer at USA 1994, and American great Alexi Lalas, one of the most recognisable figures from that same tournament, will also provide expert insight. Popular commentator Andrés Cantor will serve as host.

The reveal comes 24 hours after the spectacular Final Draw in Washington DC, where 12 groups of four were confirmed for the expanded 104-match event co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Saturday’s event will confirm which stadiums will host each game and the precise kick-off times, offering fans a clearer picture of travel plans, marquee fixtures and potential blockbuster encounters throughout the competition.

FIFA says the final version of the schedule will be published in March 2026 after the remaining FIFA and UEFA play-offs are completed and the last six qualifying places are filled.

The 2026 edition will be the biggest World Cup in history — and now, the countdown to who plays where moves up a gear.

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Morocco head coach Walid Regragui says facing Brazil at the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be a “dream” match-up for his team, after the draw placed the Atlas Lions alongside the five-time world champions.

Speaking moments after the draw in Washington, Regragui described the fixture as an honour and an opportunity for Morocco to measure itself against one of football’s greatest nations.

“Playing against Brazil is a dream for everyone. It is an honour for us; Brazil is the country of football, and for Moroccans, it is an example,” he said.

“We have great respect for the Selecao, but let’s be honest, it will be a great game. May the better team win.”

Morocco, World Cup semi-finalists in Qatar 2022, have been widely tipped as Africa’s leading challengers in the expanded 2026 edition.

Their group, however, now features one of the tournament favourites in a meeting that will instantly become one of the most anticipated games of the opening phase.

Regragui’s side famously eliminated European giants Spain and Portugal on their way to making history two years ago, but Brazil represents a different type of test—one the coach believes his players will embrace with confidence and respect.

For Moroccan fans, the fixture is likely to evoke memories of recent friendly meetings in which the Atlas Lions have shown they can compete with elite opponents.

With Regragui determined to prove Morocco’s rise is no accident, the coach’s reaction suggests the African heavyweights are not intimidated by reputation—only inspired by the opportunity.

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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said the world champions will stick to the same winning formula that delivered glory at the Qatar 2022 World Cup after on Friday finding out their group opponents for next year’s global tournament.

The Albiceleste were drawn with Algeria, Austria and Jordan in a Group J that fans in Buenos Aires described as favourable – though Scaloni warned that there would be no easy games.

“We are going to give the maximum and try to do what we did in the last World Cup, which is to give everything we can, not to give a ball up for lost,” said Scaloni, who entered the draw ceremony clutching the trophy as coach of the holders.

Argentina face a potentially tricky path to the final with a last-32 clash awaiting against a team in Group H – headlined by powerhouses Spain and Uruguay, plus Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.

“As in 2022, we say that there is no easy opponent. You have to play the games. If it is then that the group (H), the crossover is difficult. But first we have to get through and then we’ll see,” Scaloni said.

The coach said Algeria were “a good team with great players” and praised their coach Vladimir Petkovic, his former head coach at Italian club Lazio.

He also praised Austria for their “great qualifying round,” with the Austrians having finished top of their group, while debutants Jordan remained the unknown quantity – though Scaloni insisted Argentina would “not take anything for granted.”

The memory of Argentina’s shock opening 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in Qatar clearly lingers. “We have that experience, we have to play the match,” Scaloni said when discussing Jordan.

Back home, fans seemed pleased with their team’s draw.

“It seems to me that it is favourable, isn’t it?” Patricio Neira, a 45-year-old teacher, told Reuters TV.

“None of the big powers, no ‘bogeyman’ … there is no European team that’s one of the strong ones. I think it’s a good thing, especially for the first few games.”

-Reuters

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