England kick off World Cup bid in Dallas as 2026 schedule confirmed / Photo: © AFP
-
Lebanon kids struggle to keep up studies as war slams school doors shut
-
Cherry blossoms, kite-flying and 'No Kings' converge on Washington
-
Britain's Kerr to target El Guerrouj's mile world record
-
Crowds protest against Trump across US on 'No Kings' day
-
Pakistan to host Saudi, Turkey, Egypt for talks on Mideast war
-
Formidable Sinner faces Lehecka for second Miami Open title
-
Tuchel plays down Maguire's World Cup hopes
-
'Risky moment': Ukraine treads tightrope with Gulf arms deals
-
Japan strike late to win Scotland friendly
-
India great Ashwin joining San Francisco T20 franchise
-
Malinin bounces back from Olympic collapse with third straight world skating gold
-
Kohli fires Bengaluru to big win after IPL remembers stampede dead
-
Vingegaard nears Tour of Catalonia victory with stage six win
-
Yemen's Houthis enter war as attacks take economic toll
-
Malinin bounces back from Olympic meltdown with third straight world skating gold
-
French police foil Paris bomb attack outside US bank
-
Senegal parade AFCON trophy at Stade de France, despite being stripped of title
-
Graou shines as Toulouse sink Montpellier to extend Top 14 lead
-
Anti-Trump protests launch on 'No Kings' day in US
-
Protesters rally in London against UK far-right rise
-
France foils Paris bomb attack outside US bank
-
Indian Premier League cricket season begins with silence to honour stampede dead
-
Missing Cuba-bound aid boats located, crew reported safe
-
Ignore our celebrations, we respect Bosnian team, says Italy's Dimarco
-
Case closed for Morocco despite Senegal Afcon outrage
-
22 migrants die off Greece after six days at sea: survivors
-
Zelensky agrees air defence cooperation with UAE, Qatar on Gulf tour
-
Henderson backs England's White after Wembley boos
-
Yemen's Houthi enter war as Iran strikes disrupt shipping
-
Zelensky visits UAE, Qatar for air security talks with Gulf
-
Hollingsworth upsets Hunter Bell as Gout Gout fails to fire in Melbourne
-
Iran footballers pay tribute to victims of school strike
-
Questions over Israel's interceptor stockpiles as Mideast war drags on
-
Sweet heist? Nestle says 12 tonnes of KitKat stolen
-
Pope denounces widening gap between the rich and poor on Monaco visit
-
Yemen's Houthi enter war with missile targeting Israel
-
USS Gerald Ford arrives in Croatia for maintenance
-
Antonelli leads Mercedes 1-2 as Verstappen suffers qualifying shock
-
Verstappen calls his Red Bull 'undriveable' after more woes
-
Antonelli takes pole for Japanese Grand Prix in Mercedes 1-2
-
Millions angry with Trump expected to fill American streets
-
Attacks across Middle East as Iran war enters second month
-
Late surge lifts Thunder, Celtics rally to down Hawks
-
Tiger Woods arrested, charged with DUI after Florida crash
-
Antonelli leads Mercedes one-two in final Japan practice
-
Unease for Iranian-Canadians after shooting at ayatollah critic's gym
-
Sequins, slogans, conspiracies: Inside the right-wing culture at CPAC
-
NBA fines T-Wolves center Reid $50,000 for ripping refs
-
US envoy predicts Iran talks as war enters second month
-
Sinner ousts Zverev to book Miami Open final with Lehecka
England kick off World Cup bid in Dallas as 2026 schedule confirmed
England will open their 2026 World Cup bid against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, while the latest meeting of Brazil and Scotland at the tournament will take place in Miami, FIFA confirmed on Saturday.
The complex nature of the first-ever 48-team World Cup being played all across North America meant that world football's governing body needed an extra day to set venues and kick-off times following Friday's draw.
Thomas Tuchel's England, who are fourth in the current world ranking, will play Croatia at 3:00 pm local time at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, just outside Dallas.
They will therefore be grateful for the stadium's retractable roof which should help keep out the baking afternoon temperatures.
England will then go to the northeastern United States for their remaining Group L fixtures, taking on Ghana in Boston on June 23 at 4:00 pm local time, and then facing Panama at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on June 27 at 5:00 pm.
European champions Spain will play their first two Group H fixtures, against debutants Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, in the covered and air-conditioned Atlanta stadium.
They will then head to Mexico to take on Uruguay in Guadalajara.
Holders Argentina, meanwhile, will meet Algeria in Kansas City in their opening match in Group J on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas.
France, winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, will play all three Group I matches in the northeastern US, facing Senegal at the MetLife Stadium and Norway in Boston, either side of a fixture in Philadelphia against an intercontinental play-off winner.
Brazil, who won the last World Cup staged in the United States in 1994, will meet Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in their first Group C encounter on June 13.
Carlo Ancelotti's team then meet Haiti in Philadelphia on June 19 before a clash with Scotland in Miami on June 24 -- it will be the fifth time the countries have faced off at a World Cup.
Other games to look out for include the meeting of Germany and Caribbean minnows Curacao in Houston in Group E on June 14.
Co-hosts Mexico will play South Africa in the opening match -- a repeat of the opening game at the 2010 World Cup -- at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.
The final at the MetLife Stadium on July 19 will kick off at 3:00 PM (1900 GMT).
S.Gantenbein--VB
