Five-times world champions Brazil — they have won more World Cups than any other country — are clear favorites to win the group under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti. Morocco will be hoping to relive the dream of the 2022 edition, when they finished fourth and became the first Arab and African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.

Morocco enters the tournament with a blend of established stars and emerging talent, looking to build on its historic success from four years ago.

World Cup 2026 TV schedule: How to watch every game on BBC and ITV in the UK - The biggest World Cup ever is set to include 104 games across the US, Canada and Mexico

The 2026 FIFA World Cup finally gets underway this week, and you can follow all of the latest breaking news before Thursday’s opening group-stage game with The Athletic. We’d also love to hear from you before Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday. Get in touch by emailing live@theathletic.com.

Check out the schedule for every match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including all three U.S. Men's National Team group fixtures.

After years of waiting, millions of soccer fans across the globe will be laser-focused on North America for the World Cup. The United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the inaugural 48-team edition of one of the world’s biggest sporting events,

Vinícius Junior. Gabriel. Raphinha. Alisson. Who is the best player for Brazil in this upcoming World Cup?

This 48-team extravaganza is the biggest World Cup there has ever been, and it might just be the most complex too. Twelve groups of four teams might be enough to follow in the first place, but those fans of brackets who have a familiarity of past tournaments might have a sense of what the issue is here.