World Cup 2026 fixtures: England to kick off under roof in Dallas during UK primetime | World Cup 2026
England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas at 9pm UK time on Wednesday June 17. They will play at Dallas Stadium, home of the NFL’s Cowboys, which has a retractable roof and air conditioning. This will lessen the effects of a 4 p.m. EST (3 p.m. local time) kickoff. The roof will be closed for the opening.
England learned the details of their group stage schedule during the second part of the World Cup draw in Washington DC on Saturday. Their second match, against Ghana on June 23, will be played in Foxborough, near Boston, at 4 p.m. EST. It is an open-air stadium. The average daily temperate maximum in June is 26°C.
England’s final group match, against Panama on June 27, will take place at NYNJ Stadium in New Jersey with a 5 p.m. ET kickoff. This is another open-air stadium and the average daily temperature in June is 27°C.
NYNJ Stadium also hosts the final, which will take place at 3:00 p.m. EST, 8:00 p.m. BST on Sunday July 19.
Quick guide
How do I sign up for sports news alerts?
To show
Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play Store on Android by searching for “The Guardian”.
If you already have the Guardian app, make sure you’re using the most recent version.
In the Guardian app, tap the Profile Settings button in the top right, then select Notifications.
Turn on sports notifications.
Scotland enjoyed a rather hostile kick-off time for their supporters back home. They kick off against Haiti at Foxborough on Saturday June 13 at 9:00 p.m. EST, 2:00 a.m. UK time.
Their second and third group matches against Morocco in Foxborough on June 19 and Brazil in Miami on June 24 will take place at 6 p.m. EST. On the positive side for Steve Clarke and his players, the late kickoffs will help them beat the heat, especially in Miami.
England were placed in Group L at Friday’s main draw ceremony, which is the last to start; the opening match of the tournament between Mexico, one of the organizing countries, and South Africa will take place on June 11 in Mexico City. As a result, Tuchel may rethink when he takes his team to the United States for a pre-tournament camp in Fort Lauderdale.
The Champions League final will be played in Budapest on May 30, and Tuchel originally planned to travel to the United States before then – and the Champions League final players would follow afterward. Now he can delay everyone’s departure until after the club’s showpiece match.
The Football Association is set to narrow its search for a tournament training base. Given the identity of the group match sites, with Boston and New Jersey on the east coast, it appears the initial preference for Kansas City may have to be abandoned. Tuchel said after Friday’s draw: “We had a few preferred options and I think they’re out of the window now, but let’s see.”
Harry Kane has given his reaction to the draw. “There are some difficult games,” the England captain told Cleats Club. “It makes me excited. And as the season goes on, the enthusiasm will grow. We will try to win. That’s always England’s goal: to try to be champions. We have to have the mentality that we can beat anyone and it’s no different at the World Cup.”
