The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday 11 June and our stars heading to Mexico, Canada and the United States are beginning their preparations after the curtain came down on our 2025/26 campaign.
The 48 nations heading to the newly expanded World Cup will play a series of warm-up international friendlies in the coming days.
After the Champions League final and Champions Parade, 16 members of our first team head to North America, where they could participate in a series of pre-tournament friendlies.
EUROPEAN FAREWELL
Some nations are choosing to stay in Europe as long as possible before waiting across the pond for the 23rd World Cup.
Leandro TrossardBelgium will face two games in Europe, heading to Croatia tonight before hosting Tunisia at the King Baudouin Stadium. Leo has 11 international goals to his name, including one in the 4-2 win over Wales in World Cup qualifying.
Viktor GyokeresSweden is also finalizing its preparations at home. Vik’s nation returns to the Friends Arena in Stockholm, where the striker scored a dramatic winning goal over Poland to take his nation to the World Cup, and will face Greece on Thursday, June 4, before departing.
On the other hand, Spain says goodbye in La Coruña, where it will face Iraq before heading to Mexico, one of the host countries, to face Peru in Puebla.
Martín Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and David Raya All of them have been named in Luis de la Fuente’s World Cup squad.
Jurrien MaderaThe Netherlands host Algeria at the De Kuip in Rotterdam before heading to the Big Apple, where they will play their final warm-up match against Uzbekistan at the Icahn Stadium.
Finally, William Salibas France is preparing for another attempt at World Cup glory with two matches on home soil. Les Bleus will face Ivory Coast in Nantes before hosting Northern Ireland in Lille.
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WITH destination to the United States
Other nations are choosing to travel to World Cup venues to acclimatize to North American conditions.
England is one of those countries that does just that. Ethan Nwaneri has been selected to train with Thomas Tuchel’s group in Florida ahead of our lion quartet in Eberechi Eze, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke join the rest of the team.
The 1966 World Cup winners face New Zealand in Tampa before taking on Costa Rica in Orlando, a day before the main action begins in Mexico City, where Mexico hosts South Africa.
Kai HavertzGermany’s Germany is already on the other side of the Atlantic. The Germans will face one of the host countries, the United States, on June 6 in Chicago.
A day later, Norway will face Morocco at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, where Martin Odegaard and his compatriots are preparing for the first major tournament in 26 years.
That same night, Piero HincapiéEcuador will be at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus, Ohio, facing Guatemala in its final preparation match.
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WORLD CUP WARM-UP LIST
BST start time
Tuesday June 2
Croatia-Belgium – Trossard
HNK Rijeka Stadium, Croatia, 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday June 3
Netherlands v Algeria – Wood
De Kuip, Rotterdam, 7:45 p.m.
Thursday June 4
Sweden – Greece – Gyokeres
Friends Arena, Stockholm, 6:00 p.m.
Spain-Iraq – Merino, Raya, Zubimendi
Riazor, A Coruña, 20 hours
France – Ivory Coast – Saliba
Beaujoire Stadium, Nantes, 8:10 p.m.
Saturday June 6
Belgium-Tunisia – Trossard
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, 2:00 p.m.
United States-Germany – Havertz
Soldier’s Field, Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
England vs New Zealand: Eze, Madueke, Rice, Saka
Raymond James Stadium, Florida, 9:00 p.m.
Brazil v Egypt – Gabriel and Gabriel Martinelli
Huntington Bank Field, Cleveland, 11 p.m.
Sunday June 7
Morocco – Norway – Odegaard
Red Bull Arena, New Jersey, 8 p.m.
Ecuador vs Guatemala – Hincapié
ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, Columbus, 9 p.m.
Monday June 8
Netherlands v Uzbekistan – Wood
Icahn Stadium, New York, 7:45 p.m.
France v Northern Ireland – Saliba
Pierre-Mauroy Stadium, Lille 8:10 p.m.
Tuesday June 9
Peru vs Spain – Merino, Raya, Zubimendi
Cuauhtémoc Stadium, Puebla, Mexico, 3 am
Wednesday June 10
England v Costa Rica – Eze, Madueke, Saka, Rice
Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, 9:00 p.m.
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