Previews

Portugal open their Group K campaign against Congo DR at NRG Stadium in Houston on Wednesday evening, in what is a monumental occasion for the central Africans, who are making their first World Cup appearance and will be determined to make history. For Portugal, this represents an opportunity to begin …

Group J’s second opening fixture takes place in the early hours of Wednesday morning at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, with Austria and Jordan meeting just a few hours after Argentina and Algeria clashed in Kansas City. With the reigning world champions in the same group, both sides know that …

The reigning world champions open their Group J campaign in the early hours of Wednesday morning as Argentina face Algeria at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. With Austria and Jordan the other two sides in the group, all eyes will be on whether Messi and his teammates …

Group I’s second fixture of the evening takes place late on Tuesday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, as Iraq face Norway while France and Senegal have already played earlier in the day. Both sides know that a result here will be crucial to their Group I prospects, with the …

One of the most eagerly anticipated Group I fixtures takes place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Tuesday evening as France face Senegal. Two nations with deep cultural ties and a shared recent history of World Cup encounters collide in what promises to be one of the matches of …

Group G’s second fixture of matchday one takes place in the early hours of Tuesday morning at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, as Iran face New Zealand following the earlier Belgium vs Egypt clash. Both sides will see this as a genuine opportunity to pick up points early, with Iran …

Group H’s second fixture of the day takes place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami late on Monday night as Saudi Arabia face Uruguay, with Spain having already taken on Cape Verde earlier in the day. For Saudi Arabia, a difficult pre-tournament run makes this a daunting assignment, while Uruguay …

Group G’s opening fixture takes place at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday evening as Belgium face Egypt, with Iran and New Zealand the other two sides in a group that looks finely balanced on paper but where Monday’s result could set an early tone. Belgium arrive at this World …

Group H gets underway at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday afternoon as Spain face Cape Verde in what is a hugely significant occasion for the islanders, who are appearing at a World Cup for the first time in their history. For Spain, among the favourites to go deep …

Group F’s second opening fixture gets underway in the early hours of Monday morning at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey as Sweden and Tunisia square off in a match that could be crucial in determining who battles it out with the Netherlands and Japan for the knockout spots. Sweden arrive …