The FIFA World Cup 2026 is getting even more thrilling as the teams gear up for the last group stage matches. Countries are fighting for key points to improve their chances of advancing to the next round. The final batch of group matches is expected to unleash the teams’ true fighting spirit. With high stakes and crucial performances, teams will fight to the last breath of the game to stay in the tournament. Take a look at the schedule for the upcoming matches, expected lineups, and winning picks.
FIFA Upcoming Schedules
Group L: Panama vs England
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 05:00 PM ET | 02:00 PM PT | 02:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford
Group L: Croatia vs Ghana
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 05:00 PM ET | 02:00 PM PT | 02:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
Group K: Colombia vs Portugal
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 07:30 PM ET | 04:30 PM PT | 05:00 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens.
Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 07:30 PM ET | 04:30 PM PT | 05:00 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta
Group J: Algeria vs Austria
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 10:00 PM ET | 07:00 PM PT | 07:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Kansas City Stadium, Kansas City
Group J: Jordan vs Argentina
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 10:00 PM ET | 07:00 PM PT | 07:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington
FIFA Group Stage Expected Lineups and Predictions
Group L: Panama vs England
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 05:00 PM ET | 02:00 PM PT | 02:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: New York New Jersey Stadiurn, East Rutherford
Panama Expected FIFA Lineup (5-4-1 or 4-5-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Orlando Mosquera |
| Defenders | César Blackman, José Córdoba, Andrés Andrade, Jiovany Ramos, Michael Amir Murillo |
| Midfielders | Yoel Bárcenas, Cristian Martínez, Carlos Harvey, José Luis Rodríguez |
| Forward | Ismael Díaz (or Cecilio Waterman) |
England Expected FIFA Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Jordan Pickford |
| Defenders | Kyle Walker, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Kieran Trippier |
| Midfielders | Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold (or Jude Bellingham) |
| Attackers | Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish |
| Forward | Harry Kane |
Prediction:
England is heavily favored in this match against Panama. This is because of their strong standing and consistent play in the tournament. England currently leads Group L, showing their dominance in the group. Furthermore, the team has been performing well lately, having one win and a draw in their last two matches. Thus, they remain unbeaten and full of confidence as they head into this game.
Meanwhile, Panama has been down throughout the tournament. Two straight defeats in the previous two matches showed their bad run and the lack of rhythm. They have also been too weak on defense to prevent goals and have struggled to score against teams with more talent.
Given the impressive squad depth in the group by England, they are more likely to take control of the game. Panama might try to defend, yet it would still be very challenging for them to cope with England’s offensive side. In the end, it is very plausible that England will secure a comfortable victory.
The pick: England
Group L: Croatia vs Ghana
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 05:00 PM ET | 02:00 PM PT | 02:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia
Croatia Expected FIFA Lineup (3-4-2-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Dominik Livaković |
| Defenders | Josip Šutalo, Luka Vušković, Joško Gvardiol |
| Midfielders | Josip Stanišić, Mateo Kovačić, Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić |
| Forwards | Andrej Kramarić, Mario Pašalić |
| Striker | Ante Budimir |
Ghana Expected FIFA Lineup (4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Lawrence Ati-Zigi |
| Defenders | Alidu Seidu, Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku, Gideon Mensah |
| Midfielders | Thomas Partey, Edmund Addo, Elisha Owusu |
| Forwards | Antoine Semenyo, Jordan Ayew, Iñaki Williams |
Prediction:
A Group L clash between Croatia and Ghana is viewed as a very tight game. Both teams are still in the race for the 2nd and 3rd positions in the group standings. This makes the outcome of the match highly significant for qualification prospects. Neither team has displayed fully consistent form so far, making this match more unpredictable.
Ghana is coming into this match with slightly more momentum. They’ve been able to secure one victory and draw another match, thus climbing to the 2nd position in Group L. Their confidence will be at a higher level, especially after winning the previous match.
As for Croatia, they have had mixed performances with one win and one loss in their recent games. Even though they are a difficult team with experienced players, their inconsistency makes it hard for them to outplay their opponents.
Overall, this game could change the group standings depending on the result. It will be a close fight, with Ghana having an upper hand in this match.
The pick: Ghana
Group K: Colombia vs Portugal
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 07:30 PM ET | 04:30 PM PT | 05:00 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Miami Stadium, Miami Gardens.
Colombia Expected FIFA Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Camilo Vargas |
| Defenders | Daniel Muñoz, Davinson Sánchez, Jhon Lucumí, Johan Mojica |
| Defensive Midfielders | Jefferson Lerma, Richard Ríos |
| Attacking Midfielders | Jhon Arias, James Rodríguez (C), Luis Díaz |
| Forward | Jhon Córdoba |
Portugal Expected FIFA Lineup (4-3-3)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Diogo Costa |
| Defenders | João Cancelo (or Diogo Dalot), Rúben Dias, Renato Veiga (or Gonçalo Inácio), Nuno Mendes |
| Midfielders | Vitinha, Rúben Neves (or João Neves), Bruno Fernandes |
| Attackers | Bernardo Silva, Cristiano Ronaldo (C), Rafael Leão |
Prediction:
This Group K clash between Colombia and Portugal is expected to be one of the thrilling matches of the group stage. It is indeed a game capable of influencing a significant change in the standings after this round.
Colombia entered this fixture with two consecutive victories in their recent games. Their last game was a close 1-0 win, which showcased their defensive strength and their ability to handle tight games. They can turn around the few chances that come their way, making them a really hard team to beat.
Portugal, however, has managed to get one draw and one win in their last two matches. The most impressive result was a dominant 5-0 win, which showcased their potent attacking power and their solid defensive stability.
As both teams are fighting to top the standings, this matchup will be decisive. Overall, the result of this game is expected to be Portugal’s favorite. Even though they are standing below Colombia, considering their scoring ability, Portugal is likely to dominate this matchup.
The pick: Portugal
Group J: Jordan vs Argentina
Date: 27 June 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 10:00 PM ET | 07:00 PM PT | 07:30 AM IST (Next day)
Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington
Jordan Expected FIFA Lineup (3-4-2-1)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Yazeed Abulaila |
| Defenders | Abdallah Nasib, Yazan Al-Arab, Salem Al-Ajalin |
| Midfielders | Ehsan Haddad, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Mahmoud Al-Mardi |
| Attacking Midfielders | Mousa Al-Tamari, Ali Olwan |
| Striker | Yazan Al-Naimat |
Argentina Expected FIFA Lineup (4-3-3)
| Position | Players |
| Goalkeeper | Emiliano Martínez (or Gerónimo Rulli) |
| Defenders | Gonzalo Montiel, Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Acuña |
| Midfielders | Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso |
| Forwards | Alejandro Garnacho, Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Correa (or Julián Álvarez) |
Prediction:
Argentina is already into the Round of 32, whereas Jordan is in a risky position after their two recent defeats. Jordan is showing poor coordination and a lack of momentum in the group stage. Jordan also struggled defensively in their World Cup debut, coming under pressure for extended periods.
Argentina might decide to give some of its players a rest after their qualification for the knockout stages. But still, their overall squad depth remains much better. Players like Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez will provide great attacking, which will be tough for Jordan to handle.
In addition, Argentina has been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament and easily takes control of games. Jordan, on the other hand, has struggled to match the top-ranked teams and has shown some flaws at the back.
All in all, this game is likely to be very one-sided, and Argentina will obviously win this match easily.
The pick: Argentina
Wrap-Up
The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage matches are taking place, marking a major turning point. Groups J, K, and L are about to finish their group-stage games, with each result influencing qualification and final standings. This stage is the last chance for teams to secure their place in the next round.
As the group stage wraps up, the tournament heads to the knockout phase, the Round of 32. This is where the intensity of the matches goes up a notch, and each game becomes a do-or-die encounter. From this point onwards, there are no second chances, so performances will be even more important. Keep an eye out for more match predictions as the FIFA World Cup 2026 is still happening.
You may also like
Bundesliga 2025–26 on Matchday 18 and Past Challengers
UEFA Europa League 2025-26 Season – Matchday 8: Preview and Predictions
Bundesliga 2025-26 – Matchday 24 Odds and Predictions
Serie A Matchday 29 – Football Odds & Predictions and Stats
Ligue 1 2025-26: Matchday 29 and Previews
Serie A 2025-26: Matchday 34 Previews and Odds
