Germany, Belgium, and Croatia are set to compete in Canada during the group stage matches of the upcoming FIFA World Cup. The full schedule for the extensive 48-team, 104-game tournament was disclosed in Washington D.C. on Saturday.
Canada will host a total of 13 matches, with seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto, including three knockout stage games. Notable matches in Toronto will include Ghana versus Panama, Germany against Ivory Coast, Panama facing Croatia, and Senegal playing against a playoff winner.
In Vancouver, matches will feature Australia against a European playoff winner and New Zealand against Egypt and Belgium. Fans in Canada may have the chance to witness renowned players such as Mo Salah from Egypt, Luka Modric from Croatia, and Joshua Kimmich from Germany in action.
Toronto’s schedule includes hosting a European playoff team, Italy, followed by matches against Qatar and Switzerland. If the Canadian team secures the top spot in their group, they will continue playing in Vancouver for subsequent rounds. However, if they finish as runners-up, they will face the second-placed team from Mexico’s Group A.
The allocation of matches was influenced by stadium capacities, with larger venues hosting marquee teams. Notably, Toronto’s BMO Field and B.C. Place Stadium cannot match the capacity of massive NFL stadiums.
Top-ranked Spain will begin their Group H games in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium before moving to Guadalajara, Mexico. Defending champions Argentina will start in Kansas City and proceed to play in Arlington, Texas. France will kick off their campaign at MetLife Stadium against Senegal and continue at Lincoln Financial Field and Gillette Stadium. England, Brazil, and other top teams also have their matches scheduled in prominent stadiums across different cities.
Overall, the FIFA World Cup promises an exciting lineup of matches with top nations competing across various venues in Canada and the USA.
