Exciting Soccer Matches Scheduled for MetLife Stadium in 2026 World Cup
Soccer enthusiasts in the area are in for a treat with some thrilling group stage matches set to take place at MetLife Stadium during the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA released the match schedule on Saturday, just a day after finalizing the 12 groups of four teams. Fans can look forward to seeing some heavyweight teams like Brazil, France, Germany, and England—basically, the top 10 in the rankings—alongside two more formidable teams in the top 20, competing in East Rutherford next June.
Meanwhile, Team USA will hold all three of its group stage games out on the West Coast. They’ll kick off against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12th, then take on Australia in Seattle on June 19th. They’ll wrap things up back in Los Angeles on June 25th against a yet-to-be-determined UEFA qualifier.
On top of that, MetLife will also be hosting the Round of 32 matches on June 30th, the Round of 16 matches on July 5th, and culminate with the World Cup Championship on July 19th.
Here’s a quick look at some key first-round games that will play out at MetLife:
June 13, Brazil vs. Morocco, 6 p.m.
One of the standout early matches features Brazil, five-time champions and currently ranked fifth, going head-to-head with Morocco, ranked 11th. Brazil had an impressive run to the semi-finals in Qatar in 2022 and will also play against Haiti and Scotland in Philadelphia and Miami, respectively.
June 16, Senegal vs. France, 3 p.m.
Senegal, sitting at 19th place, will make its mark by playing two group stage matches in New Jersey, starting with a clash against third-ranked France and their star player, Kylian Mbappé, in Group H.
June 22, Norway vs. Senegal, 8 p.m.
Former Liverpool and Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane, now with Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasr, will lead Senegal against Norway, currently ranked 29th and featuring prolific striker Erling Haaland in Group I.
June 25, Germany vs. Ecuador, 4 p.m.
Ecuador, ranked 23rd, will look to cause an upset against ninth-placed Germany, a team that hasn’t progressed beyond the group stage in the last two World Cups despite being the 2014 champions in Brazil.
June 27, England vs. Panama, 5 p.m.
Finally, England, led by star forward Harry Kane, will take on Panama, ranked 30th in the world. England hasn’t reached the semi-finals since their triumphant run in 1966, where they won all their matches. They had a disappointing exit against France in the quarter-finals in 2022 and now face a challenging road in Group L, which also includes Croatia and Ghana.
