If you spent June and July glued to your TV screen shouting at Harry Kane or wincing every time Scotland conceded, you’ll know the 2026 World Cup delivered one of the most dramatic tournaments in recent memory for UK football fans. Whether you’re looking back to relive the run or you missed a game and want the full picture, this guide pulls together every fixture, kick-off time, venue, and result for both England and Scotland at the FIFA World Cup 2026 — plus where you could watch it all live in the UK.
The tournament ran from 11 June to 19 July 2026, hosted jointly across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, with a record 104 matches played. For England fans, it turned into a genuine title charge under Thomas Tuchel. For Scotland, back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, it was a proud but ultimately short-lived group stage campaign. Here’s the full England World Cup 2026 schedule and every step of Scotland’s journey, broken down match by match.
England’s World Cup 2026 Group
England were drawn into Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, with all three group games played inside two weeks in mid-to-late June. Here’s how the England World Cup group played out.
England’s Group Stage Fixtures and Results
England opened their campaign against Croatia on 17 June at Dallas Stadium, and it was an electric start — Harry Kane scored twice as England won 4-2, a result that immediately set the tone for the group. The match was shown live on ITV1 for anyone watching the World Cup UK broadcast.
Next came a tougher test against Ghana on 23 June at Boston Stadium, broadcast on BBC One. It finished goalless, extending an odd pattern of England drawing 0-0 with Ghana in a first-ever competitive meeting between the sides.
England closed out Group L against Panama on 27 June at New York/New Jersey Stadium, winning 2-0 in a game that carried extra significance: Kane’s goal saw him overtake Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer. That result was enough to top Group L with seven points, with Croatia advancing as runners-up and Ghana squeezing through as one of the best third-placed teams. Panama, by contrast, went out without scoring a single goal in the group.
England’s Knockout Run
Topping the group set England up for a Round of 32 tie against DR Congo at Atlanta Stadium on 1 July, which they won 2-1. From there, things got even more dramatic. In the Round of 16, England faced Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca and came through a genuine classic 3-2, despite being reduced to ten men — a result many England fans still talk about.
The quarter-final brought a heavyweight clash with Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami, which England edged 2-1 with a late kick-off that kept UK viewers up well past 10pm. That set up a semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta, which England narrowly lost 1-2, ending the dream of a first World Cup final since 1966. England did, however, finish the tournament on a high, beating France in the third-place play-off in Miami on 18 July to secure bronze.
Scotland’s World Cup 2026 Fixtures
Scotland’s return to the World Cup stage after nearly three decades away was one of the feel-good stories of qualifying, and the Tartan Army travelled in huge numbers once the Scotland World Cup fixtures were confirmed. Steve Clarke’s side, captained by Andy Robertson, were drawn into a genuinely tough Group C alongside Haiti, Morocco, and Brazil.
Scotland’s Group Stage Fixtures and Results
Scotland’s tournament began promisingly with a narrow 1-0 win over Haiti on 14 June in Boston, a result that gave real hope of progressing from the group. That optimism was tempered five days later when Scotland lost 1-0 to Morocco, also in Boston, on 19 June.
The final group game against Brazil in Miami on 24 June proved decisive, and not in Scotland’s favour — a 3-0 defeat left them third in the group, missing out on qualification for the Round of 32 on goal difference. It was a familiar, painful pattern for Scottish fans, echoing near-misses from 1974, 1978, and 1982, when Scotland also went out agonisingly close to progressing.
Despite the early exit, the tournament was widely seen as a success for Scottish football simply for getting back on the biggest stage, with players like John McGinn, Robertson, and Scott McTominay earning praise for their performances against tough opposition.
How UK Fans Could Watch Every Match
For anyone wanting to watch World Cup UK coverage, rights were split between the BBC and ITV. England’s opener against Croatia and their final group game against Panama were shown on ITV1, while the Ghana match aired on BBC One. In the knockout stages, the BBC carried England’s Round of 32 win over DR Congo and their Round of 16 victory over Mexico, while ITV picked up the quarter-final against Norway. Both broadcasters shared coverage of the semi-final, third-place play-off, and final. Scotland’s group games were broadcast on BBC platforms, including BBC One Scotland and BBC iPlayer, making it straightforward for fans north of the border to follow every kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
What group was England in at the 2026 World Cup?
England were drawn in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, and finished top of the group with seven points before reaching the semi-finals.
Did Scotland qualify from their World Cup 2026 group?
No. Scotland finished third in Group C behind Brazil and Morocco, missing out on the knockout stages on goal difference despite beating Haiti in their opening match.
How far did England get in the 2026 World Cup?
England reached the semi-finals, where they lost 2-1 to Argentina, before beating France in the third-place play-off to finish the tournament in bronze medal position.
Where could UK fans watch the World Cup 2026 matches?
Coverage was split between BBC and ITV, with both broadcasters showing England’s group and knockout matches, while Scotland’s group stage games were carried on BBC channels and BBC iPlayer.
Final Whistle
The 2026 World Cup schedule gave UK fans plenty to shout about, even if the two nations ended up on very different paths. England pushed all the way to a semi-final and a bronze medal finish, while Scotland savoured a long-awaited return to the tournament before bowing out at the group stage. Between the two campaigns, it’s easy to see why this World Cup will be remembered as one of the more emotional tournaments for British football fans in years.
