American Marconi Wireless News - England kick off World Cup bid in Dallas as 2026 schedule confirmed

The complex nature of the first-ever 48-team World Cup being played all across North America meant that world football's governing body needed an extra day to set venues and kick-off times following Friday's draw.

Thomas Tuchel's England, who are fourth in the current world ranking, will play Croatia at 3:00 pm local time at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, just outside Dallas.

They will therefore be grateful for the stadium's retractable roof which should help keep out the baking afternoon temperatures.

England will then go to the northeastern United States for their remaining Group L fixtures, taking on Ghana in Boston on June 23 at 4:00 pm local time, and then facing Panama at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on June 27 at 5:00 pm.

European champions Spain will play their first two Group H fixtures, against debutants Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, in the covered and air-conditioned Atlanta stadium.

They will then head to Mexico to take on Uruguay in Guadalajara.

Holders Argentina, meanwhile, will meet Algeria in Kansas City in their opening match in Group J on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan in Dallas.

France, winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, will play all three Group I matches in the northeastern US, facing Senegal at the MetLife Stadium and Norway in Boston, either side of a fixture in Philadelphia against an intercontinental play-off winner.

Brazil, who won the last World Cup staged in the United States in 1994, will meet Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in their first Group C encounter on June 13.

Carlo Ancelotti's team then meet Haiti in Philadelphia on June 19 before a clash with Scotland in Miami on June 24 -- it will be the fifth time the countries have faced off at a World Cup.

Other games to look out for include the meeting of Germany and Caribbean minnows Curacao in Houston in Group E on June 14.

Co-hosts Mexico will play South Africa in the opening match -- a repeat of the opening game at the 2010 World Cup -- at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.

The final at the MetLife Stadium on July 19 will kick off at 3:00 PM (1900 GMT).

A.Malone--AMWN