Daily viewing guide

The Azteca becomes the first stadium to host three World Cup openers (1970, 1986, 2026). Altitude (~2,250m) favors Mexico over a sea-level South Africa side; notably Mexico have never beaten South Africa, the sides' last meeting a 1-1 draw to open the 2010 World Cup.

Coach Jesse Marsch confirmed Alphonso Davies, recovering from a May 6 hamstring injury, will miss Canada's opener against Bosnia, though he is expected back later in the tournament. His absence robs Canada of their most dynamic attacker for the home opener.

Four years after becoming the first host nation to lose all three group games, Qatar return under Julen Lopetegui seeking redemption, opening against a Switzerland side ranked far above them. The piece questions whether Qatar have addressed their 2022 shortcomings.

Turkey arrive with arguably the most exciting young attack in the group, led by Real Madrid's Arda Guler and Juventus' Kenan Yildiz. Australia under Tony Popovic rely on defensive organisation, set-pieces and counter-attacks to frustrate technically superior sides.

Coach Luis de la Fuente said Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are on track to be available for Spain's opener against Cape Verde, though Yamal's minutes may be managed after his hamstring injury.

France enter as second favourites to win the World Cup (13.0%) but face a tough Group I; Mbappe needs one goal to equal Just Fontaine as France's all-time top World Cup scorer.

Profiles Jordan's first-ever World Cup, qualifying as runners-up in their AFC group; the Austria opener is flagged as their most winnable group match with Mousa Al-Tamari the key threat.

Czechia, who survived back-to-back playoff penalty shootouts to qualify, are favored over a South Africa side that topped a CAF group ahead of Nigeria; the storyline pits Czechia's European-league attacking quality and Schick's finishing against Bafana Bafana's discipline and keeper Ronwen Williams' shootout pedigree.

USA are favourites to top Group D (32.4%) and look to Christian Pulisic, who was involved in all three of their goals at the 2022 World Cup. Australia are the group's most experienced but lowest-rated side, having lost their opening match in five of six previous World Cups.

Group F preview profiling Netherlands (No. 7, three-time finalists led by Van Dijk, Gakpo, Reijnders) and Sweden (No. 38, first World Cup since 2018, powered by strike pair Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak).

Japan's attacking, back-three system under Moriyasu and their qualifying goal output make them favourites against Tunisia, who reached the World Cup conceding zero goals in CAF qualifying and rely on a deep, organised block.

Frames Argentina vs Austria as a clash between the reigning champions and the group's second favorites; Austria's Rangnick reached the Euro 2024 round of 16 and hopes to repeat with Sabitzer and Arnautovic.

Ronaldo, in what he has said will be his final World Cup, looks to seal Portugal's progress against tournament debutants Uzbekistan in Houston.

Group B is widely expected to come down to this Matchday 3 meeting at BC Place in Vancouver, with Canada chasing a first-ever World Cup knockout berth against the more experienced Swiss.

Curacao close their debut World Cup against Ivory Coast in Philadelphia on June 25, a matchday-three clash that could decide third place and Curacao's longshot top-eight third-place qualification math under the 48-team format.

France vs Norway puts Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland on the same pitch for the first time at a World Cup, in a fixture billed as the standout group-stage match and a likely group decider.

Notes Panama's only prior World Cup appearance (2018) came in a group with England, who won 6-1; England enter as 30.4% favourites to reach the last four and heavy favourites in this final group match.