FIFA World Cup 2026 Group A brings together Mexico, Norway, Tunisia and New Zealand for a three-match round-robin between June 11 and June 24, 2026. The top two advance directly to the Round of 32; the third-placed side has a chance via the best-third-place bracket.
Key Takeaways
- Group A teams: Mexico, Norway, Tunisia, New Zealand.
- Projected winner: Mexico; runner-up: Norway.
- Matchday 1: June 11, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 24, 2026.
- Matches staged across: Mexico City / Guadalajara / Monterrey.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group A
Mexico
Manager: Javier Aguirre. Key players: Edson Alvarez, Hirving Lozano, Luis Romo. Confederation: CONCACAF.
Seventeen appearances. Best: 1970 and 1986 quarter-finals (hosts). Strong squad with knockout pedigree – expects to finish in the top two.
See full Mexico squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Norway
Manager: Stale Solbakken. Key players: Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Alexander Sorloth. Confederation: UEFA.
1998 third round. First World Cup since 1998. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Norway squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Tunisia
Manager: Faouzi Benzarti. Key players: Wahbi Khazri, Hannibal Mejbri, Aissa Laidouni. Confederation: CAF.
Never advanced past group stage in five appearances. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Tunisia squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
New Zealand
Manager: Darren Bazeley. Key players: Chris Wood, Liberato Cacace, Marko Stamenic. Confederation: OFC.
Three previous World Cups. 2010 best (unbeaten in groups but eliminated). Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full New Zealand squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group A fixture schedule
Each team plays three matches across three matchdays. Matchday 3 fixtures kick off simultaneously to prevent collusion.
| Matchday | Fixture 1 | Fixture 2 |
|---|---|---|
| MD1 (June 11) | Mexico vs New Zealand | Norway vs Tunisia |
| MD2 | Mexico vs Tunisia | Norway vs New Zealand |
| MD3 (June 24) | Mexico vs Norway | Tunisia vs New Zealand |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group A prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates Mexico as the most likely group winner, with Norway as runner-up. Tunisia is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; New Zealand enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: Mexico vs Norway on Matchday 3 likely decides top spot, with first place rewarded by a theoretically easier Round of 32 tie against a third-placed qualifier. For our running tournament projections, see the predictions hub.
Frequently asked questions
Which teams are in World Cup 2026 Group A?
Group A contains Mexico, Norway, Tunisia, New Zealand. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group A play?
Group A fixtures run from June 11 to June 24, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group A?
Mexico enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Norway. Group is competitive but Mexico has the strongest squad profile.
Where do Group A matches take place?
Group A matches are spread across: Mexico City / Guadalajara / Monterrey. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group A?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group A’s third-place finisher is in play, but goal difference and goals scored against the top three become the tiebreaker.
What’s next?
- Full schedule with kickoff times
- All 48 teams – squad analyses
- Predictions hub – tournament forecasts
- Host cities – venue and travel guides
- Latest news – daily updates
Last updated: May 23, 2026 by the Futbolzen editorial team. Tell us if you spot something out of date via our Corrections Policy.