FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B brings together Canada, Croatia, Algeria and Iraq for a three-match round-robin between June 12 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 B teams: Canada, Croatia, Algeria, Iraq.
- Projected winner: Canada; runner-up: Croatia.
- Matchday 1: June 12, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 24, 2026.
- Matches staged across: Toronto / Vancouver.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group B
Canada
Manager: Jesse Marsch. Key players: Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin. Confederation: CONCACAF.
Two previous appearances (1986, 2022). First as co-host. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Canada squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Croatia
Manager: Zlatko Dalic. Key players: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Joško Gvardiol. Confederation: UEFA.
2018 runners-up, 2022 third-place finish. Modric era closing. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Croatia squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Algeria
Manager: Vladimir Petkovic. Key players: Riyad Mahrez, Ismael Bennacer, Houssem Aouar. Confederation: CAF.
2014 Round of 16 best result. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Algeria squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Iraq
Manager: Jesus Casas. Key players: Aymen Hussein, Mohanad Ali, Ali Al-Hamadi. Confederation: AFC.
1986 – the only previous World Cup appearance. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Iraq squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group B 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 12) | Canada vs Iraq | Croatia vs Algeria |
| MD2 | Canada vs Algeria | Croatia vs Iraq |
| MD3 (June 24) | Canada vs Croatia | Algeria vs Iraq |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group B prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates Canada as the most likely group winner, with Croatia as runner-up. Algeria is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; Iraq enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: Canada vs Croatia 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 B?
Group B contains Canada, Croatia, Algeria, Iraq. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group B play?
Group B fixtures run from June 12 to June 24, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group B?
Canada enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Croatia. Group is competitive but Canada has the strongest squad profile.
Where do Group B matches take place?
Group B matches are spread across: Toronto / Vancouver. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group B?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group B’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.