FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C brings together Argentina, Switzerland, Morocco and Australia for a three-match round-robin between June 13 and June 25, 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 C teams: Argentina, Switzerland, Morocco, Australia.
- Projected winner: Argentina; runner-up: Switzerland.
- Matchday 1: June 13, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 25, 2026.
- Matches staged across: USA venues.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group C
Argentina
Manager: Lionel Scaloni. Key players: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez. Confederation: CONMEBOL.
Three-time champions (1978, 1986, 2022). Reigning World Cup holders. A bookmaker title favourite, Argentina should win this group comfortably barring early-tournament upset.
See full Argentina squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Switzerland
Manager: Murat Yakin. Key players: Granit Xhaka, Manuel Akanji, Breel Embolo. Confederation: UEFA.
Quarter-finalist in 1934 and 1938 only. Round of 16 in 2018, 2022. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Switzerland squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Morocco
Manager: Walid Regragui. Key players: Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou, Hakim Ziyech. Confederation: CAF.
2022 semi-finalists – first African nation to reach last four. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Morocco squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Australia
Manager: Tony Popovic. Key players: Mathew Ryan, Mitchell Duke, Aaron Mooy. Confederation: AFC.
Round of 16 in 2006 and 2022. Six appearances overall. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Australia squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group C 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 13) | Argentina vs Australia | Switzerland vs Morocco |
| MD2 | Argentina vs Morocco | Switzerland vs Australia |
| MD3 (June 25) | Argentina vs Switzerland | Morocco vs Australia |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group C prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates Argentina as the most likely group winner, with Switzerland as runner-up. Morocco is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; Australia enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: Argentina vs Switzerland 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 C?
Group C contains Argentina, Switzerland, Morocco, Australia. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group C play?
Group C fixtures run from June 13 to June 25, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group C?
Argentina enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Switzerland. Tier 1 title contender pedigree gives them the clearest path to first.
Where do Group C matches take place?
Group C matches are spread across: USA venues. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group C?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group C’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.