FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G brings together England, Serbia, Senegal and Iran for a three-match round-robin between June 15 and June 26, 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 G teams: England, Serbia, Senegal, Iran.
- Projected winner: England; runner-up: Serbia.
- Matchday 1: June 15, 2026. Matchday 3 (simultaneous final round): June 26, 2026.
- Matches staged across: Kansas City / Atlanta / NY/NJ.
- Top two qualify automatically; third place is in play via the best-third-place rule.
Contents
The four teams in Group G
England
Manager: Thomas Tuchel. Key players: Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Harry Kane. Confederation: UEFA.
1966 winners. Lost the 2024 Euro final to Spain. A bookmaker title favourite, England should win this group comfortably barring early-tournament upset.
See full England squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Serbia
Manager: Dragan Stojkovic. Key players: Dusan Vlahovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Aleksandar Mitrovic. Confederation: UEFA.
As Yugoslavia, semi-finalists in 1930, 1962. As Serbia, never past groups. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Serbia squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Senegal
Manager: Aliou Cisse. Key players: Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy. Confederation: CAF.
2002 quarter-finalists. 2022 Round of 16. Dangerous middle-tier side capable of taking points from any opponent on its day.
See full Senegal squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Iran
Manager: Amir Ghalenoei. Key players: Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun, Alireza Jahanbakhsh. Confederation: AFC.
Six appearances. Never past groups. Outsiders for advancement but with a real chance via the best-third-place rule.
See full Iran squad analysis for tactical breakdown and player profiles.
Group G 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 15) | England vs Iran | Serbia vs Senegal |
| MD2 | England vs Senegal | Serbia vs Iran |
| MD3 (June 26) | England vs Serbia | Senegal vs Iran |
Full kickoff times and venue assignments are on our World Cup 2026 schedule page.
Group G prediction
Our pre-tournament model rates England as the most likely group winner, with Serbia as runner-up. Senegal is the most plausible third-placed candidate with a path through the best-third-place bracket; Iran enters as a clear outsider.
The decisive matchup: England vs Serbia 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 G?
Group G contains England, Serbia, Senegal, Iran. The grouping is from the FIFA Final Draw held on December 5, 2025 in Las Vegas.
When does Group G play?
Group G fixtures run from June 15 to June 26, 2026 across three matchdays. Matchday 3 plays simultaneously to prevent collusion.
Who is favourite to win Group G?
England enters as Futbolzen’s projected group winner, ahead of Serbia. Tier 1 title contender pedigree gives them the clearest path to first.
Where do Group G matches take place?
Group G matches are spread across: Kansas City / Atlanta / NY/NJ. For city-by-city details see our host cities hub.
How do third-placed teams advance from Group G?
The 48-team format takes the best eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups into the Round of 32. Group G’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.