Sri Lanka, June 12 -- The FIFA World Cup group stage is where World Cups are won and lost long before anyone lifts the trophy. Reputations are forged in the opening minutes of a tournament, and a single misplaced pass in a dead rubber can be the difference between a nation going home and advancing to the knockout rounds.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July, with a record 48 nations competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time in the tournament's history, the field is split into 12 groups of four, and the road to the final at New York New Jersey Stadium begins here.

Teams earn three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. Goal difference and goals scored remain the tiebreak...