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With club soccer wrapping up across most of the world's top leagues, the 2026 World Cup is now just weeks away from getting underway.
Fear not, soccer fans—there's no need to go without the sport you love in the interim.
There's still a wealth of international football to enjoy, as countries around the world play pre-tournament friendlies to sharpen their preparations ahead of the big event.
Here are our top picks for the games you shouldn't miss.
World Cup 2026 Friendlies: Biggest & Best Games
While nearly every World Cup-bound nation will be in action over the coming fortnight—each playing one or two warm-up games before the tournament begins—a select number of fixtures stand out, featuring some of the planet's most powerful soccer nations.
Kicking things off is a mouth-watering encounter between Croatia and Belgium on June 2. Both sides are going through transitional phases, with key figures from their peak eras either having retired, approaching the end of their careers, or being replaced by younger talent. This makes it a compelling look at how each team might perform this summer in North America.
Two days later, France takes on Ivory Coast, pitting one of the tournament's frontrunners against a side many believe is capable of causing a major upset.
The weekend is when the action truly ignites. On Saturday, June 6, Portugal clashes with Chile, the United States hosts Germany, England takes on New Zealand, and Brazil faces Egypt—all games promising plenty of excitement and tactical intrigue.
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On Sunday, defending world champions Argentina—with Lionel Messi gearing up for a record-equalling sixth World Cup—take on Honduras. Yet Morocco vs. Norway may well be the most compelling fixture of the weekend.
Africa's titleholders—though crowned in contentious circumstances—against the team widely tipped as this summer's dark horse. Achraf Hakimi versus Erling Haaland. Alexander Sørloth versus Ismael Saibari. Oscar Bobb versus Ayyoub Bouaddi. Brahim Díaz versus Martin Ødegaard. (We couldn't quite make that last one rhyme, apologies.)
It's a fixture brimming with intriguing individual duels—and one that could reveal a great deal about two sides with ambitions of going far at the World Cup.
There's more to look forward to the following week as well.
Notable fixtures include DR Congo—one of the tournament's first-time participants—facing Chile, Argentina taking on Iceland, Portugal squaring off against Nigeria, and England meeting Costa Rica.
World Cup 2026 Friendlies Schedule
Match | Date | Venue | Kickoff Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
Croatia vs. Belgium | Tuesday, June 2 | Stadion HNK Rijeka, Croatia | 12 p.m. |
Netherlands vs. Algeria | Wednesday, June 3 | De Kuip, Netherlands | 2:45 p.m. |
Spain vs. Iraq | Thursday, June 4 | Estadio de Riazor, Spain | 3 p.m. |
France vs. Ivory Coast | Thursday, June 4 | Stade de la Beaujoire, France | 3:10 p.m. |
Portugal vs. Chile | Saturday, June 6 | Estádio do Jamor, Portgual | 1:45 p.m. |
United States vs. Germany | Saturday, June 6 | Soldier Field, USA | 2:30 p.m. |
England vs. New Zealand | Saturday, June 6 | Raymond James Stadium, USA | 4 p.m. |
Brazil vs. Egypt | Saturday, June 6 | Huntington Bank Field, USA | 7 p.m. |
Argentina vs. Honduras | Sunday, June 7 | Kyle Field, USA | 8 p.m. |
Greece vs. Italy | Sunday, June 7 | Pankritio Stadium, Greece | 3 p.m. |
Morocco vs. Norway | Sunday, June 7 | Red Bull Arena, USA | 3 p.m. |
France vs. Northern Ireland | Monday, June 8 | Decathlon Arena, France | 3:10 p.m. |
DR Congo vs. Chile | Tuesday, June 9 | Municipal de La Línea de la Concepción, Spain | 10 a.m. |
Saudi Arabia vs. Senegal | Tuesday, June 9 | Toyota Field, USA | 7 p.m. |
Argentina vs. Iceland | Tuesday, June 9 | TBC | 9 p.m. |
Portugal vs. Nigeria | Wednesday, June 10 | Estádio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa, Portugal | 3:45 p.m. |
England vs. Costa Rica | Wednesday, June 10 | Inter&Co Stadium, USA | 4 p.m. |
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Barnaby Lane is a seasoned sports journalist whose work has appeared in The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of sitting down with some of the most prominent figures in global sport, among them Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and many others.