2026 FIFA World Cup Group F
Mbappé leads France's push for a third star. Japan continue their R16 streak, while AFCON 2023 champions Ivory Coast return to the World Cup stage.
Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Group F brings together 4 sides from UEFA, AFC, CAF, CONCACAF: France (FIFA #2), Japan (FIFA #15), Ivory Coast (FIFA #39), Costa Rica (FIFA #48). The average FIFA Ranking in the group is #26, with France the highest-ranked side and Costa Rica the lowest. Between them, the four teams have 35 previous World Cup appearances and include 1 former champion (France).
Group play opens on Saturday, June 13 with France vs Japan at NRG Stadium, and concludes on Friday, June 26 with France vs Costa Rica. All six group fixtures are played in a round-robin format — each team faces the other three exactly once.
Group F team comparison
FIFA Ranking, confederation, pedigree, and pre-tournament form for all four sides in Group F.
| Team | FIFA | Confed. | WC apps |
|---|---|---|---|
| France Les Bleus | #2 | UEFA | 17 |
| Japan Samurai Blue | #15 | AFC | 8 |
| Ivory Coast Les Éléphants | #39 | CAF | 4 |
| Costa Rica Los Ticos | #48 | CONCACAF | 6 |
Group F simulator
Predict all six group fixtures and see who advances. Pure client-side - no data leaves your browser.
Predict scores
Standings
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Costa Rica | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Ivory Coast | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Japan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Top 2 (highlighted) qualify for the Round of 32. Pure client-side simulation — your picks aren't saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which teams are in Group F at the 2026 World Cup?
Group F features France (FIFA #2, UEFA), Japan (FIFA #15, AFC), Ivory Coast (FIFA #39, CAF), Costa Rica (FIFA #48, CONCACAF).
Who is the favourite in Group F?
France are the highest-ranked side in Group F at FIFA #2 and are statistically the favourite to win the group. The average opponent ranking around them is #34.
How are Group F ties broken at the World Cup?
FIFA tiebreakers in order: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) head-to-head points, 5) head-to-head goal difference, 6) head-to-head goals scored, 7) fair play points (cards), 8) drawing of lots. Goal difference is the most common deciding factor in practice.
How many teams advance from Group F?
The top 2 teams from Group F qualify directly for the Round of 32. The third-placed team may also advance if it is one of the eight best third-placed teams across all 12 groups. In effect, finishing third with 4+ points usually progresses.
When does Group F start at the 2026 World Cup?
Group play opens on Saturday, June 13 with France vs Japan at NRG Stadium, and concludes on Friday, June 26 with France vs Costa Rica. All six group fixtures are played in a round-robin format — each team faces the other three exactly once.
What is the format of the World Cup 2026 group stage?
Round-robin: each of the four teams plays the other three exactly once. Three points for a win, one for a draw, zero for a loss. Group games cannot be drawn for tournament purposes only by additional rules — draws are recorded as draws. No extra time or penalties at this stage.
Can I get live Group F standings via API?
Yes. Use TheStatsAPI standings endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by group=F to get live standings (points, GD, GF, GA), match-by-match form, and qualification probabilities.
Where are Group F matches played?
Group F fixtures are spread across multiple host cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The full venue assignment for every match in the group is listed on this page.
Get live Group F data via API
Standings, fixtures, results, lineups, xG, and odds - all in one REST API.